Have Mercy on Me O Lord (N) (C) – Drawing Near to God (S)

 Spiritual Direction.com, Catholic Spiritual Direction – “From Praying To Contemplating,” by David Torkington
https://spiritualdirection.com/2020/08/22/from-praying-to-contemplating

Catholic Stand – “Catholic Reflexes: Dagger Prayers,” by Nicholas Vance
https://catholicstand.com/catholic-reflexes-dagger-prayers/

                – From Your Lips to God’s Ear (T)

                EWTN – The Morning Offering
                https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/morning-offering-394

What’s In A Word? (N) (C) (S)

Vatican News – “Pope establishes Sunday of the Word of God”
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-09/pope-motu-proprio-sunday-word-of-god.html

Vatican – “Apostolic Letter, issued ‘Motu Proprio’ by the Supreme Pontiff, Francis: “ Aperuit iIllis,” Instituting the ‘Sunday of the Word of God’
http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/motu_proprio/documents/papa-francesco-motu-proprio-20190930_aperuit-illis.html

Britannica – Motu Proprio
https://www.britannica.com/topic/motu-proprio

Saints Preserve Us! (N) – Champions of the Faith (C) – Heroes of The Faith (S) –
Stars of the Faith (T)

Catholic Saints.info – St. Thomas Aquinas (January 28)
https://catholicsaints.info/28-january/

Catholic Answers – “When St. Thomas Aquinas likened his work to straw, was that a retraction of what he wrote?”
https://www.catholic.com/qa/when-st-thomas-aquinas-likened-his-work-to-straw-was-that-a-retraction-of-what-he-wrote

Biography – St. Thomas Aquinas
https://www.biography.com/religious-figure/saint-thomas-aquinas

Wikipedia – “Five Ways (Aquinas)”
https://www.azquotes.com/author/490-Thomas_Aquinas

Philosophy – “The Philosophy of Thomas Aquinas, Summary”
https://www.the-philosophy.com/philosophy-thomas-aquinas-summary

Aquinas Online – Natural Law
https://aquinasonline.com/natural-law/

AZ Quotes – Thomas Aquinas Quotes
https://www.azquotes.com/author/490-Thomas_Aquinas

Summa Theologiae.org – Summa Theologiae
http://summa-theologiae.org

Scriptural Secrets (N) – Hidden Gems (C) – Pearls of Wisdom (S) – Buried Treasure (T)

Bible.org – FROM THE SERIES: HISTORICAL RELIABILITY OF THE GOSPELS, “10. Eyewitness Testimony in Mark’s Gospel” ?
https://bible.org/seriespage/10-eyewitness-testimony-mark-s-gospel

God Questions – “Who was Jonah in the Bible?”
https://www.gotquestions.org/life-Jonah.html

Bible Study Tools – “Jonah and the Whale”
https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-stories/jonah-and-the-whale.html

Catechetical Corner (N) – Catholic Passport (C) – Catholic Boarding Pass (S)

 Catechism of the Catholic Church – (CCC 1931, 2302, 2540)

               Tugboat Catholic ID

               Catechism of the Catholic Church – (CCC 1809)

 “Fruits and Gifts of the Spirit, A Theory of the Virtuous Life” [This is an extract from the CTS Book, “Gift of the Spirit”, by Stratford Caldecott.]
https://archive.secondspring.co.uk/books/Fruits%20and%20Gifts.pdf

             *Tugboat Challenge: Matching

              Witness: Sons of Thunder  (T)

             Biblical references given in the article

Lay These Words of Mine in Your Heart (N)– Pray Without Ceasing (C)–
Drawing Near to God (S)

Spiritual Direction.com, Catholic Spiritual Direction – “From Praying to Contemplating,” by David Torkington
https://spiritualdirection.com/2020/08/22/from-praying-to-contemplating

Lectio Divina
http://lectio-divina.org/index.php

–  From Your Lips to God’s Ear (T)

