As the season of Advent progresses, it draws us not only into silence, but into a spirit of wonder. There is a certain natural wonder we encounter, even among those who approach Christmas in a more secularized manner. Think of the amazement and delight so evident in children as they admire the trappings of the season.
Read More
Advent is undoubtedly a time for silence, even if the lived reality of the season is often far from this ideal. As the liturgy recounts for us the centuries of Israel's wait for the promised Messiah, we are invited to join the vigil. There is a sense of hush, of the silence and stillness of midnight while we long for the first blush of the "dawn from on high to break upon us" (Lk 1:78)
Read More
Entering Advent, we find ourselves before a banquet of spiritual riches. In the liturgy and practices of the season, the Church seeks to help up prepare ourselves to encounter Christ anew. It is a time to recall His coming as an Infant in Bethlehem, to look forward to that final glorious coming upon the clouds, and to receive Him as He desires to be present in the small, daily moments of our lives.
Read MoreAcquiring any habit takes work. Acquiring the habit of resting in the bosom of our Father costs us something. We have to make some decisions. St. Paul of the Cross would say we have to undergo some mystical deaths. The embrace of the Father awaits us but we must undergo some soul work.
Read MoreSt. Paul of the Cross wants to tell us today: “Remain like a child on the bosom of the Divine Father.” These were often his greetings in his Christmas letters! There is something very precious and original in the spiritual direction Paul offers us for living Advent and Christmas in prayerful contact with God. Be like Jesus, the Son of God, in His relationship to the Father.
Read More