Tuesday, 6th December, St. Nicholas, is a fourth-century Bishop of Myra in modern day Turkey of whom little is known. He is a patron of Russia, sailors, pawnbrokers and children.
Wednesday, 7th December, St. Ambrose, bishop and doctor of the Church (339-397), was governor of the Roman province whose seat was in Milan and in 374, the laity insisted on his becoming bishop though he was still not baptised. He defended orthodoxy through brilliant preaching and writing. Patron of Milan, beekeepers and domestic animals.
Thursday, 8th December, The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We celebrate Mary who, from the first instant of her existence in the womb of her mother Anne, was ‘by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God, and in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, Saviour of the human race, preserved free from all stain of original sin’.
Friday, 9th December, St. Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin (1474-1548) saw the vision of Our Lady of Guadalupe in December 1531.
Saturday, 10th December, Our Lady of Loreto. ‘This celebration helps all people, especially families, youth and religious to imitate the virtues of that perfect disciple of the gospel, the Virgin Mother, who, in conceiving the Head of the Church also accepted us as her own.’