Was #Jesus Actually Born of a #Virgin?
Do #Christians Get #Christmas All Wrong?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0gKnyIGsGQ

Delta accused of refusing to produce subpoenaed evidence in Alaska's trademark suit against Virgin
- By Mateusz Maszczynski

https://www.paddleyourownkanoo.com/2025/12/19/delta-air-lines-is-refusing-to-hand-over-evidence-in-a-multi-million-dollar-trademark-lawsuit-despite-subpoena/
More: https://hype.aero/coverage/airline-industry-market-trends/?story=9d0388c3-c730-49da-ac47-51ed96d13fe5
#alaska #delta #deltaairlines #virgin #aviation

16 December: Blessed Mary of the Angels Fontanella

December 16
BLESSED MARY OF THE ANGELS FONTANELLA
Virgin

Optional Memorial

Born in Turin, Italy, in 1661, she died, after spending her whole life there, in 1717. In 1675 she entered the Discalced Carmelite Convent of St. Christina, and several times filled the offices of Prioress and Novice Mistress. She underwent continual spiritual trials but was constant in her ardent love of God. She was outstandingly faithful to prayer and particularly devoted to St. Joseph, in whose honor a convent was founded through her good offices at Moncalieri.

From the common of virgins

Office of Readings

SECOND READING
From The Way of Perfection by Saint Teresa of Avila
(C 40, nos 3,8 ed. Kavanaugh-Rodriguez 1980, pp. 193-95).

True love for God cannot be hidden

Those who truly love God love every good, desire every good, favor every good, praise every good. They always join, favor, and defend good people. They have no love for anything but truth, and whatever is worthy of love. Do you think it is possible for a person who really loves God to love vanities? No, indeed, he cannot, nor can he love riches, or worldly things, or delights, or honors, or strife, or envy. All of this is so because he seeks only to please the Beloved. These persons go about dying so that their Beloved might love them, and thus they dedicate their lives to learning how they might please him more. Hide itself? Oh, with regard to the love of God—if it is genuine love— this is impossible. If you don’t think so, look at Saint Paul or the Magdalene. Within three days the one began to realize that he was sick with love; that was Saint Paul. The Magdalene knew from the first day; and how well she knew! Love has this characteristic: it can be greater or lesser in degree. Thus, the love makes itself known according to its intensity. When slight, it shows itself but slightly; when strong, it shows itself strongly. But where there is love of God, whether little or great, it is always recognized.

And could one conceal a love that is so strong and just that it always increases and sees no reason to stop since its foundation is made from the cement of being repaid by another love? This other love can no longer be doubted, since it was shown so openly and with so many sufferings and trials, and with the shedding of blood, even to the point of death, in order that we might have no doubt about it.

May it please His Majesty to give us his love before he takes us out of this life, for it will be a great thing at the hour of death to see that we are going to be judged by the One whom we have loved above all things. We shall be able to proceed securely with the judgment concerning our debts. It will not be like going to a foreign country, but like going to our own, because it is the country of one whom we love so much and who loves us.

RESPONSORY

℟ The Lord fulfills the desires of those who fear him, he hears their cry and saves them. * The Lord watches over all who love him.
℣ We know that God makes all things work together for the good of those who love him. * The Lord watches over all who love him.

Morning Prayer

CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH

Ant. To love God is to be truly wise, and wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord.

PRAYER

Lord,
you have told us that you live forever
in the hearts of the chaste.
By the prayers of the virgin Blessed Mary of the Angels
help us to live by your grace
and to become temples of your Spirit.

Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.

Evening Prayer

CANTICLE OF MARY

Ant. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.

Catholic Church 1993, Proper of the Liturgy of the Hours of the Order of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel and the Order of Discalced Carmelites (Rev. and augm.), Institutum Carmelitanum, Rome.

#blessedMaryOfTheAngels #discalcedCarmelite #liturgyOfTheHours #virgin

These are the 10 best extra virgin olive oils from Catalonia in 2025

Les Borges BlanquesIf you’re looking to give extra virgin olive oil as a Christmas gift, start…
#dining #cooking #diet #food #mediterranean #MediterraneanDiet #MediterraneanFood #MediterraneanOliveOil #OliveOil #10 #2025 #are #best #Catalonia #extra #from #in #Mediterranean #Of #oils #Olive #oscars #the #these #virgin
https://www.diningandcooking.com/2426721/these-are-the-10-best-extra-virgin-olive-oils-from-catalonia-in-2025/

Donald Trump breaks silence on photos of him being in bombshell new Epstein files

