Happy feast of St. John Damascene! On today’s show, Matt Swaim welcomes Dr. Matthew Bunson to discuss the teachings of one of the last Fathers of the Church. Other guests include Rita Heikenfeld with Bible Foods, Gary Michuta from Hands on Apologetics, and pastoral counselor Kevin Prendergast. Plus news, weather, sports, and more…

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Collect for the Feast of St. John Damascene

Grant, we pray, O Lord, that we may be helped by the prayers of the Priest Saint John Damascene, so that the true faith, which he excelled in teaching, may always be our light and our strength. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.

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Happy feast of St. Francis Xavier! On today’s show, Matt Swaim discusses the life and heroic witness of this great Jesuit missionary. Guests include Gary Zimak, author of “Find Peace in Advent,” and Ken Craycraft on the mystery of waiting for an already present Christ during Advent. Plus news, weather, sports, and more…

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Collect for the feast of St. Francis Xavier

O God, who through the preaching of Saint Francis Xavier won many peoples to yourself, grant that the hearts of the faithful may burn with the same zeal for the faith and that Holy Church may everywhere rejoice in an abundance of offspring. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.

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Good morning! On today’s show, Matt Swaim welcomes Kris McGregor from Discerning Hearts to share an Advent-themed reflection from the Office of Readings. Other guests include Bear Woznick with more challenges for Catholic men to be better husbands and fathers, and Steve Ray on “yes” and “no” in the Bible. Plus news, weather, sports, and more…

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Generosity Prayer of St. Ignatius

Lord, teach me to be generous.
Teach me to serve you as you deserve;
to give and not to count the cost,
to fight and not to heed the wounds,
to toil and not to seek for rest,
to labour and not to ask for reward,
save that of knowing that I do your will. Amen.

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Vince Mastrangelo is online at legatus.org.

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Welcome to Advent! On today’s show, Matt Swaim welcomes Fr. John Gavin to talk more about the Church Fathers and Christian maturity. Other guests include Stephanie Mann on Robert Hugh Benson and Advent, and Kevin Schmiesing with This Week in Catholic History. Plus news, weather, sports, and more…

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An Advent Prayer

Come, long-expected Jesus. Excite in me a wonder at the wisdom and power of Your Father and ours. Receive my prayer as part of my service of the Lord who enlists me in God’s own work for justice.

Come, long-expected Jesus. Excite in me a hunger for peace: peace in the world, peace in my home, peace in myself.

Come, long-expected Jesus. Excite in me a joy responsive to the Father’s joy. I seek His will so I can serve with gladness, singing and love.

Come, long-expected Jesus. Excite in me the joy and love and peace it is right to bring to the manger of my Lord. Raise in me, too, sober reverence for the God who acted there, hearty gratitude for the life begun there, and spirited resolution to serve the Father and Son.

I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, whose advent I hail. Amen.

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Happy feast of St. Catherine of Alexandria! On today’s show, Matt Swaim welcomes Dr. Benjamin Lewis from the International Commission on English in the Liturgy to look at the collect prayer for today’s Mass. Other guests include Kris McGregor to reflect on what St. John Chrysostom had to say about Thanksgiving, and Fr. Boniface Hicks with more thoughts on personal prayer from the saints. Plus news, weather, sports, and more…

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Pope St. Gregory the Great’s Acclaim To The Suffering Christ

O Lord, You received affronts
without number from Your blasphemers,
yet each day You free captive souls
from the grip of the ancient enemy.

You did not avert Your face
from the spittle of perfidy,
yet You wash souls in saving waters.

You accepted Your scourging without murmur,
yet through your meditation
You deliver us from endless chastisements.

You endured ill-treatment of all kinds,
yet You want to give us a share
in the choirs of angels in glory everlasting.

You did not refuse to be crowned with thorns,
yet You save us from the wounds of sin.

In your thirst You accepted the bitterness of gall,
yet You prepare Yourself to fill us with eternal delights.

You kept silence under the derisive homage
rendered You by Your executioners,
yet You petition the Father for us
although You are his equal in Divinity.

You came to taste death,
yet You were the Life
and had come to bring it to the dead.

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Good morning! On today’s show, Matt Swaim welcomes Fr. John Gavin, SJ, to share more thoughts from the Church Fathers on Christian maturity. Other guests include Teresa Tomeo from EWTN’s Catholic Connection, and Kevin Schmiesing with This Week in Catholic History. Plus news, weather, sports, and a whole lot more…

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Prayer of St. Anselm of Canterbury

O Lord my God.
Teach my heart this day,
where and how to find you.

You have made me and re-made me,
and you have bestowed on me all the good things I possess,
and still I do not know you.
I have not yet done that for which I was made.

Teach me to seek you,
for I cannot seek you unless you teach me,
or find you unless you show yourself to me.

Let me seek you in my desire;
let me desire you in my seeking.
Let me find you by loving you;
let me love you when I find you. Amen.

