First Sunday in Advent
November 30,
2008
The four weeks of Advent are set apart by the Church to
commemorate the ages that intervened between the fall of our first parents and
the birth of Christ which we celebrate at Christmas. It is a Season of special prayer and penance mingled with joyful
expectation, and calculated to fit our souls for a worthy keeping of this great
solemnity. Advent is also the beginning
of the ecclesiastical year, and as each succeeding year brings us closer to the
second coming of Christ as Judge of the world, this holy time is likewise
intended to make us ready to meet our Judge.
At Christmas Jesus will be born in our hearts, for at that time
the anniversary of His birth will be celebrated. He refuses nothing, to the prayer of the Church, His spouse, and
thus He will grant to our souls the same graces which He gave the shepherds and
the wise Kings.
Christ will come again also, at the end of all time, to
“condemn the guilty to the flames, and to call the just with a loving voice to
heaven” (Hymn for Matins).
The whole of today’s mass is a preparation for this double
Advent of mercy and justice. Some parts
of it can be applied equally to either (e.g., Introit, Collect, Gradual,
Alleluia), while others refer to our Divine Redeemer’s lowly birth, and others
again, (e.g., Epistle and Gospel), to His coming in the splendor of His power
and majesty. The same welcome will be
given to us by our Lord when He comes to judge us, as we give to Him now when
coming to redeem us. Let us prepare for
the Christmas feast by holy prayers and aspirations and by reforming our lives,
that we may be ready for that last great assize upon which depends the fate of
our soul for all eternity. And all this
with confidence, for those “who wait upon the Lord will never be confounded”
(Introit, Gradual, Offertory).
In former times, on this First Sunday of Advent, all the people
of Rome made the station at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, to assist at the
solemn mass which the Pope celebrated, surrounded by his clergy. This particular Church was chosen because it
is Mary who gave us Jesus and because relics of the crib in which the Blessed
Mother placed her Divine Child are preserved in this Church.
INTROIT:
Ps. 24. To Thee, O Lord, have I lifted up my soul. In Thee, O my God, I put my trust; let me
not be ashamed. Neither let my enemies
laugh at me, for none of them that wait on Thee shall be confounded.
Ps. Show, O Lord, Thy ways to me, and teach me Thy paths. Glory be, etc. To Thee, O Lord, etc.
COLLECT:
O Lord, we pray Thee, raise up Thy
power and come, that by Thy protection we may deserve to be rescued from the
threatening dangers of our sins, and be saved by Thy deliverance. Who liveth and reigneth, etc.
O God, who wert pleased that Thy
Word should, at the message of the angel, take flesh in the womb of the Blessed
Virgin Mary, grant that we, Thy suppliants, who believe her to be truly the
Mother of God, may be helped by her intercession with Thee. Through our Lord, etc.
O God, the shepherd and ruler of
all the faithful, graciously look upon Thy servant, Benedict, whom Thou hast
willed to be the chief pastor of Thy Church; grant him, we beseech Thee, by
word and example, to profit those over whom he rules, that together with the
flock entrusted to him he may attain to life everlasting. Through our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE: Rom. 13, 11-14.
Brethren, knowing the time, that
it is now the hour for us to rise from sleep: for now our salvation is nearer
than when we believed. The night is past, and the day is at hand. Let us
therefore cast off the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light. Let us
walk honestly, as in the day: not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering
and impurities, not in contention and strife; but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ.
What does St. Paul teach us
in this epistle?
After fully explaining the duties
of a Christian life to the Romans who were converted mainly by St. Peter, he
exhorts them to hesitate no longer to fulfill these duties, and he seeks to
move their hearts by this time of grace, presented them by the Christian
dispensation, and by the shortness of the time of grace.
What is here meant by sleep?
The stupidity and blindness of the
soul that, forgetting her God, is sunk in a lukewarm, effeminate, slothful and
lustful life, which, when it is gone, leaves nothing more than a dream.
Why does St. Paul say,
"salvation is nearer"?
He wishes to impress upon the
Romans that they now have far greater hope of salvation than when they first
became Christians, and that they should secure it by a pious life, because
death, and the moment on which depended their salvation, or eternal reward, was
drawing near. "What is our life," says St. Chrysostom, "other
than a course, a dangerous course to death, through death to immortality?"
What is the signification of
day and night?
The night signifies the time
before Christ, a night of darkness, of infidelity and of injustice; the day
represents the present time, in which by the gospel Christ enlightens the whole
world with the teachings of the true faith.
What are "the works of
darkness"?
All sins, and especially those
which are committed in the dark, to shun the eye of God and man.
What is the "armor of
light"?
That
faith, virtue and grace, the spiritual armor, with which we battle against our
three enemies, the world, the flesh, and the devil, and in which armor we
should walk honestly before all men. A Christian who in baptism has renounced
the devil and all his pomps, must not live in vice, but must put on Christ
Jesus, that is, must by the imitation of Christ's virtues adorn his soul, as it
were, with a beautiful garment. This text (verse 13) moved St. Augustine to fly
from all works of uncleanness in which he had been involved, and to lead a pure
life which he had before thought difficult.