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/donald-trump-breaks-silence-photos-36394939

11 December: Saint Maria Maravillas of Jesus Pidal y Chico de Guzmán

December 11
SAINT MARIA MARAVILLAS OF JESUS
PIDAL Y CHICO DE GUZMÁN
Virgin

Memorial

Maria Maravillas was born at Madrid in 1891. She entered the El Escorial Carmel, Madrid on 12th October 1919. In 1924 she was inspired to found a Carmel at Cerro de los Angeles, alongside the monument to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. From this foundation followed nine others in Spain and one in India. She always gave first place to prayer and self-sacrifice. She had a true, passionate zeal for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. Even while living a life of poverty in the cloister she helped those who were in need, initiating apostolic, social and charitable works. In a particular way, she helped those of her own order, priests, and other religious congregations. She died in the monastery of La Aldehuela, Madrid, on 11th December 1974. She was canonized on 4th May 2003 in Madrid.

From the common of virgins or of holy women (religious)

Office of Readings

Second Reading
From the letters of Saint Maravillas of Jesus, Virgin

(Letters to her spiritual directors: 305, 254, 101, 458b)

My delight is to be with the children of men

Yesterday, Sunday, on climbing the stairs to go to the upper choir for the sung Mass, I was quite recollected, yet without any particular thought, when I heard clearly within me, My delight is to be with the children of men. These words which made a strong impression on me, I understood were not for me this time, but rather in the nature of a request the Lord was making me to offer the whole of myself to give him these souls he so much desires. It is hard to explain, but I saw clearly, that a soul which sanctifies itself becomes fruitful in attracting souls to God. This so deeply moved me that I offered with my whole heart to the Lord all my sufferings of body and soul for this purpose, despite my poverty. It then seemed to me that this offering was right, but what was strictly important was to surrender myself, wholly and completely to the divine will, so that he could do what he desired in me, and likewise I would accept the pain along with the pleasure. I seemed to understand that what pleased him was not the greatest sacrifice but rather the exact and loving fulfillment in the least detail of that will. In this I understood many things I find hard to explain, and how he wished me to be very sensitive in this fulfillment, which would carry me a long way in self-sacrifice and love.

I offered myself in such a way that nothing would excuse me, not even hell (if there you can love the Lord), but then I am so cowardly. The Lord will remedy that, since I can do no more than commit myself to Him in all my misery. I began experiencing this as a desire to commit myself for souls and to be faithful for this purpose: thinking about what he had done for them, it seemed he was saying to me I could not do much, but he could, with my help. On feeling this immense desire of the Lord for the salvation of souls, it seemed so amazing that nothing remained but to be committed to God so that He could carry out all his work in the soul and thus make it, despite its poverty, capable of giving him what he desires. Each time it became clearer to my soul so that nothing of my own remained important, except that the Lord alone be glorified.

What a treasure the Lord has given me in allowing me to live in Carmel! Here, everything is arranged with such simplicity, yet in such a way that, living it to the full, you can do everything. How can we live in the House of the Virgin, pleasing the Lord with her, yet not imitating her, as the Holy Mother desired? I felt that this is the Carmelite’s way, imitating Mary, how we must grow less, to be truly poor, self-sacrificing, humble, nothing. I felt quite deeply how Jesus gives us in his own life continual examples of sacrifice, of humiliation, of making ourselves small, yet we do not understand. I felt his mercy and zeal for souls in this way, that here is the strength that can take hold of our life through his mercy. By his grace, may I, who am so absolutely poor in everything, be well able to imitate him in this with more ease than other creatures. I seemed also to understand that these lights were not given only for myself, but also for guiding my sisters. The sole thing I do, many times in the day, is to say to the Lord that I wish to live only to love him and to please him, that I desire all that he wishes in the way that he wills.

Responsory 

℟ Prudent virgin whom the Bridegroom found watching with her lamp alight, * enter into the eternal nuptial banquet.
℣ I find my delight in your will, your saving justice in the depths of my heart. * Enter into the eternal nuptial banquet.

Prayer

Lord God,
who drew Saint Maria Maravillas of Jesus
into the secrets of the heart of your Son,
grant through her intercession and example,
that we may work together for the salvation of souls,
experiencing the delights of your love.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.

Catholic Church 1993, Proper of the Liturgy of the Hours of the Order of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel and the Order of Discalced Carmelites (Rev. and augm.), Institutum Carmelitanum, Rome.

#discalcedCarmelite #liturgy #optionalMemorial #stMariaMaravillasDeJesus #virgin

Street Art
Portalet Street
Hyères, French Riviera

It reminds to me Klimt's art...

