Today is Divine Mercy Sunday. Tomorrow my coworkers will ask, “How was your weekend?” Will I just say, “fine” like I typically do? Or will I spill out the joy of the truth? “It was wonderful! It was Divine Mercy Sunday, so beautiful!” Will truth prompt them to ask, “What is that?” And will I … More Divine Mercy
In the final hours, it is cold. Piercing cold, like described in the Christmas Novena I’ve been saying every day since the Feast of St. Andrew. Hail and blessed be the hour and momentin which the Son of God was bornof the most pure Virgin Mary,at midnight,in Bethlehem,in piercing cold.In that hour, vouchsafe, O my … More Advent, the piercing cold
O Emmanuel, our King and Lawgiver, the Expectation and Saviour of the nations! come and save us, O Lord our God! We are very close now. Making lists and checking them twice. O Wisdom, Order, and Prudence. I need You. O Adonai, Leadership, Laws, and Redemption. I need You. O Root of Jesse, Ensign, and … More Advent, the Savior
O King of the Gentiles and the desire thereof, Thou cornerstone that makes both one, come and deliver mankind, whom Thou didst form out of clay. The verses that inspire this antiphon begged to be read in entirety. And truly, all the context around them. My Christmas list, already quite lofty, insists on going further…extending … More Advent, the Cornerstone
O Day-Spring,Brightness of light eternal,and Sun of Justice,come and enlightenthem that sit in darknessand in the shadow of death. Today’s Antiphon ends with the same line as yesterday’s, referring to those who “sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.” And I thought, isn’t it enough? He comes to bring the prisoner forth. Yesterday. … More Advent, the Light
O Key of David, and sceptre of the house of Israel! who openest, and no man shutteth: who shuttest, and no man openeth; come, and lead the captive from prison, sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death. Is. 22:22; Apoc. 3:7; Lk. 1:79 Thou hast, O eternal Light, to shine in the midst … More Advent, the Key
O Root of Jesse, Which standest for an ensign of the people, before Whom kings shall keep silence, Whom the Gentiles shall beseech: come and deliver us, and tarry not. Isaiah 11:10 An ensign is like a signal, standard, or a banner. It can point out a place where everyone of the same tribe is … More Advent, the Ensign
“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign. Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel.” Isaiah 7:14 And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name … More Advent, Rorate Caeli
I took off work today in obedience to this Holy Day of Obligation. It was a struggle to even ask for it, against my people-pleasing ego in the midst of the busiest time of the year. Busy, not just because Christmas is coming, but year-end for accountants…sigh. Yet, once again, I find myself incredibly grateful … More Advent, Feast of the Immaculate Conception
“And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you in all things; that your whole spirit, and soul, and body, may be preserved blameless in the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23 During Advent, one phrase rolls off my tongue so naturally that I almost don’t think about what I’m saying. It’s … More Advent, holy and blameless
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