ASPIRATION
Grant, O Lord, that we may rise by penance from the sleep of our sins, may
walk in the light of Thy grace by the performance of good works, may put on
Thee and adorn our souls with the imitation of Thy virtues. Amen.
GRADUAL:
Ps. 24. None of them that wait on Thee shall be
confounded, O Lord. Show, O Lord, Thy
ways to me, and teach me Thy paths.
Alleluia, alleluia. Ps.
84. Show us, O Lord Thy mercy, and grant us Thy salvation. Alleluia
GOSPEL: Luke 21, 25-33.
At that time, Jesus said to his
disciples: There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars:
and upon the earth distress of nations, by reason of the confusion of the
roaring of the sea and of the waves, men withering away for fear and expectation
of what shall come upon the whole world. For the powers of heaven shall be
moved; and then they shall see the Son of man coming in a cloud with great
power and majesty. But when these things begin to come to pass, look up and
lift up your heads, because your redemption is at hand. And he spoke to them a
similitude: See the fig tree, and all the trees; when they now shoot forth
their fruit, you know that summer is nigh. So you also, when you shall see
these things come to pass, know that the kingdom of God is at hand. Amen I say
to you, this generation shall not pass away till all things be fulfilled.
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Why does the Church cause
the gospel of the Last Judgment to be read on this day?
To move us to penance, and to
induce us to prepare our souls for the coming of Christ, by placing the Last
Judgment before our minds. Should not the thought of this terrible judgment,
when all good and all evil will be revealed, and accordingly be rewarded or
punished in the presence of the whole world‑should not this thought
strengthen us in virtue!
What signs will precede the
Last Judgment?
The sun will be obscured, the
stars will lose their light and disappear in the firmament (Is. 13:10),
lightning and flames will surround the earth, and wither up every thing; the
powers of heaven will be moved, the elements brought to confusion; the roaring
of the sea with the howling of the winds and the beating of the storms will
fill man with terror and dread. Such evil and distress will come upon the
world, that man will wither away for fear, not knowing whither to turn. Then
will appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven, the holy cross, the terror of
the sinners who have scorned it, the consolation of the just who have loved it
(Mt. 24:30).
Why will all this come to
pass?
Because as the people love the
creatures of God so inordinately, more than the Creator, and use them only to
His dishonor, He will destroy them in this terrible manner, arming all
creatures for vengeance against His enemies (Wis. 5:8‑24, and showing by
the manner of their destruction the evils which will fall upon all sinners. The
darkness of the sun will indicate the darkness of hell; the blood-red moon, the
anger and wrath of God; the disappearance and falling of the stars, will
represent the fall of sinners into the abyss of hell and their disappearance
from earth; and the madness of the elements, will exhibit the rage of the
beasts of hell. Sinners will then vainly, and too late, repent that they have
attached their hearts to things which will end so horribly, and that only
increase their torments.
Why does Christ nevertheless
command: "Lift up your heads, for your redemption is at hand"?
These words are spoken to the just
who as long as they live on earth are like prisoners and exiles, but who at the
Last Judgment will be taken body and soul into their long desired fatherland,
the kingdom of heaven: into the freedom of the children of God. These will have
reason to raise their heads, now bowed in mourning, and to rejoice.
How will the Last Judgment
commence?
By the command of God the angels
will sound the trumpets, summoning all men from the four parts of the earth to
come to judgment (I Thess. 4:15). Then the bodies of the dead will unite with their
souls, and be brought to the valley of Josaphat, and there placed, the just on
the right, the wicked on the left (Mt. 25:33). Then the devils as well as the
angels will appear; Christ Himself will be seen coming in a cloud, in such
power and majesty that the sinners will be filled with terror. They will not
dare to look at Him, and will cry to the mountains to fall upon them, and to
the hills to cover them (Lk. 23:30).
How will the judgment be
held?
The book of conscience, upon which
all men are to be judged, and which closed with this life, will be opened. All
good and evil thoughts, words, deeds and motives, even the most secret, known
only to God, will then be as plainly revealed to the whole world as if they
were written on each one's forehead; by these each one will be judged, and be
eternally rewarded, or eternally punished.
O God! If we must then give an
account of every idle word (Mt. 12:36), how can we stand in the face of so many
sinful words and actions!
Why will God hold a
universal public Judgment?
Although immediately after death,
a special private judgment of each soul takes place, God has ordained a public
and universal judgment for the following reasons: First, that it may be clearly
shown to all how just has been His private judgment, and also that the body
which has been the instrument of sin or of virtue may share in the soul's
punishment or reward; secondly, that the justice which they could by no means
obtain in this life, may be rendered before the whole world to the oppressed
poor, and to persecuted innocence, and that the wicked who have abused the
righteous, and yet have been considered honest and good, may be put to shame
before all; thirdly, that the graces and means of salvation bestowed upon each,
may be made known; fourthly, that the blessed providence of God which often
permitted the righteous to suffer evil while the wicked prospered, may be
vindicated, and it be shown on that day that His acts are acts of the greatest
wisdom; fifthly, that the wicked may learn the goodness of God, not for their
comfort or benefit, but for their greater sorrow, that they may see how He
rewards even the slightest work performed for His love and honor; finally, that
Christ may be exalted before the wicked on earth as before the good in heaven,
and that the truth of His words may solemnly be made manifest.
