Midnight Catholic Mass Amazement. Also Hanukkah & Advent

So this year I love how  on Christmas Eve, the Last day of Advent and 6 night of Hanukkah all line up together

. I don't remember it all lining up like this. 

We do Adoration Chapel every Sat night from 8-10pm. 

Christmas Eve fell on our day. So Christmas Eve was extremely unique and amazing and not what I would have ever thought my life would look like this Christmas. 

At Adoration Chapel we got a incredible Blessing. Right before we left on the other side of the Adoration Chapel is the Altar of The Church. And there were people practicing for Midnight Mass. We got to hear a incredible rehearsal of Holy Christmas Music. I have included the video I shot of the experience. 

We then went home, lit the Hanukkah lights for sixth night, did our prayers, lit the Advent Wreath for the final time and prayed. We then went to Midnight Mass at Basilica of St Paul, our Church in Daytona Beach. 

They had a half hour of incredible music our amazing choir performed. With Trumpet, Flute, Percussions. 

Also I did video it. 

The actually Mass was incredible, sacred, beautiful, and honoring and befitting of The Holy familia and God himself. 

And the Birth of Yeshua. 

It was the first time Jeff had ever been to Midnight Mass. Or a Catholic Christmas Mass. 

He was awe struck. And felt as he said, the pride of becoming Catholic, and wanting to be the best version of himself through being Catholic. 

To say it was a incredibly magical Christmas Eve is a understatement. While we were in Adoration Chapel I remember reading that on Christmas Eve and Christmas more people are released from Purgatory then any other time. So I was able to do the St Gertrude Chaplet. Similar to the Rosary, but the Purgatory Prayer is said on all the Hail Mary Beads. 

Which made the time in Adoration even more meaningful if that's possible. 

I really have been mentally beating myself up as of late. Having Crohn's ongoing Flare up (and praying for remission), getting Covid again and not having the energy and ability to do all the things I want, it can easily make one feel like a bit of a failure. I have a hard time always staying disciplined and focused on fasting with bread and water on Wednesday and Friday, being consistent on Confession, all the Novenas, prayers, Liturgy of the Hours, Rosaries, Chaplets, reading the Bible, reading Imitation of Christ, and reading the Cathecism. I some days hit a home run and do it all, other days I barely get the rosary and prayers done. 

I'm definitely extremist. And that goes with my ADHD and Addiction gene. 

I set myself up to fail. To live up to such a lofty standard. That unless I live in a Hermitage is difficult to even think of obtaining that level of devotion. 

So I was made aware, why not do one day a week that I dedicate to 4 to 5 hours of Novenas, Bible Reading, Prayers, Chaplets and Rosaries. And I'm led to do it on Wednesdays. When Devout Catholics do bread and water fast. I do it til 5pm. Then have a small meal. And during the fast have gluten free crackers or bread with olive oil or butter and herbs and water, celery juice to drink. I will do bone broth if I'm feeling unwell also. 

It really helps my Crohn's. 

The true intermittent fasting lol. 

So that's my new year plan for my spiritual life and journey. While daily doing my prayers and Rosary. 

For My recovery. I decided to commit to three times a week to do the afternoon 11 Step AA Zoom meeting from UK. But it's really international!

And twice a week do a nooner AA Zoom meeting from Tel Aviv. 

Our Church has a Bible Study (yes Catholics do Bible studies, lol) 

I am going to add to my weekly to do list. 

Maybe I can't right now go go go, or do all the things I'd love to, but maybe, just maybe I'm doing what I'm supposed to. 

And in some ways doing more important work then what I Think I should be doing.....