EWTN – The Morning Offering
 https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/morning-offering-394

It’s a Calling (N)– You Called? (C)– May I Ask Who’s Calling? (S)

Grammarist – “Avocation vs. vocation”
https://grammarist.com/usage/avocation-vocation/

Writing Explained – “Vocation vs. Avocation – What’s the Difference?”
https://writingexplained.org/vocation-vs-avocation-difference

Saints Preserve Us! (N)– Champions of the Faith (C)– Heroes of The Faith (S)

Britannica – St. Sebastian, Christian martyr
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Sebastian

Early Christians – Saint Sebastian
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Sebastian

Share Catholic – St. Sebastian
https://sharecatholic.com/blog/st-sebastian-feast-day-jan-20

Scriptural Secrets (N)– Hidden Gems (C)– Pearls of Wisdom (S)– Buried Treasure (T)

Agape Bible Study – 2^nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle B)
http://www.agapebiblestudy.com/Sunday_Readings/Sunday_Readings.php?Sunday_Doc=Ordinary_Time/Ordinary_Time_2_b

Hebrew Roots Mom, If the Root is Holy, So Are the Branches – “Passover Tradition: The Feast of Unleavened Bread vs. Passover: What’s the Difference?”
https://hebrewrootsmom.com/the-feast-of-unleavened-bread-vs-passover-whats-the-difference/

St. Charles Borromeo – 2^nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle B
http://www.scborromeo.org/biblestu/b_ot_2.pdf

Catechetical Corner (N)– Catholic Passport (C)– Catholic Boarding Pass (S)

 Catechism of the Catholic Church – (CCC 1931, 2534)

                  Tugboat – Catholic ID

 Catechism of the Catholic Church – (CCC 1808)

“Fruits and Gifts of the Spirit, A Theory of the Virtuous Life” [This is an extract from the CTS Book, “Gift of the Spirit”, by Stratford Caldecot t.]
https://archive.secondspring.co.uk/books/Fruits%20and%20Gifts.pdf

             *Tugboat Challenge: Draw Picture Doing Vocation

                        Witness: Andrew & ??
                        John 1:35-42

Lay These Words of Mine In Your Heart (N)– Pray Without Ceasing (C)–
Drawing Near to God (S)

Spiritual Direction.com, Catholic Spiritual Direction – “From Praying To Contemplating,” by David Torkington
https://spiritualdirection.com/2020/08/22/from-praying-to-contemplating

Lectio Divina
http://lectio-divina.org/index.php

– From Your Lips to God’s Ear (T)

                EWTN – The Morning Offering
  https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/morning-offering-394

 Those Saving Waters (N) (C) (S)

 Biblical sources cited in text.

 Names & Numbers (N) (C) (S)

Agape Bible Study – The Baptism of the Lord (Cycle B)
http://www.agapebiblestudy.com/Sunday_Readings/Sunday_Readings.php?Sunday_Doc=Ordinary_Time/Ordinary_Time_1_b

Scriptural Secrets (N)– Hidden Gems (C)– Pearls of Wisdom (S)– Buried Treasure (T)

 Catechism of the Catholic Church – (CCC 536)

St. Charles Borromeo Bible Study – Feast of the Baptism of the Lord – Cycle B (Optional Readings)
http://www.scborromeo.org/biblestu/b_baptlord.pdf

Agape Bible Study – The Baptism of the Lord (Cycle B)
http://www.agapebiblestudy.com/Sunday_Readings/Sunday_Readings.php?Sunday_Doc=Ordinary_Time/Ordinary_Time_1_b

Catechetical Corner (N)– Catholic Passport (C)– Catholic Boarding Pass (S)

 Catechism of the Catholic Church – (CCC 1228, 1931)

– Catholic ID (T)

 Catechism of the Catholic Church – (CCC 1806)

“Fruits and Gifts of the Spirit, A Theory of the Virtuous Life” [This is an extract from the CTS Book, “Gift of the Spirit”, by Stratford Caldecott.]
https://archive.secondspring.co.uk/books/Fruits%20and%20Gifts.pdf

                  Witness:  A Dove & A Voice (T)

                 The Evangelists’ accounts of Jesus Baptism: Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22

                 Catechism of the Catholic Church – (CCC 536)

                 *Tugboat Challenge: Q & A

Suggested answers provided.