ASPIRATION
Just art Thou O God, and just are Thy judgments. Ah, penetrate my soul with
holy fear of them, that I may be kept always in awe, and avoid sin. Would that
I could say with the penitent St. Jerome: "Whether I eat or drink, or
whatever I do, I seem to hear the awful sound of the trumpet in my ears: `Arise
ye dead, and come to judgment."'
OFFERTORY:
Ps. 24. To Thee have I lifted up my soul. In Thee, O my God, I put my trust; let me
not be ashamed. Neither let my enemies
laugh at me; for none of them that wait on Thee shall be confounded.
SECRET:
May these sacred rites, O Lord,
cleanse us by their potent efficacy, and bring us with purer hearts to their
source and origin. Through our Lord,
etc.
Confirm in our minds, we beseech
Thee, O Lord, the mysteries of the true faith, that we who acknowledge Him who
was born of the Virgin to be true God and true man, may deserve by the saving power
of His resurrection to attain to everlasting joy. Through our Lord, etc.
Look down favorably, O Lord, we
beseech Thee, upon the gifts we have offered; and let Thy constant protection
direct Thy servant Benedict, whom Thou hast chosen to be the chief pastor of
Thy Church. Through our Lord, etc.
COMMUNION:
Ps. 84. The Lord will give goodness, and our earth
shall yield her fruit.
POSTCOMMUNION:
May we receive Thy mercy, O Lord,
in the midst of Thy temple, that with due honors we may prepare for the coming
festival of our redemption. Through our
Lord, etc.
Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O
Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ,
Thy Son, was made known by the message of the angel, may by His passion and
cross, be brought to the glory of His resurrection. Through Christ our Lord, etc.
Let the reception of this divine
sacrament protect us, O Lord, we beseech Thee; and may Thy servant Benedict,
whom Thou hast chosen as the chief pastor of Thy Church, along with the flock
committed to him, derive always from it protection and strength. Through our Lord, etc.
PROPER OF THE SAINTS FOR THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 30th :
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30
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Sun
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1st Sunday of Advent
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sd
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V
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Mass 9:00 AM; Confessions 8:00 AM; Rosary of Reparation
8:30 AM
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1
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Mon
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St. Andrew, Ap
(transferred from November 30th)
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d2cl
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R
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Mass 6:00 PM; Rosary of Reparation & Confessions
5:30 PM
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2
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Tue
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St. Bibiana, VM
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sd
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R
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Mass 6:00 PM; Rosary of Reparation & Confessions
5:30 PM
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3
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Wed
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St. Francis Xavier, C
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dm
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W
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Mass 6:00 PM; Rosary of Reparation & Confessions
5:30 PM; Lecture & dinner 7:00 PM
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4
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Thu
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St. Peter
Chrysologus, BpCD
St. Barbara,
VM
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d
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W
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Mass 8:00 AM; Rosary of Reparation & Confessions
7:30 AM
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5
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Fri
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Ferial Day
St. Sabbas, Ab
First Friday
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V
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A
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Mass 6:00 PM; Rosary of Reparation & Confessions
5:30 PM; Benediction & Holy Hour after Mass
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6
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Sat
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St. Nicholas, BpC
Vigil of the Immaculate Conception of the BVM
First Saturday
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d
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W
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Mass 9:00 AM; Confessions 8:00AM; Rosary of Reparation
8:30 AM
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7
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Sun
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2nd Sunday of Advent
St. Ambrose, BpC
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sd
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V
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Mass 9:00 AM; Confessions 8:00AM; Rosary of Reparation
8:30 AM
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ANNOUNCEMENTS:
WANTED:
Any priest from the
Diocese of Harrisburg, with moral integrity and intellectual competency, to
come forth in the public forum to formally contest, in writing, the doctrinal,
moral, liturgical and canonical claims of SS. Peter and Paul Roman Catholic
Mission that we possess by virtue of our baptism the right to the unrestricted
use of the immemorial traditions of our Church without prejudice to our
Catholic Faith, particularly the right to the sacraments of our Church
according to “received and approved” immemorial rites. Please contact the
Mission at our saintspeterandpaulrcm@comcast.net
if interested.
Masses on Sundays and Holy Days
of are offered for the welfare of Ss.
Peter & Paul Roman Catholic Mission and its members.
The Rosary of Reparation in
front of the Planned Parenthood Abortuary sponsored by St. Margaret Clitherow
Guild is offered every Friday beginning at 7:30 AM. During the Rosary of Reparation to date, through the
intercession of the Blessed Virgin and the preaching of Father, four women
left without terminating the life of their child. Benedicamus Domino. If
you cannot attend this Rosary please make a mental note to unite yourself
spiritually to the prayers and sacrifices being offered.
