Photo: Tree and Tabernacle

 

Poem: “To Know the Dark” by Wendell Berry

To go in the dark with a light is to know the light.
To know the dark, go dark. Go without sight,
and find that the dark, too, blooms and sings,
and is traveled by dark feet and dark wings.

Photo: Church at Night during the Solstice

 

Poem: “White Eyes” by Mary Oliver

 In winter 

all the singing is in 

the tops of the trees 

where the wind-bird 

 

with its white eyes 

shoves and pushes 

among the branches. 

Like any of us 

 

he wants to go to sleep, 

but he is restless – 

he has an idea, 

and slowly it unfolds 

 

from under his beating wings 

as long as he stays awake. 

But his big, round music, after all, 

is too breathy to least. 

 

So, it’s over. 

In the pine-crown 

he makes his nest, 

he’s done all he can. 

I don’t know the name of this bird, 

I only imagine his glittering beak 

tucked in a white wing 

while the clouds – 

 

which he has summoned 

from the north – 

which he has taught 

to be mild, and silent – 

 

thicken, and begin to fall 

into the world below 

like stars, or the feathers 

of some unimaginable bird 

 

that loves us, 

that is asleep now, and silent – 

that has turned itself 

into snow.

 

Poem: A Christmas Poem from John Bell (1745-1831)

Light looked down and saw the darkness.
‘I will go there’, said light.
Peace looked down and saw war.
‘I will go there’, said peace.
Love looked down and saw hatred.
‘I will go there’, said love.

So,
the Lord of Light,
the Prince of Peace
the King of Love
came down and crept in beside us.

Photo: Red Bulb

 

Prayer: Ambrose

O Lord, you have mercy on all. Take away from me my sins, and mercifully set me ablaze with the fire of your Holy Spirit. Take away from me the heart of stone, and give me a human heart, an heart to love and adore you, a heart to delight in you, to follow and enjoy you, for the sake of Christ our Lord.

Photo: Preparing for Mass

 

Poem: “Advent” by Pamela Cranston (On a theme by Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

 Look how long 

the tired world waited, 

locked in its lonely cell, 

guilty as a prisoner.

 

As you can imagine, 

it sang and whistled in the dark. 

It hoped. It paced and puttered about, 

tidying its little piles of inconsequence.

 

It wept from the weight of ennui 

draped like shackles on its wrists. 

It raged and wailed against the walls 

of its own plight.

 

But there was nothing 

the world could do 

to find its freedom. 

The door was shut tight.

 

It could only be opened 

from the outside. 

Who could believe the latch 

would be turned by the flower 

of a newborn hand?

Visitations: The Fourth Sunday in Advent 2024

                                                                    Visitations:

The Fourth Sunday in Advent 2024

December 22, 2024

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predmoresj@yahoo.com | 617.510.9673

Micah 5:1-4; Psalm 80; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45

 

When praying over the visitation of Mary to Elizabeth, one’s imagination can fill in the blanks for what Scripture does not tell us. We know it to be a tender sharing of joy between two women who become linked in salvation history. It is also a recognition of the future Messiah by the unborn prophet who prepares the way. What we come away with is a series of encounters that foreshadows what God is doing: setting up the encounter between the divine and human. 

 

Christmas is a time of sacred visitations and encounters. I believe this is what Christ wants for us because, as the author of Hebrews says, he gives us his body. He does want us to worship God, the Father, the Parent, but he does not care about liturgical sacrifices and offerings, and some people yearn to return to those outdated liturgical practices. Hebrews tells us that time is over. The time for encounter is here. Real life happens in those times of visitations, and that is where the meaning of Christmas is conveyed. Encounters and visitations are our work today. 

 

Advent is about longing to return to loved ones to share a special moment of meaning, hope, and happiness because we know time is fleeting and we wish goodwill to them. Far too many people carry sadness, worry, and loneliness in their hearts, and they are begging for someone to be with them and to hear of their pain. The elderly, the grieving, and those with emotional instability simply want to be remembered and to have a moment of lightness. When we share our suffering, we experience a real moment of joy and happiness. In the midst of hardships, we have each other.

 

We often want people to affirm and encourage us, and yet, every person needs compliments, words of support, and words of thanks. We might not think our Mom or Dad needs it, but it is nice to hear. Perhaps, we overlook our bosses and people in administration, but they welcome your kindness as well. Each person wants to know that others see them as lovable, valuable, and worthy of thanks. 

