Nativity Scene at St. Peters Square gets the finishing touches

It was John Paul II wish to turn St. Peters Square into a miniature nativity scene every year for Christmas. Its been 27 years since the first one was set up, but every year since, mystery surrounds what the finished piece will look like since its kept a secret until inauguration day.

Pier Carlo Cuscianna (Director, Technical Services Vatican Governorate) "We like to think of it as a surprise, in fact its not unveiled until the 24th, in the evening, Christmas day".

Triple Chocolate Cookie Recipe

The holiday baking season is upon us and I usually bake chocolate chip cookies. This is one of my favourites. Hope you enjoy.

Ingredients

    * 1/4 cup butter, softened
    * 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
    * 1/4 cup granulated sugar
    * 1/4 cup canola oil
    * 1 egg
    * 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    * 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
    * 1/2 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
    * 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch processed)
    * 1/4 teaspoon salt, optional
    * 1/3 cup coarsely chopped dark chocolate (2 ounces)
    * 1/3 cup coarsely chopped milk chocolate (2 ounces)
    * 2/3 cup chopped pecans, optional

Directions

   1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
   2. In a large bowl, mash together the butter and sugars with a fork until well combined.
   3. Add the oil and egg and beat until creamy.
   4. Mix in the vanilla.
   5. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flours, cocoa powder, and salt.
   6. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix well.
   7. Stir in the dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and the pecans and mix well.
   8. Using a tablespoon, scoop the batter onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
   9. Bake for 12 minutes.
  10. Transfer cookies to a rack to cool.

How Monsanto owns and manipulates the world's food supply

By CHRISTOPHER LEONARD

The Associated Press

ST. LOUIS — Confidential contracts detailing Monsanto Co.'s business practices reveal how the world's biggest seed developer is squeezing competitors, controlling smaller seed companies and protecting its dominance over the multibillion-dollar market for genetically altered crops, an Associated Press investigation has found.

With Monsanto's patented genes being inserted into roughly 95 percent of all soybeans and 80 percent of all corn grown in the U.S., the company also is using its wide reach to control the ability of new biotech firms to get wide distribution for their products, according to a review of several Monsanto licensing agreements and dozens of interviews with seed industry participants, agriculture and legal experts. read more

Pope Benedict: Respect the Terminally ill.

Benedict XVI said: "When the suffering and discomfort are the worst, know that Christ is associating you with his cross because through you he wants to speak a word of love to those who have strayed from the road of life and, closed within their empty egoism, live in sin and separation from God.

"In fact, your health conditions testify that the true life is not here, but with God, where every one of us will find joy if we humbly walk in the footsteps of the true man: Jesus of Nazareth, Master and Lord."

"In the light of faith we can read in sickness and suffering a special experience of Advent," the Pope said, "a visit from God, who, in a mysterious way comes to bring liberation from solitude and meaninglessness and transform suffering in time into a meeting with him, into hope and salvation." READ MORE HERE

The crib is where we can learn the secret of true joy

"The crib is a school of life where we can learn the secret of true joy," which doesnt mean having many things, but signifies being loved by God, by giving to others for others and love one another.

These were the Popes words before the Angelus prayer, on the third Sunday of Advent in St Peters Square, where he performed the traditional blessing of the "Baby Jesus", the statues of the Infant Jesus, which are brought by the children of Rome to be place in their cribs. In the crib, said Pope Benedict, we see that Mary and Joseph, having had their first child in the midst of great distress, "are filled with deep joy, love, help and above all are certain that God is at work".

The Holy Father said: "To be joyful we do not just have need of things, but love and truth: We need a God who is near, who warms our heart, and responds to our profound desires.

St. John of the Cross

Juan de Yepes was the Castilian son of a poor silk weaver of Fontiberos, Toledo, Spain and was born in 1542. His father was of noble birth; he had married much beneath him, and for that offense had been entirely cut off by his family. He had taken to silk weaving as a means of livelihood, but had never been able to make much of it. Soon after the birth of Juan he died, worn out with the effort to keep his wife and three children. The family was left in direst poverty; the children grew up always underfed, so that to the end of his life Juan remained dwarfed in stature. 

Unable to learn a trade, he became the servant of the poor in the hospital of Medina, while still pursuing his sacred studies. In 1563, being then twenty-one, he humbly offered himself as a lay-brother to the Carmelite friars, who, however, knowing his talents, had him ordained priest. He would now have exchanged to the severe Carthusian Order, had not St. Teresa of Avila, with the instinct of a saint, persuaded him to remain and help her in the reform of his own Order. read more 

Third Monday in Advent - A Time of Preparation

Week 3: Monday
 
When He had come into the temple area, the chief priests and the elders of the people approached Him as He was teaching and said, "By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?" (Matthew 21:23)

Reflection

The question of authority always followed Jesus. Different groups and individuals would try to ask Him difficult questions to trick Him and make Him look stupid in front of the crowds who listened to His teaching. It is clear that Jesus derived His authority from an unshakable inner knowledge of His relationship to the Father. Do we have confidence in our relationship with God so that we can speak the truth as we see it? Or do we expect the Church or some other authority to speak for us?

Advent Action

Make something (bake a cake, draw a picture, cut out a cartoon) to cheer someone up or as a means of sharing the spirit of the season.

Prayer

Lord, make me confident anew of Your great gift of faith that I may tell others of Your goodness.