The St. Margaret Clitherow Guild has made over
$3,700 in profit just by selling grocery cards! If you
would like to receive cards in advance and pay later, or would like
more information, please see Pam Noel.
Weekly educational conferences are conducted by
Father Wednesday after the Mass. These
conferences, as well as the Sunday sermons, are available on the Mission web
page. December lectures will begin a
series on rediscovering our Sonship in Christ.
The Church of
Constantinople, so devoted, as we have seen, to the glory of St. Andrew, was at
length deprived of the precious treasure of his relics. This happened in the year 1210, when the
city was taken by the crusaders.
Cardinal Peter of Capua, the legate of the holy See, translated the body
of St. Andrew into the cathedral of Amalfi, a town in the kingdom of Naples,
where it remains to this day, the glorious instrument of numberless miracles,
and the object of the devout veneration of the people. It is well known how, at the same period,
the most precious relics of the Greek Orthodox Church came, by a visible
judgment of God, into the possession of the Latins. Byzantium refused to accept those terrible warning, and continued
obstinate in her schism. She was still
in possession of the head of the holy apostle… When the Byzantine empire was
destroyed by the Turks in 1462, divine Providence so arranged events, as that
the Church of Rome should be enriched with this magnificent relic when it was
placed in the basilica of St. Peter on the Vatican.
Dom Gueranger, The Liturgical
Year, Feast of St. Andrew
To Peter Jesus has
given firmness of faith; to John, warmth of love; the mission of Andrew is to
represent the cross of his divine Master.
Now it is by these three, faith, love, and the cross, that the Church
renders herself worthy of her Spouse.
Everything she has or is bears this threefold character. Hence it is that after the two apostles just
named, there is none who holds such a prominent place in the universal liturgy
as St. Andrew.
Dom Gueranger, The
Liturgical Year, Feast of St. Andrew
St. Andrew’s Christmas
Novena Prayer
Hail and blessed be the hour
and moment in which the Son of God was born
of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold.
In that hour vouchsafe, O my God to hear my prayer and grant my desires,
through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother.
Amen.
To be said fifteen times a
day from the feast of St. Andrew (November 30) until Christmas.
As to the numbers who become Christians, you
may understand them from this, that it often happens to me to be hardly able to
use my hands from the fatigue of baptizing: often in a single day I have
baptized whole villages. Sometimes I have lost my voice and strength altogether
with repeating again and again the Credo and the other forms. The fruit that is
reaped by the baptism of infants, as well as by the instruction of children and
others, is quite incredible. These children, I trust heartily, by the grace of
God, will be much better than their fathers. They show an ardent love for the
Divine law, and an extraordinary zeal for learning our holy religion and
imparting it to others. Their hatred for idolatry is marvellous. They get into
feuds with the heathen about it, and whenever their own parents practise it,
they reproach them and come off to tell me at once. Whenever I hear of any act
of idolatrous worship, I go to the place with a large band of these children,
who very soon load the devil with a greater amount of insult and abuse than he
has lately received of honor and worship from their parents, relations, and
acquaintances. The children run at the idols, upset them, dash them down, break
them to pieces, spit on them, trample on them, kick them about, and in short
heap on them every possible outrage.
St. Francis Xavier, Letter
Let those, then, who are not touched by the tidings of the coming of
the heavenly Physician and the good Shephersd who giveth His life for His
sheep, meditate during Advent on the awful yet certain truth, that so many
render the redemption unavailable to themselves by refusing to co-operate in
their own salvation. They may treat the
Child who is to be born with disdain; but He is also the mighty God, and do
they think they can withstand Him on that day, when He is to come, not to save,
as now, but to judge? Would that they
knew more of this divine Judge, before whom the very saints tremble! Let these, also, use the liturgy of this
season, and they will there learn how much He is to be feared by sinners.
Dom Gueranger, The Liturgical Year, Advent
O Jesus! O Sun of justice! Give us a clear
knowledge of what the world is without Thee; what our understanding is without
Thy light; and what our heart, without Thy divine heat. Open Thou the eyes of our faith; that whilst
seeing with the eyes of the body the gradual decrease of the material light, we
may think of that other darkness, which is in the soul that has not Thee. Then, indeed, will the cry which comes from
the depths of our misery make its way to Thee, and Thou wilt come on the day
Thou hast fixed, dispelling every shadow of darkness by Thy irresistible
brightness.
St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Sermon for the
First Sunday of Advent
Remember in your charity the following pray
requests:
Please pray for our expectant
mothers: Elizabeth Vargas, Erika Zepeda, Theresa Walker, Lisa Vasilak,
Amanda Kauffman, Megan Walters, Sue Mackin, and Lynn Kearney,
The health and welfare of Rev.