#streetart #streets #street #painting #graffiti #posters #door #doorway #arch #archway #rustic #old #hyeres #france #frenchriviera #alcove #stichers #urban #oldcity #klimt #art #lady #virgin #woman #character
#photography #blackandwhitephotography #bnwphotography #streetartphotography #streetphotography #photos #urbanphotography
#jlbouzou

UB40, Rat in the Kitchen, 1986 on A&M

Seventh UB40 full length, on A&M in the US and DEP International / Virgin elsewhere. Love the title track as well as “Sing our Own Song,” with the rallying cry of the African National Congress (“Amandla Awethu”).

Got to see them around this time in Minneapolis – what a fantastic live show they put on, including many of the songs here.

My copy—via the Worcester Record Riot—is an Indianapolis pressing on A&M labels with the original inner liner.

#1980s #1986 #AM #DEPInternational #Reggae #UB40 #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds #Virgin #WorcesterMA #WorcesterRecordRiot

I’ve been trying to report a damaged roadside #telecoms box to #bt, #virgin, #cityfibre as it’s not clear who it belongs to. (Virgin media were the hardest to get through to)

Peter Gabriel, So, 1986 on Geffen

One of the foundational albums of my youth – not just the “In Your Eyes” boombox scene from Say Anything, but really every track here. Sounds fantastic on vinyl. Definitely one of my desert island discs, provided I can bring a turntable.

In the UK this was issued on Charisma (PG5) and Virgin but in the US it was out on Geffen. It was reissued as a multi-CD / box set in 2012. On the basis of how great this album is I went back and learned the whole Peter Gabriel solo catalogue and even the early Genesis – on top of all the Womad / world music stuff he was also part of.

My copy, via the Worcester Record Riot, is an RCA Music Service club pressing from the RCA plant in Indianapolis.

#1980s #1986 #Charisma #geffen #Indianapolis #PeterGabriel #RCAMusicService #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds #Virgin #WorcesterMA #WorcesterRecordRiot

#StKitts marked a major milestone in its #cruise sector today with the inaugural call of #Virgin Voyages’ newest ship, Brilliant Lady, at Port Zante. https://www.caribjournal.com/2025/12/03/virgin-voyages-st-kitts/

Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers, Conscious Party, 1988 on Virgin

Third LP from Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers, which included Stephen, Sharon and Cedella plus Ziggy, all children of Bob and Rita Marley (who also adds backing vocals). Guests include Jerry Harrison and Tina Weymouth. Chris Franz and Weymouth also produced.

Loved this album when it came out – fairly certain I had a copy on vinyl in 1988, but jah knows where it ended up. This copy—via the Worcester Record Riot—is a Specialty pressing (see the E A S T around the spindle hole) with the original printed inner liner.

#1980s #1988 #ChrisFranz #JerryHarrison #MelodyMakers #Reggae #RitaMarley #TinaWeymouth #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds #Virgin #WorcesterMA #ZiggyMarley #ZiggyMarleyAndTheMelodyMakers

Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways launch daily Melbourne–Doha service, boosting capacity 53%
- By Jake Nelson

https://australianaviation.com.au/2025/12/virgin-australia-slots-in-last-piece-of-doha-puzzle/
More: https://hype.aero/coverage/routes/?story=49b558cf-18a3-44d0-8afb-a8552a472c48
#b777 #virginaustralia #virgin #qatar #aviation

‘My Guiding Light, My World’: Richard Branson Pays Tribute to Late Wife Joan Templeman

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://www.billboard.com/pro/richard-branson-joan-templeman-obituary/

UB40, Labour of Love, 1983 on A&M

Fourth studio LP from UB40 – a collection of covers including their giant hit “Red Red Wine” – but don’t hold that against them. It’s really a fantastic album start to finish.

“All of these songs were recorded by reggae artists between 1969 and 1972” – they came to “Red, Red, Wine” not via Neil Diamond (who wrote it) but Tony Tribe’s version.

They’d go on to make sequels: Labour of Love II, Labour of Love III, and Labour of Love IV – but none were quite as magical as the first.

My copy—via Worcester Record Riot—is an Electrosound Group Midwest pressing on gold letter A&M labels.

