Advent: The Season of Hope for the Culture of Life


Advent reminds us that God took flesh in Jesus Christ through Mary's "Yes" and He came to live among us as one of us on this earth. He was like us in all ways but for one -- He was without sin. He dealt with the sinfulness of the people He encountered in the marketplace -- the hypocrisy and judgmental nature of the Pharisees, the adulterous behavior of Mary Magdalene and those who wanted her stoned for her sins, while they most likely were the ones who were her accomplices in serious sin. Like us, He dealt with people who refused to believe the truth when it hit them in the face. And what did He do to convert them? He continued to speak the truth to them and above all, He loved them. Can we do the same? Can we love fallen away Catholics like John Kerry, Senator Durbin, and Senator Ted Kennedy enough to pray for them daily? Can we love them enough to do penance for them? Our Lord died for them. Let us unite our prayers and sacrifices with His this Advent as we prepare for His coming. This Advent, let us wait in eager anticipation with hope-filled hearts for the coming of a new day -- a new time when there will be no tears shed for aborted babies, for grief-stricken families, for the sick and elderly who are killed by their relatives.

More than just being a fact in history that is celebrated year after year, Christ's birth is a way of salvation meant to realize God's dream for us and the world.

This Advent is a time when the hope the coming of the Savior brings is rekindled in our hearts. We wait and welcome God's offer of salvation to us by preparing a room for our Savior in our hearts where the change from darkness to light begins.

During Advent, Jesus is reborn and alive in our hearts and it is that inner transformation that transform us into a people of light. Enlightened by Jesus Christ, we will reconcile with God and neighbor, restore peace and rebuild this culture of darkness into a new culture of life.
-

Comments

Post a Comment

Comments are moderated and are published at the blogger's discretion.

Blog Archive

Show more

Popular posts from this blog

The Spirituality and Miracles of St. Clare of Assisi

Image
August 11 is the memorial of St. Clare, one of my favorite saints. She was the first woman to follow the life of radical poverty practiced by St. Francis of Assisi and is the co-founder of the Poor Clares. Although I am not a Franciscan, I have had Franciscan friends, clergy, and spiritual directors instruct me on the beauty of St. Clare's spirituality. I have also learned a great deal from reading about her over the years. Clare and Francis (2007) is a film which depicts the fascinating story of her dramatic conversion and surrender to the will of God. St. Clare is the patron saint of television. She is also the patron of eye disorders, embroiderers, good weather, and telephones. The Contemplative Life The Lady Clare was born into a noble family in Assisi in 1193 and was admired for her great beauty. When she heard Francis of Assisi preach his Lenten homilies at the Church of San Giorgio, she was captivated by his words. At age eighteen, she heard him say: "When the
Read more

Saint Michael de Sanctis: Patron of Cancer Patients

Image
Today is the feast of Saint Michael de Sanctis, also known as St. Michael of the Saints, a Spanish Discalced Trinitarian priest, the patron of cancer patients. Michael Argemir was born on September 29, 1591 at Vic, Catalonia, Spain. At age 6, he told his parents that he planned to become a monk and began modeling his life after Saint Francis of Assisi. Michael’s parents died when he was about ten years old. He then served as an apprentice with a local merchant. During this apprenticeship, he continued his fervent devotion to the Lord, especially to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. At the age of 12, he joined the Trinitarian Friars at Barcelona, taking his vows at St. Lambert’s monastery in Saragosa four years later.  Shortly afterwards, Michael expressed a desire to join the reformed group of Trinitarians and was given permission to do so. He went to the Novitiate at Madrid and, after studies at Seville and Salamanca, he was ordained a priest. Twice he served as Superior of the hou
Read more

St. Raymond Nonnatus, Patron of Expectant Mothers, Midwives, and Newborn Babies

Image
The saint of the day for August 31 is St. Raymond Nonnatus. He is the patron of expectant mothers, midwives, obstetricians, infertile couples, and newborn babies. Raymond was born at Portella, Catalonia, Spain in 1204, the son of wealthy parents. He was delivered by cesarean section when his mother died in childbirth. Hence his name non natus (not born). In his childhood, he seemed to find pleasure only in his devotions and serious duties. His father, sensing that Raymond was drawn to religious life, ordered him to manage one of the family farms. Raymond readily obeyed but spent his time with the shepherds and workers, studying and praying until his father abandoned the idea of making his son a worldly success. Raymond later joined the the Order of Our Lady of Mercy or the Mercederians, which was founded by St. Peter Nolasco, who devoted to ransoming Christians captured by the Moors. He succeeded Peter as chief ransomer and went to Algeria to ransom slaves. He remained as hosta
Read more