Enrique Rueda,
For the welfare of Ed Snell
and Luanne Ferguson and their legal cases in the defense of children in
their mother’s womb,
For the conversion of the daughter
of Simon O’Leary, Margaret E. O'Neill, her husband Robert,
and their seven children,
For the welfare of Anthony
Malesky, a young Catholic father of three recently severely injured in
a train accident,
Barbara Taaffe asks us to remember
the welfare of Etta Vanderwerken,
Ebert’s request our prayers for
the Andreas and Jenna Ortner Family,
Michelle Parthemore
requests our prayers for the welfare of her family,
David Romeo asks our prayers for
the health and welfare of his wife, Kim, and his aunt, Margaret
Romeo,
Cecilia Nico requests prayers for
the health and conversion for Sharon
O’Connell, Kate Neason & Barb Bucher,
Rodolfo Zelaya Montealegre,
the father of Claudia Drew, who is in failing health
Joyce Paglia has asked for our
prayers for George Richard Moore Sr., and her children, Lease,
Christopher, Perry, and Debbie,
The health and welfare of our
friend, Don Lewis,
John Rocco, who is
having some difficulty in recovering from a major surgical procedure and has
been unable to travel to York,
Meghan Walters asks our prayers
for the health of her daughter, Claire Walters,
The special intention and welfare
of Julio Vargas, and for the conversion of Karla and
Grace Vargas,
The Pitman’s request our prayers
for Jan Siegler, a young mother of two with cancer, and for the health of Theresa
Wagner,
The health of Nancy Bennett,
the daughter of Peg and Bill Barry,
Crystal Keating requests our
prayers for the conversion of Eugene Keating, her husband,
Helen Crane, the
aunt of David Drew who is in failing health,
Eduardo Hernandez, a
three year old being treated for leukemia,
Jason Kolinsky, asks
our prayers for his intention,
Fr. Rueda has asked for our
prayers for his friends, Carlos
and Norma Hopson and
David Regan who is critically ill,
For the welfare of Anthony
and Joyce Paglia, who are responsible for the beautiful statuary in our
chapel,
The Drew’s ask your intercession
for the Gene Peter Family, the John Manidis Family, the
Sal Massinio Family, and John Cuono,
Please pray for the welfare of Brother
Francis, MICM, the superior of the Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of
Mary in Richmond, NH, and for Fr. Michael Jurecki, an old and
faithful traditional priest, who are in failing health,
Philip Thees asks our prayers for
his family, for McLaughlin Family, and the
conversion of Helen Mackewicz, the welfare of Dan and Polly
Weand, and the health of Sophia Herman, a 10 years old
child, the special intention of John Fergale, the welfare of George
Parvinski, Deacon Michael Erdeck and
his wife Nancy, and the health of Dante Bogus.
Mine are the heavens
and mine is the earth; mine are the people, the righteous are mine, and mine
are the sinners; the angels are mine, and the Mother of God, and all things are
mine; God Himself is mine and for me, because Christ is mine, and all for
me. What dost thou, then, ask for, what
dost thou seek, O my soul? All is
thine, all is for thee, do not take less, nor rest with the crumbs which fall
from the table of Thy Father. Go forth
and exult in thy glory, hide thyself in it, and rejoice, and thou shalt obtain
all the desires of thy heart.
St. John of the Cross,
Prayer of the Enamored Soul
What reverence and awe are shown to that
inner chamber of a king, where he sits in all the majesty of his power! Therein no man may enter that is a stranger,
or unclean, or unfaithful. The usages
of courts require, that when men came to pay their homage, everything must be
the best, and fairest, and most loyal.
Who would go to the palace-gate in rags? Who would go, that knew he was odious to the prince? So it is with the sanctuary of the divine
Spouse. No one is permitted to come
nigh, but he that is of God’s family, and is intimate, and has a good
conscience, and has a fair name, and leads a holy life. Within the holy place itself God receives
but the Virgin, and spotless virginity.
Hence learn, O Man, to examine thyself: who thou art, and what thou art,
and what merits thou hast. Ask thyself,
after this, if thou mayst dare to penetrate into the mystery of the birth of
thy Lord, or canst be worthy to approach that living sanctuary, wherein reposes
the whole majesty of thy King, and thy God.
St. Peter Chrysologus, On the Virgin Mary
during her expectation.
This is the aim of prayer, this is the purpose of the spiritual
marriage, to give birth to good works and good works alone… Their conception of
glory (souls who have reached the state of divine union) is that of being able
in some way to help the Crucified, especially when they see how often people
offend Him, and how few there are who really care about His honor and are
detached from everything else.
St. Teresa of Avila
St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra was one of the three hundred and eighteen
bishops, who proclaimed, at Nicaea, that the Word is consubstantial with the
Father. The humiliations of the Son of
God did not scandalize him. Nether the lowliness of the flesh, which the
sovereign Lord of all things assumed to Himself in the womb of the Virgin, nor
the poverty of the crib, hindered him form confessing the Son of Mary to be Son
of God, equal to God; and for this reason, God has glorified this His servant,
and given him the power to obtain, each year, for the children of the Church,
the grace of receiving this same Jesus, the Word, with simple faith and fervent
love.