#1980s #1983 #am #electrosoundGroupMidwest #reggae #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds #virgin #worcesterMa #worcesterRecordRiot

Inside Richard Branson's 50-year relationship with 'love of his life' as he issues tribute

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/inside-richard-bransons-50-year-36306881

Joan Branson dead: Richard's heartbreaking tribute to 'best friend'

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/breaking-joan-branson-dead-richards-36306457

Most flights in Australia will no longer allow you to use power banks on board or charge them mid-flight. Smart bags will need the power bank removed and used with carry on. https://www.pickr.com.au/news/2025/australian-airlines-qantas-jetstar-ban-power-banks-in-flight #accessories #news #powerbankschargers #flight #jetstar #powerbank #qantas #typec #virgin

25 November: Blessed Anne of Jesus Lobera Torres

November 25
BLESSED ANNE OF JESUS LOBERA TORRES
Virgin

Optional Memorial

Anna Lobera Torres was born at Medina Del Campo (Valladolid, Spain) on 25 November 1545. She was received in 1570 into the frrst monastery of the Discalced Carmelites at Avila by St. Teresa herself, and later accompanied her to Salamanca and Beas. It was in returning to Granada to found a monastery, that she obtained from St. John of the Cross a commentary on the Spiritual Canticle, which he dedicated to her. After several migrations and misfortunes, in 1604, together with Blessed Anne of St. Bartholomew, she founded monasteries in France and Belgium. She died in Brussels after a few years of great interior and physical suffering, on 4 March 1621. She was beatified by Pope Francis on 29 September 2024.

From the Common of Virgins, or of Holy Women (religious)

Office of Readings

Second Reading

From the prologue of The Spiritual Canticle by St. John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church

(The Collected Works of St. John of the Cross, Washington DC, 2017, pp. 469-471)

The abundant love of mystical intelligence

These stanzas, Reverend Mother [Anne of Jesus], were obviously composed with a certain burning love of God. The wisdom and charity of God is so vast, as the Book of Wisdom states, that it reaches from end to end, and the soul informed and moved by it bears in some way this very abundance and impulsiveness in her words. As a result, I do not plan to expound these stanzas in all its breadth and fullness that the fruitful spirit of love conveys to them. It would be foolish to think that expressions of love arising from mystical understanding, like these stanzas, are fully explainable.

The Spirit of the Lord, who abides in us and aids our weakness, as St Paul says, pleads for us with unspeakable groanings in order to manifest what we can neither fully understand nor comprehend. Since these stanzas, then, were composed in a love flowing from abundant mystical understanding, I cannot explain them adequately, nor is it my intention to do so. I only wish to shed some general light on them, since Your Reverence has desired this of me.

It is better to explain the utterances of love in their broadest sense so that each one may derive profit from them according to the mode and capacity of one’s own spirit, rather than narrow them down to a meaning unadaptable to every palate. As a result, though we give some explanation of these stanzas, there is no reason to be bound by this explanation.

For mystical wisdom, which comes through love and is the subject of these stanzas, need not be understood distinctly in order to cause love and affection in the soul, for it is given according to the mode of faith through which we love God without understanding Him. I will then be very brief, although I do intend to give a lengthier explanation when necessary and the occasion arises for a discussion of some matters concerning prayer and its effects.

Since these stanzas refer to many of the effects of prayer, I ought to treat of at least some of these effects. Yet, passing over the more common effects, I will briefly deal with the more extraordinary ones that take place in those who with God’s help have passed beyond the stage of beginners. I do this for two reasons: first, because there are many writings for beginners; second, because I am addressing Your Reverence, at your request.

And our Lord has favored you and led you beyond the state of beginners into the depths of his divine love. I hope that, although some scholastic theology is used here in reference to the soul’s interior converse with God, it will not prove vain to speak in such a manner to the pure of spirit.

Even though Your Reverence lacks training in scholastic theology, through which the divine truths are understood, you are not wanting in mystical theology, which is known through love and by which these truths are not only known but at the same time enjoyed.

Responsory

Cf. Romans 8:26–27, 28

℟ The Spirit comes to help us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought: * The Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words; and God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit.
℣ We know that all things work together for good for those who love God. * The Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words; and God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit.

Prayer

O God, who gave Blessed Anne of Jesus
the grace of knowing the mystery of Your Love,
revealed in Christ Jesus, your Son;
grant us, we pray, through her intercession,
that, loving you faithfully and above all things,
we may always be in communion
with you and our brothers and sisters.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.

We are grateful to our Discalced Carmelite Friars for providing the English texts of liturgical offices published after the 1993 edition of the Carmelite Proper—Liturgy of the Hours.

#annaLoberaTorres #blessedAnneOfJesus #discalcedCarmelite #nun #optionalMemorial #virgin