We Loved Because He First Loved Us (N)– Pray Without Ceasing (C)–
Drawing Near to God (S)

Catechism of the Catholic Church – (CCC 2205)

Mark Danis, A Family’s Journey Back to Union, Reflections on One Family’s Celebration of Faith in God and One Another. Bloomington, IN: Westbow Publishing, A Division of Thomas Nelson and Zondervan, 2020.

*Amazon – A Family’s Journey Back to Union, Reflections on One Family’s Celebration of Faith in God and One Another
https://www.amazon.com/Familys-Journey-Back-Union-Reflections/dp/1973688336

 –  From You Lips to God’s Ear (T)

EWTN – The Morning Offering
https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/morning-offering-394

A Star, A Star Dances in the Night (N) (C) (S)

 NC Register – “The Prophecies Behind the Christmas Story: Of Magi and St. Matthew’s Gospel,” by Edward Sri
https://www.ncregister.com/commentaries/the-prophecies-behind-the-christmas-story-of-magi-and-st-matthew-s-gospel

Christian Courier – “Did Balaam Prophesy Concerning the Messiah?” by Wayne Jackson
https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/1508-did-balaam-prophesy-concerning-the-messiah

Scriptural Secrets (N)– Hidden Gems (C)– Pearls of Wisdom (S)– Buried Treasure (T)

Britannica – Herod the Great
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Herod-king-of-Judaea

Learn Religions – “Meet Herod the Great: Ruthless Ruler of the Jews,” by Jack Zavada
https://www.learnreligions.com/herod-the-great-enemy-of-jesus-christ-701064

Catechetical Corner (N)– Catholic Passport (C)– Catholic Boarding Pass – (S)

 Catechism of the Catholic Church – (CCC 1865, 1866)

 + Catholic I.D.: (CCC 1805) in Tugboat

 Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd Ed., for use in the United States of America, © 1994, United States Catholic Conference, Inc. – Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Used with Permission – definition of virtue: p. 903.

Minnesota State University, Moorhead – “Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics, Virtue as the Mean Between Two Extreme States,’ chapters 7-9
http://web.mnstate.edu/gracyk/courses/web%20publishing/AristotleVirtueAsMean.htm

International Society for Military Ethics – “The Relevance of Virtue Ethics and Application to the Formation of Character Development in Warriors,” by Chaplain Daniel Oh
http://isme.tamu.edu/ISME07/Oh07.html

*Tugboat offering: List Virtues

Witness: The Magi
The story of Balak and Balaam:
             Numbers 22-24

Also, about the Magi visiting the infant Jesus:
https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2019/01/06/wise-men-from-the-east-and-the-feast-of-the-epiphany-of-the-lord/

Be Still and Know That I Am God (N)– Pray Without Ceasing (C)– Drawing Near to God (S)

Catholic Exchange – “Mary Is Venerated in the Bible,” by Stephen Beale
https://catholicexchange.com/mary-is-venerated-in-the-bible

Catholic Exchange – “7 Unexpected Ways the Old Testament Prefigures Mary,” by Stephen Beale
https://catholicexchange.com/7-unexpected-ways-the-old-testament-prefigures-mary

EWTN – The Magnificat
https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/magnificat-392

From Your Lips to God’s Ear (T)

Grace Before and After Meals (CCC 2685):

Grace before meals:

Bless us O Lord, and these Thy gifts,
Which we are about to receive
From Thy bounty,
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Grace after meals:

We give Thee thanks, Almighty God,
For these and all thy benefits,
Which we have received
From Thy bounty,
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Holy Innocents (N) (C) (S)