Dom Gueranger, The Liturgical Year, Feast of St. Nicholas
Pray for the Repose of the Souls:
Elizabeth Mirarchi, the
sister of Conde McGinley,
Simon P. O’Leary who
died November 4th,
Patricia Alverez, a
friend of Joe Sobran, who died November 4th,
David Romeo for his aunts, Sybil
Calderia and Dorothy Calderia, his uncle, Tom McKenna,
his friend, Joanne Bollinger,
Philip Johnson, a 24
year old man with inoperable brain tumor, requests our prayers,
Cecilia Nico requests prayers for the repose of my aunt, Ethel Fonner,
who died Oct. 16th,
The grandfather of Tyler Kauffman,
Fredrick Ansthony Iamurri,
Joyce Paglia has asked for our
prayers for her son, George Richard Moore, who died May 14th,
Elvira Slammon, the
grandmother of Elizabeth Vargas, who died April 24th,
Mary Rhodes, the
aunt of Stephanie Fonticoba, who died April 12th,
The Boyle Family requests our
prayers for Pauline Riello, a mother of seven who died April 12th,
Gary Eldridge, the
father-in-law of Keith Drew who died April 6th,
Michael Portone, who
died March 19th,
John Drew, the
uncle of David Drew,
Maria Grillos,
a friend of Claudia Drew,
Albert Gnoza, the
uncle of Philip Thees who died February 14th,
Mildred Rocco,
the aunt of John Rocco,
Robert Hamberger, a
friend of the Art and Pam Noel,
James Kleinfelter, the father of
Becky Hoffman who died January 17th,
Christine Jawidzik requests our
prayers for her beloved grandfather, Edward John Jawidzik, who
died November 21st,
Fr. Peterson asks our prayers for
the repose of the souls of the six priests who were ordained with
him sixty years ago,
The Drew’s ask your intercession
for their niece, Andrea Levitt, who died June 1st,
Claudia Drew asks our prayers for
her aunt Hilda Moreira and her uncle Mauricio Zelaya,
who both died in April,
Georgia Sue Heindel,
the sister of Pam Noel,
Howard and Mary Schriver,
the parents of Daniel Schriver,
Joseph and Eleanor Lauctes,
the brother-in-law and sister of Regina Spahalski, and her brother, Bernard
Adams,
Emilce Vargas,
the grandmother of Julio Vargas, and his grandfather, Carlos Gutierrez,
Mary Heitzman,
the aunt of David Drew,
Benjamin Sorace, the
uncle of Sonya Kolinsky,
Kelly Donovan Jacquot, the sister-in-law
of Gail Lewis,
Jim Lewis, the
brother of Don Lewis,
Georgia Sue Heindel,
the sister of Pam Noel.
I have found just one
Brahmin and no more in all this coast who is a man of learning: he is said to
have studied in a very famous Academy. Knowing this, I took measures to
converse with him alone. He then told me at last, as a great secret, that the
students of this Academy are at the outset made by their masters to take an
oath not to reveal their mysteries, but that, out of friendship for me, he
would disclose them to me. One of these mysteries was that there only exists
one God, the Creator and Lord of heaven and earth, whom men are bound to
worship, for the idols are simply images of devils. The Brahmins have certain
books of sacred literature which contain, as they say, the laws of God. The
masters teach in a learned tongue, as we do in Latin. He also explained to me
these divine precepts one by one; but it would be a long business to write out
his commentary, and indeed not worth the trouble. Their sages keep as a feast
our Sunday. On this day they repeat at different hours this one player: "I
adore Thee, O God; and I implore Thy help for ever." They are bound by
oath to repeat this prayer frequently, and in a low voice. My friend added,
that the law of nature permitted them to have more wives than one, and their
sacred books predicted that the time would come when all men should embrace the
same religion. After all this he asked me in my turn to explain the principal
mysteries of the Christian religion, promising to keep them secret. I replied,
that I would not tell him a word about them unless he promised beforehand to
publish abroad what I should tell him of the religion of Jesus Christ. He made
the promise, and then I carefully explained to him those words of Jesus Christ
in which our religion is summed up: "He who believes and is baptized shall
be saved." This text, with my commentary on it, which embraced the whole
of the Apostles' Creed, he wrote down carefully, as well as the Commandments,
on account of their close connection with the Creed.
He told me also that
one night he had dreamt that he had been made a Christian to his immense delight,
and that he had become my brother and companion. He ended by begging me to make
him a Christian secretly. But as he made certain conditions opposed to right
and justice, I put off his baptism. I don't doubt but that by God's mercy he
will one day be a Christian. I charged him to teach the ignorant and unlearned
that there is only one God, Creator of heaven and earth; but he pleaded the
obligation of his oath, and said he could not do so, especially as he was much
afraid that if he did it he should become possessed by an evil spirit.
St.
Francis Xavier, Letter
When I have finished baptizing the people, I order them to destroy the
huts in which they keep their idols; and I have them break the statues of their
idols into tiny pieces, since they are now Christians. I could never come to an end describing to
you the great consolation which fills my soul when I see idols being destroyed
by the hands of those who had been idolaters.