 

When we listen to each other’s stories of gladness, we must embrace it the way Mary did with Elizabeth. We must celebrate one’s good news no matter how small it is because it is a sign of hope and achievement, and we seem to get good news just when we need it most. We must hold onto hope, and hope then becomes a choice that propels new realities into being. Hope is more than wishful thinking. It often emerges from the ruptures we have in life, but it is persistent and joyful. Hope transcends our suffering and keeps us walking forward because it is anchored somewhere in a future horizon. Hope is an ability to work for something greater because it is good and right, and that brings us joy. 

 

In Advent, we celebrate the ruptured emergence of hope in a visitation between Mary and Elizabeth. We know that God has remembered us and wants to be with us and has given us a human family so that we understand how important we are to one another. We know that God is aware of our mundane and special moments and that we are seen and known by God. We see God’s presence through one another: when we call a friend who we know is not feeling one’s best; when someone has been withdrawn; when we learn that a friend is worried about a family member; when we send a thoughtful card or a text to show that we know the meaningful little details of a person’s life. These are the moments joy can break forth. These are the moments of connection that tells another person that they matter. These are the moments when we know we are honored, accepted, and welcomed just as we are. And these are the moments we know deep in our heart that God is visiting us – through the words, gestures, and presence of a loved one. And just like the infant John the Baptist, our hearts leap for joy.

 

Scripture for Daily Mass

First Reading: 

Monday: (Judges 13) A barren woman was visited by an angel to receive the message that she would bear a son. She named him Samson and the spirit of the Lord stirred within him.  

 

Tuesday: (Isaiah 7) This is the sign that you will be given: the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and he shall be named Emmanuel.

 

Wednesday: (Isaiah 9) The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone. You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing, as they rejoice before you as at the harvest, as people make merry when dividing spoils.

 

Thursday: (Acts 6) Stephen worked great wonders among the people and adversaries debated with him fiercely. They threw hit out of the city, stoned him, and laid him at Saul’s feet.  

 

Friday: (1 John) What we heard, and saw with our eyes, what we looked upon, and touched with our hands, concerns the Word of life.

 

Saturday: (1 John) God is light and in him there is no darkness. We have fellowship with him. Walk in the light as he is in the light.  

 

 

Gospel: 

Monday: (Luke 1) Zechariah, on priestly duty, and his wife, Elizabeth, prayed fervently. An angel visited them to announce that they would bear a son, who was to be named John. 

 

Tuesday: (Luke 1) The angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would bear a son who would become the savior of the world. He shall be named Emmanuel.

 

Wednesday (Luke 2) Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear.

 

Thursday (Luke 7) Jesus asked: Why did you go out to see the Baptist? He is the greatest of men born to women.   

 

Friday (John 5) The Baptist was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you were content to rejoice in his lift, but I have greater testimony than John’s.

 

Saturday (Matthew 1) The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus.

 

Thursday: (Matthew 10) Jesus said, “Beware of men who will hand you over to their courts and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be led before governors and kings.  

 

Friday: (John 20) Magdalene ran to Simon Peter and the Beloved Disciples to tell the news that Jesus has been removed from the tomb. In fear, they ran to see the tomb.

 

Saturday (Matthew 2) When the magi departed, an angel told Joseph to take his wife and child to Egypt because Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.  

 

 

Saints of the Week

 

Saints are not celebrated during the octave leading up to Christmas.

 

December 22 - O King of all nations, and their desire, and keystone of the church: come and save us, whom you formed from the dust.

 

December 23 - O Emmanuel, our king and giver of the Law, the hope of the nations and their Savior: come to save us, Lord our God.

 

December 24: ERO CRAS

In the Roman Catholic tradition, on December 23, the last of the seven “O Antiphons” is sung with the “Alleluia” verse before the Gospel reading at Mass and at Vespers – Evening Prayer in the Divine Office/Breviary. Most ordinary Catholics, however, are more accustomed to hearing these antiphons as verses in the Advent hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.”

But the literary construction of these wonderful antiphons is arranged in a unique and surprising way: The order of the seven Messianic titles of the “O Antiphons” (and the seven verses of “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”) was fixed with a definite purpose. 

In Latin, the initial letters of the antiphons – Emmanuel, Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, Adonai, Sapientia – form a reverse acrostic – a play on words – ERO CRAS, which translates into English as “Tomorrow, I will be.”