 CNA, Catholic News Agency –
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/holy-innocents-667

Encyclopaedia Britannica – Feast of the Holy Innocents
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Feast-of-the-Holy-Innocents

Catholic Culture – Feast of Holy Innocents, martyrs
https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2019-12-28

USCCB – The Holy Innocents
https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/christmas/upload/twim-christmas-holy-innocents.pdf

Saints Preserve Us! (N)– Champions of the Faith (C)– Heroes of The Faith (S)–
Stars of the Faith (T)

St. Joseph, ideal father, ideal husband, ideal son of God:
https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=4

Scriptural Secrets (N)– Hidden Gems (C)– Pearls of Wisdom (S)– Buried Treasure (T)

Agape Bible Study – Sunday Within the Octave of Christmas
http://www.agapebiblestudy.com/Sunday_Readings/Sunday_Readings.php?Sunday_Doc=Christmas_Season/Feast_Holy_Family_b

Agape Bible Study – THE PENTATEUCH PART I: GENESIS; LESSON 9: Genesis 15:1- 17:27, “The Story of Abraham Continues: The Divine Promises Embodied in a Divine Covenant”
https://www.agapebiblestudy.com/Genesis/Lesson_9.htm

Catholic Culture – “Marital love is ‘marked by fidelity, indissolubility, unity and openness to life,’ Pope says in major Irish address”
https://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=38290

St Charles Borromeo – Feast of the Holy Family, Cycle B
http://www.scborromeo.org/biblestu/b_family.pdf

Catechetical Corner (N)– Catholic Passport (C)– Catholic Boarding Pass (S)– Catholic I.D. (T)

 Catechism of the Catholic Church – (CCC 1602, 1644, 1646, 1652)

*Tugboat Challenge: T or F

                   Witness: Simeon & Anna (T)

                  https://slmedia.org/blog/simeon-and-anna-senior-citizen-prophets

Imago Dei –(N) In the Image of God (C)– In God’s Image (S)

Catechism of the Catholic Church – (CCC 2566): Image vs. Likeness

Fear Not (N)– Holy Fear (C)– Do Not Fear (S)

The Catholic Thing – Fearing Rightly,” by Fr. Paul D. Scalia
https://www.thecatholicthing.org/2019/12/22/fearing-rightly/

Saints Preserve Us (N)– Champions of the Faith (C)– Heroes of the Faith (S)

St. Gregory and his holy relatives:

St. Gregory:
https://www.britannica.com/biography/St-Gregory-the-Great

Sts. Tracilla and Emiliana:
https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15026a.htm

St. Silvia:
https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13794a.htm

Scriptural Secrets (N)– Hidden Gems (C)– Pearls of Wisdom (S)– Buried Treasure (T)

Papal Encyclicals Online – “Ineffabilis Deus, The Immaculate Conception,” Pope BI. Pius IX – 1854”
https://www.papalencyclicals.net/pius09/p9ineff.htm

Papal Encyclicals Online – “Credo Of The People Of God,” Pope Paul VI – 1968
https://www.papalencyclicals.net/paul06/p6credo.htm

Agape Bible Study – Fourth Sunday in Advent (Cycle B)
http://www.agapebiblestudy.com/Sunday_Readings/Sunday_Readings.php?Sunday_Doc=Advent_Season/Advent_3_b

St. Charles Borromeo Bible Study – 4^th Sunday of Advent – Cycle B
http://www.scborromeo.org/biblestu/b_adv_4.pdf

Catechetical Corner (N)– Catholic Passport (C)– Catholic Boarding Pass (S)–
Catholic I.D. (T)

 Catechism of the Catholic Church – (CCC 485, 496, 497, 498)

           *Tugboat Challenge: Works of Mercy-

            Catechism of the Catholic Church – (CCC 2447)

            Our Salvation History:  Mary Mother of God (T)

           University of Dayton – “Bible Quotes by Mary,” by Sister M. Danielle Peters
       https://udayton.edu/imri/mary/b/bible-quotes-by-mary.php

Be Still and Know That I Am God (N)– Pray Without Ceasing (C)–
Drawing Near to God (S)

 Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, Life of Christ, 2008, page 7: “If he was not what He said He was, the Christ, the Son of God, He was the anti-Christ! If He was only a man, then He was not even a ‘good’ man.”