St. Francis Xavier, From his Letters and Instructions, M. Joseph Constelloe,
S. J.
Novena
to Our Lady of Guadalupe
for the conversion of the
Hispanic people of York
(Novena begins December 4th and
ends on December 12th)
Our Lady of Guadalupe, according to your
message in Mexico I venerate you as the Virgin Mother of the true God for whom
we live, the Creator of all the world, Maker of heaven and earth. In spirit I kneel before your most holy
image which you miraculously imprinted upon the cloak of the Indian Juan Diego,
and with the faith of the countless numbers of pilgrims who visit your shrine,
I beg you for this favor: (the conversion of the Hispanic population of York
to the true Church).
Remember, O immaculate Virgin, the words
you spoke to your devout client: “I am a merciful mother to you and to all your
people who love me and trust in me and invoke my help. I listen to their lamentations and solace
all their sorrows and sufferings.” I
beg you to be a merciful mother to me, because I sincerely love you and trust
in you and invoke your help. I entreat
you, our Lady of Guadalupe, to grant my request, if this should be the will of
God, in order that I may bear witness to your love, your compassion, your help
and protection. Do not forsake me in my
needs.
Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray
for us. (Hail Mary three times)
In whatever town Francis stops, wherever he even passes by, he acquires
such renown as can scarcely be believed. I do not wish to write about the
things which he does; so sublime that I do not trust myself adequately to
describe them on paper. The life of Master Francis has created such a stir that
his name is celebrated through all India. . . . How I should like to narrate in
detail all the wonders which are related of Master Francis; believe me, my
failure to do so pains me more than it does you. But I assure you in confidence
that God is working through his means such marvelous things as may not licitly
be the subject of idle conversation.
Fr. John Vaz, companion of St. Francis Xavier, Letter written in 1548
Besides these two
dangers (in going to China), there are others much greater which do not affect
the people of the land, and which would take too long to recount, although I
will not omit to mention a few. The first is to cease to hope and confide in
the mercy of God, since it is for His love and service that we are going to
manifest His law and Jesus Christ, His Son, our Redeemer and Lord, as He well
knows. Since through His holy mercy, He gave us these desires, to distrust His
mercy and power now, because of the dangers in which we could see ourselves for
His service, is a much greater danger (for if He is served more, He will
protect us from the dangers of this life) than the evils which can be inflicted
upon us by all the enemies of God, since without God's license and permission,
the devils and their ministers cannot harm us in any way.
And we must also
strengthen ourselves with the saying of the Lord that says: "He that loves
his life in this world will lose it, and he who loses it for the sake of God
will find it," which is in keeping with what Christ our Lord also says:
"He who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is not fit for the
kingdom of God."
We, considering these dangers
to the soul, which are much greater than those of the body, find that it is
safer and more secure to pass through bodily dangers than to be caught in
spiritual dangers before God. We are consequently determined to go to China by
any way whatever. I hope in God our Lord that the outcome of our voyage will be
to the increase of our holy faith, no matter how much the enemies and their
ministers persecute us, since "if God is for us, who will be victorious
over us?"
St. Francis Xavier,
Letter
THE LORD COMETH FROM
AFAR FIRST
SUNDAY OF ADVENT
PRESENCE
of GOD ‑ The
Lord is coming; I place myself in His presence and go to meet Him with all the
energy of my will.
MEDITATION:
I. " The name of the Lord cometh from afar… .I look
from afar, and behold I see the power of God coming .... Go out to meet Him,
and say, ` Tell us if You are He who shall rule . . . . ' " These words
are taken from today's liturgy, and in reply, it invites us,
"
Come, let its adore the King, the Lord who is coming!. . " (RB).
This coming was expected for long ages; it
was foretold by the prophets, and desired by all the just who were not granted
to see its dawn. The Church commemorates and renews this expectation with each
recurring Advent, expressing this longing to the Savior who is to come. The
desire of old was sustained solely by hope, but it is now a confident desire,
founded on the consoling reality of the Redemption already accomplished.
Although historically completed nineteen centuries ago, this longing should be
actualized daily, renewed in ever deeper and fuller reality in every Christian
soul. The spirit of the Advent liturgy, commemorating the age‑long
expectation of the Redeemer, will prepare us to celebrate the mystery of the
Word made Flesh by arousing in each one of us an intimate, personal expectation
of the renewed coming of Christ to our soul. This coming is accomplished by
grace; to the degree in which grace develops and matures in us, it becomes more
copious, more penetrating, until it transforms the soul into an alter Christus.
Advent is a season of waiting and of fervent longing for the Redeemer : "
Drop down dew, ye heavens, and let the clouds rain the just One! "
(ibid.).
2. In today's Epistle (Rom 13,11‑14), St. Paul exhorts
us, " Brethren, it is now the hour . . . to rise from sleep. " During
Advent, the
"
springtime " of the Church, we must arouse ourselves and bring forth new
fruits of sanctity. Even now, the
Apostle shows us the great fruits of Advent : “ Let us therefore cast off the
works of darkness and put on the armor of light…put ye on the Lord Jesus
Christ. “ If we have been somewhat
drowsy and languid in Our Lord’s service, now is the time to arouse ourselves
to a new life, to strip ourselves generously of our meanness and weakness, and
to “ put on Jesus Christ, “ that is, His holiness. In order to help us attain this end, Jesus encourages us by
reminding us of His love in coming as our Redeemer “ He comes to meet us with
His grace; it is infinite mercy that inclines to us.
