My dear parishioners of  St. Rosalie,
 
Happy 3^rd Sunday of Advent!  Happy Gaudete Sunday!
      Today, Holy Mother Church invites us to be joyful, knowing that Advent is more than half over and Christmas will soon be here. To express the Church’s joy, the priest may wear rose colored vestments today instead of penitential purple.
Now the question before us today: How have our Advent Practices been going? If we have to admit that these first two weeks of Advent have slipped by without any serious effort on our part, then we have to be glad today that there is still time left for us to intensify or to begin our spiritual preparation for Christ’s coming on Christmas Day and for Christ’s coming when he comes to bring us home to everlasting life.
One great way to prepare for Jesus’s birth is to gift Him and one’s self a good, complete and sincere Advent Confession.
      Confession is not only for the forgiveness of sins but also for growth in friendship with Jesus. The sanctifying grace bestowed in a good confession helps us grow in virtue and gives us strength to resist the temptations of the devil.
When we go to confession numbers and certain specifics are necessary to give the priest a good understanding of your weaknesses and sins.
 
Self-Revelation Is GOOD for you, your body,
your soul, your doctor and your confessor.
 
Doctors and confessors are not mind readers.  They are ready to help you to physical and spiritual health and well-being, but they need your cooperation.  You need to tell them in very concrete terms what is ailing you.  The more specific you are about who you are (state in life) and your ailments and your sins, the better able they will be to guide you and help you walk more closely in the footsteps of Jesus.

This week Jesus is knocking on the door of your heart.  He’s inviting you to receive the sacrament of peace.  He cannot force you to open the door of your heart.
 
The only way Jesus can come into your house and your heart is if you let him.
May all of us have the grace, strength and courage to open our hearts to Jesus and his redeeming love channeled to us through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
This week there will three opportunities to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  For High School and College students: Monday evening at 6:30 p.m. at St. Rosalie. Then for all ages: Tuesday evening at 6:30 p.m. at St. Rosalie and Thursday evening at St. John Bosco at 6:30 p.m.
 
God loves you!
 
Fr. Mark