– From Your Lips to God’s Ear (T)

 Family, Feast, and Feria – O Antiphons Prayer Companion
https://familyfeastandferia.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/o-antiphons-prayer-companion9.pdf

Aleteia – “The Great O Antiphons, an Advent tradition,” by Fr. Jacob Bertrand Janczyk, OP
https://aleteia.org/2019/12/16/the-great-o-antiphons-an-advent-tradition/

Learn Religions – “The O Antiphons, The Greater Antiphons of December 17-23,” by ThoughtCo
https://www.learnreligions.com/o-antiphons-542843

“O, Jesus!” (N) (C) (S)

Family, Feast, and Feria – O Antiphons Prayer Companion
https://familyfeastandferia.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/o-antiphons-prayer-companion9.pdf

Aleteia – “The Great O Antiphons, an Advent tradition,” by Fr. Jacob Bertrand Janczyk, OP
https://aleteia.org/2019/12/16/the-great-o-antiphons-an-advent-tradition/

Learn Religions – “The O Antiphons, The Greater Antiphons of December 17-23,” by ThoughtCo
https://www.learnreligions.com/o-antiphons-542843

Saints Preserve Us! (N)– Champions of the Faith (C)– Heroes of The Faith (S)–
Stars of the Faith (T)

CatholicCulture.org, St. Lucy
https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2019-12-13

New Advent, St. Lucy:
https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09414a.htm

Scriptural Secrets (N)– Hidden Gems (C)– Pearls of Wisdom (S)– Buried Treasure (T)

Wikipedia – “John the Baptist”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Baptist

Agape Bible Study – Third Sunday in Advent (cycle B)
http://www.agapebiblestudy.com/Sunday_Readings/Sunday_Readings.php?Sunday_Doc=Advent_Season/Advent_3_b

St Charles Borromeo Bible Commentary – Third Sunday of Advent – Cycle B
http://www.scborromeo.org/biblestu/b_adv_3.pdf

Catechetical Corner (N)– Catholic Passport (C)– Catholic Boarding Pass (S)– Catholic I.D. (T)

Catechism of the Catholic Church – (CCC 718)

The Real Presence – Definition of Terms, witness
http://www.therealpresence.org/cgi-bin/getdefinition.pl

Etymology Online – testimony
https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=testimony

                                 – witness
https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=witness

*Tugboat Challenge: Works of Mercy

Catechism of the Catholic Church – (CCC 2447)

Our Salvation History: John the Baptist

Jimmy Akin provided 11 things to know and share about John the Baptist
https://www.ncregister.com/blog/who-was-st-john-the-baptist-11-things-to-know-and-share

Mark’s Marks (N) (C) (S)

Blog – “A List of 10 Unique Features of the Gospel of Mark,” by John Nichiporuk
https://blog.obitel-minsk.com/2018/10/a-list-of-10-unique-features-of-gospe.html

Bible Hub – “Things which are Characteristic of Mark,” (Editorial Staff)
https://biblehub.com/library/pink/why_four_gospels/ii_things_which_are_characteristic.htm

NC Register – “8 things to know and share about St. Mark and his gospel,” by Jimmy Akin
https://www.ncregister.com/blog/8-things-to-know-and-share-about-st-mark-and-his-gospel

Light & Life (N) (C) (S)

CERC, Catholic Education Resource Center – “The History of the Advent Wreath,” by William Saunders
https://www.catholiceducation.org/en/culture/catholic-contributions/the-history-of-the-advent-wreath.html?goal=0_ad2bfb1d67-13185e475e-303398213&mc_cid=13185e475e&mc_eid=2b47cb6252

