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NOTES FROM THE HERMITAGE


Monday, December 1, 2025

FIRST WEEK OF ADVENT
PRAYING WITH SAINT NICHOLAS

On December 6th, the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker (270-343). Among the most venerated of all saints, Nicholas is patron of children, merchants, sailors, fishermen, travelers, single people, poor people, and all who have been falsely accused. His relics are said to have miraculous powers and have been known to release a sweet smelling liquid, known as the “Manna of Saint Nicholas” that is sometimes to use bless the sick and suffering.

During the Holy Season of Advent, the Assisi Project will offer for display a beautiful hand painted icon of the saint which has been blessed with oil from the Pontifical Basilica of Saint Nicholas in Bari, Italy. The icon will be available for veneration before and after all weekend Masses on Saturday, December 5th and Sunday, December 6th in Saint Ann Church and Our Lady of Good Voyage Church in Gloucester, Massachusetts. Prayer cards will be available, too. Donations will be much appreciated.

An Advent Prayer to Saint Nicholas

Good Saint Nicholas:
Help us to prepare for the miracle
of the coming of Jesus at Christmas.
Help us to truly see the gift of getting ready.
Help us to be sincere in the greetings
that we send and receive with love and prayer.

Kind Saint Nicholas:
Protect us from stress and overspending.
Inspire us to be caring and generous of heart to all people,
especially those who are poor, alone, and afraid.

Holy Saint Nicholas,
may our celebration of your feast lead others
to see the true meaning of giving and receiving,
to see the greatest of all God’s gifts, Jesus,
Son of God, Child of Mary, Prince of Peace,
Lord and Savior of the world. Amen.

This week, please join us in praying for Pope Leo XIV; for his intentions of peace, truth, and justice; and for all who have asked us to pray for them (see prayer intentions below). May God bless you! May the Lord give you peace! Saint Francis of Assisi, pray for us! Saint Clare of Assisi, pray for us! Our Lady of the Angels, pray for us! Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, pray for us!

THIS WEEK’S PRAYERS

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Sunday, August 31, 2025 – 12:42pm

THOUGHTS & PRAYERS ARE NOT ENOUGH

By Brother Patrick

Earlier this week, we watched with horror the news coverage of another mass shooting in this country. No words can express the grief, shock, and anger that come when children are murdered while praying in a church. Sadly and scandalously, too many faith and civic leaders can muster only the same tired cliche about our “thoughts and prayers” being with the victims and their families. Fortunately, two Catholic bishops had the courage to stand up and speak out.

From Detroit, Archbishop Edward Weisenberger said: “Even as we pray for those whose lives were taken, I also ask that our prayers be matched by firm endeavors to end the superabundance of handguns and assault weapons in our great nation. We owe it to our families, our neighbors, and our friends. But most of all we owe it to the children.”

From Chicago, Cardinal Blaise Cupich was even more forceful. He said: “Tragically, we know no place or time when Americans, even children, are safe from the curse of gun violence. While we join our prayers with others that those injured in body and spirit will heal and that the murdered children will be received into heaven, we must also cry out for action to prevent even one more such tragedy.”

“The facts are clear. Guns are plentiful and common sense attempts to limit their availability have been largely rejected in the name of a freedom not found in our constitution. Cutbacks in funding for health care and social service programs will only exacerbate a national mental health crisis and increase alienation. We therefore pray for those who hold power to make the safety of our people a national priority.”

“We ask God to give them the courage to take steps they know will alleviate if not eliminate the fear parents must feel in sending their children off to school and Americans feel leaving their homes for simple errands. Surely they must be moved by these shootings. We pray that they will not see them as inevitable because then we will have certainly surrendered our rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (8-27-25).”

As a fourth generation gun owner, I appreciate the long tradition of families and firearms. At the same time, I stand in solidarity with Cardinal Cupich, Archbishop Weisenberger, and all people of goodwill who know that we can respect the rights of citizens to own firearms and the ensure rights of all people to feel safe in their homes, jobs, schools, neighborhoods, and houses of worship. Alas, as Michael Sean Winters writes: “It is a horrible thing to contemplate that our societal inability to limit access to guns comes down to a love of money by manufacturers and politicians.”

Now more than ever, calls for our thoughts and prayers are not enough. Not nearly enough. Not ever enough. Now is the time for penance and reconciliation for our collective failure to protect our children by enacting common sense gun reforms. Now is the time to speak truth to power. Now is the time for courage. Now is the time for action.

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ABOUT THE BLOGMASTER

Brother Patrick Garvey is co-founder and spiritual director of the Assisi Project. He is a graduate of the University of Southern Maine, Saint John Seminary, and the Catholic University of America. He is a writer, spiritual director, retreat leader, and university lecturer. He also serves as an Associate Minister in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport in Massachusetts. On October 3, 2023, the Feast of the Transitus of Saint Francis of Assisi, Brother Patrick was consecrated as a diocesan hermit by Bishop Mark O’Connell, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Boston. For more information about the Assisi Project and our ministries with adults of all ages and backgrounds, please contact Brother Patrick at brpatrick@assisiproject.com.

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THE ASSISI PROJECT
INTERCESSORY PRAYER MINISTRY

Founded in 2007, the Assisi Project is a Fellowship of Franciscans in Spirit with members, friends, and followers in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Africa. We are dedicated to helping Christian believers of all ages to more faithfully live the Gospel of Christ in the spirit of Saint Francis and Saint Clare of Assisi. Members of the Assisi Project, ranging in age from 15 to 99, pray every day for those who ask for our prayers. If you would like our fellowship to pray for you or your special intention, please contact Brother Patrick at brpatrick@assisiproject.com. Saint Francis of Assisi, pray for us! Saint Clare of Assisi, pray for us! Our Lady of the Angels, pray for us! May the Lord give you peace, now and always!

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ABOUT US

Founded in 2007, the Assisi Project is a Fellowship of Franciscans in Spirit with friends and followers throughout the world. We are dedicated to helping Christian believers of all ages more faithfully live the Gospel of Christ in the spirit of Saint Francis and Saint Clare of Assisi. The Assisi Project is a non-profit, tax exempt charitable organization. All are welcome to support our ministry via Pay Pal (see link below) or by mailing a tax-deductible donation to the Assisi Project, Post Office Box 3158, Gloucester, Massachusetts 01931-3158. May the Lord give you peace!

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