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Happy feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary! On today’s show, Matt Swaim and Anna Mitchell welcome liturgical translator Dr. Benjamin Lewis from ICEL to reflect on a specific prayer for Our Lady’s feast day. Other guests include Andrew Petiprin, author of The Faith Unboxed, and Fr. Hezekias Carnazzo from the Institute of Catholic Culture and Fr. Jonathan Duncan from the Diocese of Charleston to preview the readings for this weekend’s feast of Christ the King. Plus news, weather, sports, and more…

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A Prayer to Our Lady, Health of the Sick

Our Lady, Health of the Sick,
I look to you for the comfort of a mother’s love,
I pray to you on behalf of those who are suffering
and for my own healing needs.
Mary, your love strengthens me
and brings me peace.

Our Lady, Health of the Sick,
embrace all who are emotionally and physically ill that they may return to
good health under your tender care. And please intercede for my very
special needs. (mention your needs here).

Mary, your love strengthens me and brings me peace.

Our Lady, Health of the Sick, pray for us. Amen.

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Bill Schmitt is online at onword.net.

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Good morning! On today’s show, Matt Swaim and Anna Mitchell welcome Rita Heikenfeld to share more make ahead recipes for Thanksgiving. Other guests include Courtney Brown from Ruah Woods, Gary Michuta from Hands On Apologetics, and Fr. Robert Nixon, O.S.B., with reflections on silence from Thomas a Kempis. Plus news, weather, sports, and more…

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A Prayer for Grace and Guidance

O Lord God almighty, who has brought to us to the beginning of this day, defend us in the same by Your power; that we may not this day fall into any sin, but that all our thoughts, words, and works may be directed to the fulfillment of Your will. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.

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THANKSGIVING RECIPE IDEAS FROM RITA

Sweet Potato Coins
4 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-1/2” rounds
1/4 cup olive oil or more if needed
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
2 generous teaspoons minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon salt
Extra sprigs of thyme

Preheat oven to 400. Toss potatoes with oil, thyme, garlic, pepper and salt. Place standing each coin up on sprayed cookie sheet. Add extra thyme sprigs around potatoes. Roast 40-45 minutes. Serves 4.

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Sweet Potato Soufflé (from listener Karen Lance)

Casserole:
3-4 medium sweet potatoes, peeled, cooked, and mashed
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup melted butter
2 beaten eggs
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp allspice
1/3 cup milk

Topping
1/4 cup flour
1/3 cup melted butter
1 cup light brown sugar
1 cup chopped pecans

Mix together casserole ingredients and pour into oblong baking dish.
Bake 15 minutes at 350, then reduce temperature to 300 and bake for 10 more minutes.
Mix together ingredients for topping, add to the top of sweet potato mixture, and bake for another 15 minutes at 350.

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Rita’s Clone of Cheesecake Factory’s Cheesecake

This cake is so rich that I use a 9” pan. If you use an 8” pan, plan on baking a bit longer. An 8” pan makes thicker slices, and they look almost as high as Cheesecake Factory’s. The taste is so similar you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference!
Crust:
1-1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 tablespoon or so of sugar
1/2 to 1 teaspoon cinnamon
5 tablespoons melted butter
Mix until crumbly, not pasty. Pat into 9” springform pan going up the sides a bit. Set aside while making filling:

Filling:
1 pound cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup sour cream
1-1/4 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 tablespoons brown sugar
15 oz canned pumpkin
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
4 eggs, lightly beaten
Preheat oven to 350. Beat cream cheese, sour cream, sugar and vanilla until smooth. Add pumpkin and spices and blend. Add eggs and blend until mixed. Pour into pan. Bake 40-45 minutes until center is almost set but still wobbly. Turn oven off but leave cheesecake in with oven door shut for 30 minutes more. This will finish the baking process and prevent a lot of “cracking” on top. Refrigerate several hours or up to 2 days to complete firming up of cheesecake. Garnish with whipped cream and nuts if you like. Serves 10-12.

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Annie’s Family Bread Stuffing

3 Tablespoons chopped onion
1/4 Cup butter
4 Cups dry bread cubes (about 7 slices cut or torn)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1/2 teaspoon ground sage
2-4 tablespoons water or chicken broth

Cook onion in butter, combine with bread and seasoning. Toss with enough liquid to moisten Makes 3 cups stuffing or enough stuffing for a 4-5 pound chicken. For a 10 pound turkey, double the recipe.

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Matt’s Crispy Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Shallots and Bacon

1 pound Brussels sprouts
1/4 pound bacon, cut into 1/2 inch wide strips
3 shallots
Olive Oil
Black Pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400. Slice shallots, and cut of stems of Brussels sprouts and halve them. Add sprouts, shallots, and bacon to a large mixing bowl, and toss with olive oil and black pepper. Bake on a sheet pan or in a pyrex dish for 10 minutes, toss, and bake for 5-10 more, until desired crispiness is reached.

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