 Saints Preserve Us! (N)– Champions of the Faith (C)– Heroes of The Faith (S)–
Stars of the Faith (T)

Catholic World Report – “The Immaculate Conception Revisited,” by Dr. Leroy Huizenga
https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2019/12/06/the-immaculate-conception-revisited/

Catholic World Report – “Why I came to believe that Mary was conceived without sin,” by Dr. Leroy Huizenga
https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2018/12/14/why-i-came-to-believe-that-mary-was-conceived-without-sin/

Scriptural Secrets (N)– Hidden Gems (C)– Pearls of Wisdom (S)– Buried Treasure (T)

Agape Bible Study – 2^nd Sunday in Advent Time (Cycle B)
http://www.agapebiblestudy.com/Sunday_Readings/Sunday_Readings.php?Sunday_Doc=Advent_Season/Advent_2_b

St. Charles Borromeo – 2^nd Sunday of Advent, Cycle B
http://www.scborromeo.org/biblestu/b_adv_2.pdf

Catechetical Corner (N)– Catholic Passport (C)– Catholic Boarding Pass (S)– Catholic I.D. (T)

 Catechism of the Catholic Church – (CCC 1997, 1999, 2002)

*Tugboat Challenge: Works of Mercy (CCC 2447)

Witness: Words of a Prophet, Isaiah in Mark  

Be Still and Know That I Am God (N)– Pray Without Ceasing (C)– Drawing Near to God (S)–
From Your Lips to God’s Ear (T)

Comparison of biblical authors Matthew and Mark

“SHHH!” (N) (C) (S)

Catholic Answers – The “Messianic Secret,” by Karlo Broussard
https://www.catholic.com/qa/the-messianic-secret

Got Questions – “What is the Messianic Secret?”
https://www.gotquestions.org/Messianic-secret.html

Philosophy Dungeon – The Messianic Secret
https://philosophydungeon.weebly.com/messianic-secret.html

Saints Preserve Us! (N)– Champions of the Faith (C)– Heroes of The Faith (S)–
Stars of the Faith (T)

EWTN – St. John Damascene
https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/st-john-damascene-5107

NC Register – “The Last Church Father: 7 Things to Know and Share,” by Jimmy Akin
https://www.ncregister.com/blog/jimmy-akin/the-last-church-father-7-things-to-know-and-share

Scriptural Secrets (N)– Hidden Gems (C)– Pearls of Wisdom (S)– Buried Treasure (T)

The Catholic World Report – “Advent and the Apocalypse,” by Carl E. Olson
https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2019/11/29/advent-and-the-apocalypse/

Bible.org – “10. Eyewitness Testimony in Mark’s Gospel” FROM THE SERIES: HISTORICAL RELIABILITY OF THE GOSPELS
https://bible.org/seriespage/10-eyewitness-testimony-mark-s-gospel

Agape Bible Study – First Sunday in Advent Time (Cycle B)
http://www.agapebiblestudy.com/Sunday_Readings/Sunday_Readings.php?Sunday_Doc=Advent_Season/Advent_1_b

St. Charles Borromeo Bible Commentary – First Sunday of Advent, Cycle B
http://www.scborromeo.org/biblestu/b_adv_1.pdf

Catechetical Corner (N)– Catholic Passport (C)– Catholic Boarding Pass (S)– Catholic I.D. (T)

 Catechism of the Catholic Church – (CCC 1699) (In Tugboat: see also CCC 2447)

*Tugboat: Do It Yourself Manger

Sunday School Kids – 3D Manger for Jesus
https://www.sundayschoolkids.com/activity-christmas/1-c-3d-manger-instru.htm

The Craft Train – “How to make a matchbox manger craft”
https://www.thecrafttrain.com/matchbox-manger-craft/

      *Tugboat Challenge: Works of Mercy (CCC 2447)

                     *Witness: You!