On the other hand, the Church, in today’s
Gospel (Lk 21, 25-33), puts before us the last coming of Jesus as
supreme Judge, “ and then they shall see the Son of Man coming in a cloud, with
great power and majesty. “ He came with
love to Bethlehem; He comes with grace into our souls; He will come with
justice at the end of the world : Christ’s triple coming, the synthesis of
Christianity, an invitation to a vigilant, trusting expectation, “ Lift up your
heads, for your redemption is at hand! “
COLLOQUY:
O
My God, Word of the Father, Word made flesh for love of us, You assumed a
mortal body in order to suffer and be immolated for us. I wish to prepare for Your coming with the
burning desires of the prophets and the just who in the Old Testament sighed
after You, the one Savior and Redeemer.
“ O Lord, send Him whom You are going to send…. As You have promised,
come and deliver us! “ I want to keep
Advent in my soul, that is, a continual longing and waiting for the great
Mystery wherein You, O Word, became flesh to show me the abyss of Your
redeeming, sanctifying mercy.
O sweetest Jesus, You come to me with Your
infinite love and abundance of Your grace; You desire to engulf my soul in
torrents of mercy and charity in order to draw it to You. Come, O Lord, come! I, too, wish to run to You with love, but
alas! My love is so limited, weak, and
imperfect! Make it strong and generous;
enable me to overcome myself, so that I can give myself entirely to You. Yes, my love can become strong because “ its
foundation is the intimate certainty that it will be repaid by the love of
God. O Lord, I cannot doubt Your
tenderness, because You have given me proofs of it in so many ways, with the
sole purpose of convincing me of it.
Therefore, trusting in Your love, my weak love will become strong with
Your strength. What a consolation it
will be, O Lord, at the moment of death to think that we shall be judged by Him
whom we have loved above all things!
Then we can enter Your presence with confidence, despite the weight of
our offenses! “ (T. J. Way, 40).
O Lord, give me love like this! I desire it ardently, not only to escape
Your stern eye at Judgment, but especially in order to repay You in some degree
for Your infinite charity.
O Lord, do not, I beseech You, permit that
this exceeding great love which led You to become incarnate for my salvation,
be given in vain! My poor soul needs
You so much! It sighs for You as for a
compassionate physician, who alone can heal its wounds, draw it out of its
languor and tepidity, and infuse into it new vigor, new enthusiasm, new
life. Come, Lord, come! I am ready to welcome Your work with a
docile, humble heart, ready to let myself be healed, purified, and strengthened
by You. Yes, with Your help, I will
make any sacrifice, renounce everything that might hinder Your redeeming work
in me. Show Your power, O Lord, and
come! Come, delay no longer!
At other times during
the Holy Sacrifice, he was seen raised from the ground a cubit and more so that
while seeing the greatness of the miracle, the people might acknowledge the
sanctity of the servant of God. At Comorin, when the pagans were not moved by
his words, Xavier asked that a tomb which had been sealed the day before should
be opened. Then indicating that this would be a sign of God's approval of
Christianity, he called to the body to rise. The dead man came to life, with
hundreds of natives embracing the faith as a consequence. In the same city on
another occasion, Francis healed a beggar with ulcerous legs when in a burst of
heroism he drank the putrid water in which the running sores had been washed.
Also in east India,
Xavier brought back to life a young man who had died of a pestilential fever,
and was being carried to the cemetery. In the city of Combutura, a boy had
fallen into a deep well and drowned. His body was later brought up to the
surface. Francis prayed over the dead child and then, taking it by the hand,
ordered it in the name of Jesus Christ to rise. Immediately the boy returned to
life. In Japan, a merchant, blind for years, was given back his sight when
Francis recited the Gospels and made the sign of the cross over his head. On
one occasion, a small crucifix which the missionary had lost in the ocean was
restored to him by a sea crab when he reached the shore.
Urban VIII, Bull of
Canonization of St. Francis Xavier issued by on August 6, 1623, the miracles,
with certifying documentation, make up the bulk of the nineteen pages of the
papal document
Nothing indicates
better the nature of self-love, or should make it more hateful to us, than the
idea that it is the rival of the love of God.
Homines sunt voluntates, says St. Augustine: Men are their
wills. We can bestow our whole love
on but one only of two objects; God or self.
If we put God first and refer all things to Him, then His love will make
us good and pleasing in His sight, imparting a supernatural value to all our
actions, and perfecting us as we grow in purity and simplicity. If, on the other hand, we refer everything
to ourselves, our self-love will upset God’s order in us, rendering us most
displeasing to Him, vitiating actions otherwise holy, and lowering us in
proportion to the sway it exercises in our hearts. <
