Father Melvin Doucette
1704 Palmer Road North, R.R. 2
Tignish, Prince Edward Island
C0B 2B0 Canada
Sunday, 22 December 2002
I
WANT YOU BESIDE MY CRIB AT CHRISTMAS
Dear Paul, Rita and Friends,
Good morning on this bright and sunny day! I am just back from the
celebration of the Holy Eucharist at Miminegash. Although I prayed and
had my half hour of contemplative prayer before going, I only have the
time to write the message now.
I was with Jesus this morning and this is what He said, "Melvin, my
faithful friend, I love you. This Sunday, the 4th Sunday of Advent,
brings us very close to the Feast of my birth. My appearance in the
world was awaited for thousands of years. Prophets had spoken many times
about me and many details had been given about my birth, my life on
earth and my death. I was awaited by the people to be delivered from
darkness and sin and to enter into the light and freedom of the Kingdom
of God. The celebration of my birth in 2002 is very significant for
those who believe. It is not just a remembrance but a re-presentation of
that event as if it was happening now for the first time. In this way
the impact of my birth will have full force in your life. You will
receive all the graces and strength of my coming among you this
Christmas. Insert yourself into the drama of my birth and it will become
alive for you. You will be part of that great event. This is what can
happen through contemplative prayer. I want you beside my crib at
Christmas. I love you."
It is very meaningful for us Christians to celebrate the Feast of
Christmas. For most it is the greatest feast of the year. Although the
Church places Easter as the greatest feast and Christmas second, we seem
to identify much more with the feast of the birth of Jesus. Christmas
should not be only a birthday for Christians but something much more.
This is what Jesus is telling us today. We have all relived an important
event in our lives. This is what we should do for this great feast.
Jesus is the Son of God and we know that God is eternal. All His events
enter the NOW of eternity. So what happened two thousand years ago can
become present today in the same way as it first happened. The only
difference is that we are present in the event today. So, with Jesus we
can be present at the wonderful scene of Christmas and behold Jesus just
born. We can be there with Mary and Joseph and be beside Jesus as He
lays on the straw in the manger. We see Him as a small baby and we can
love Him and adore Him. This is why Jesus calls us all to His crib this
Christmas. Let us take time in contemplative prayer to be there in the
cave in Bethlehem this Christmas. I am sure the Lord will give us a
special experience and blessing if we come to Him in contemplative
prayer.
May the Lord strengthen our faith to behold Jesus as the Emmanuel, "God
with us", this Christmas.
Father Melvin
TEL: (902) 882-2004
E-MAIL: melvin.doucette@pei.sympatico.ca
_______________________________________________________________________
Two-day Retreat on Contemplative Prayer, our Blessed Mother and Healing
with Father Melvin Doucette
WHEN: Saturday and Sunday, January 11-12
WHERE: St. Mary's Church, 823 S. Military (corner of Morley),
Dearborn, Michigan (for more info, call 248-559-4544)
BEGINS: Saturday, 9:00 a.m. registration, coffee & donuts.
BEGINS: Sunday 10:00 a.m. Mass
COST: $15 - retreatants are asked to "brown bag" lunch
Retreat includes Rosary, Mass, 4-5 talks, and anointing by Fr. Doucette
with oil blessed by the Blessed Mother. Father's books will be for sale.
Please register ahead by sending $15 to "Marian Peace Center of Detroit"
P.O. Box 721248, Berkley, MI 48072, or by calling (248) 559-4544.
_______________________________________________________________
PILGRIMAGES: http://www.giftstor.org/FrDoucettePilgrimage.html
http://ourlady_queenofpeace.tripod.com/ritas_pilgrimage.htm
http://ca.oocities.com/dwasercaca/Pilgrimages1.html
PREVIOUS MESSAGES:
(English) http://www.giftstor.org/FrDoucetteThird2.html
(English) http://www.oocities.org/ourladyofpei/index.html
(SPANISH) http://www.oocities.org/espanol/dwasercaesp/index_es.html
(POLISH) http://geocities.yahoo.com.br/ks_melvinbr/
________________________________________________________________________
NOTE: FOR FOLLOWING SEND AN EMAIL TO 'RITA' AT: pdoucet@nb.sympatico.ca
TO RECEIVE: Fr. Doucette's 2001 Press Release, New Bio, Michael Brown's
Interview, Previous Messages, or cost of Books and/or Photo of Our Lady.
UNSUBSCRIBE: Send email with "UNSUBSCRIBE - FR. DOUCETTE" in the Subject
TO SUBSCRIBE: Send email with "SUBSCRIBE-FR DOUCETTE-ENG" in the Subject
TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE MESSAGES IN SPANISH:
Send an email with "SUBSCRIBE-FR DOUCETTE-SPANISH" in the Subject box.