So, in the silence of Christmas Eve, we look back on the previous seven days, and we hear the voice of the One whose coming we have prepared for – Jesus Christ – speak to us: “I will be here tomorrow.”

 

December 26: Stephen, the first Martyr (d. 35), was one of the seven original deacons chose to minister to the Greek-speaking Christians. The Jews accused him of blasphemy. Though he was eloquent in his defense, Saul of Tarsus condoned his death sentence. 

 

December 27: John, Apostle and Evangelist (d. 100), was the brother of James and one of the three disciples to be in the inner circle. He left fishing to follow Jesus and was with him at the major events: the transfiguration, raising of Jairus' daughter, and the agony in the garden. He is also thought to be the author of the fourth gospel, three letters, and the Book of Revelation. 

 

December 28: The Holy Innocents (d. 2), were the boys of Bethlehem who were under two years old to be killed by King Herod in an attempt to eliminate the rise of the newborn king as foretold by the astronomers from the east. This event is similar to the rescue of Moses from the Nile by the slaughter of the infant boys by the pharaoh. 

 

This Week in Jesuit History

 

• December 22, 1649. At Cork, Fr. David Glawey, a missionary in the Inner and Lower Hebrides, Islay, Oronsay, Colonsay, and Arran, died. 
• December 23, 1549. Francis Xavier was appointed provincial of the newly erected Indian Province. 
• December 24, 1587. Fr. Claude Matthe died at Ancona. He was a Frenchman of humble birth, highly esteemed by King Henry III and the Duke of Guise. He foretold that Fr. Acquaviva would be General and hold that office for a long period. 
• December 25, 1545. Isabel Roser pronounced her vows as a Jesuit together with Lucrezia di Brandine and Francisca Cruyllas in the presence of Ignatius at the church of Sta. Maria della Strada in Rome. 
• December 26, 1978. The assassination of Gerhard Pieper, a librarian, who was shot to death in Zimbabwe. 
• December 27, 1618. Henry Morse entered the English College at Rome. 
• December 28, 1802. Pope Pius VII allowed Father General Gruber to affiliate the English Jesuits to the Society of Jesus in Russia.

Visitas: El cuarto domingo de Adviento de 2024

                                                                          Visitas:

El cuarto domingo de Adviento de 2024

22 de diciembre de 2024

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predmoresj@yahoo.com | 617.510.9673

Miqueas 5:1-4; Salmo 80; Hebreos 10:5-10; Lucas 1:39-45

 

Al orar por la visita de María a Isabel, la imaginación puede llenar los espacios vacíos que no nos dicen las Escrituras. Sabemos que se trata de un tierno compartir de alegría entre dos mujeres que se vinculan en la historia de la salvación. También es un reconocimiento del futuro Mesías por parte del profeta no nacido que prepara el camino. Lo que obtenemos es una serie de encuentros que prefiguran lo que Dios está haciendo: preparar el encuentro entre lo divino y lo humano.

 

La Navidad es un tiempo de visitas y encuentros sagrados. Creo que esto es lo que Cristo quiere para nosotros porque, como dice el autor de Hebreos, nos da su cuerpo. Él quiere que adoremos a Dios, el Padre, el Padre, pero no le importan los sacrificios y las ofrendas litúrgicas, y algunas personas anhelan volver a esas prácticas litúrgicas obsoletas. Hebreos nos dice que el tiempo ha terminado. El tiempo del encuentro ha llegado. La vida real sucede en esos tiempos de visitas, y es allí donde se transmite el significado de la Navidad. Los encuentros y las visitas son nuestro trabajo hoy.

 

El Adviento es el anhelo de volver con los seres queridos para compartir un momento especial de significado, esperanza y felicidad porque sabemos que el tiempo es fugaz y les deseamos buena voluntad. Demasiadas personas llevan tristeza, preocupación y soledad en sus corazones, y están rogando que alguien esté con ellos y escuche su dolor. Los ancianos, los afligidos y aquellos con inestabilidad emocional simplemente quieren ser recordados y tener un momento de alivio. Cuando compartimos nuestro sufrimiento, experimentamos un verdadero momento de alegría y felicidad. En medio de las dificultades, nos tenemos los unos a los otros.

 

A menudo queremos que la gente nos apoye y nos anime, pero todas las personas necesitan elogios, palabras de apoyo y palabras de agradecimiento. Puede que no pensemos que nuestros padres los necesiten, pero es agradable oírlo. Tal vez pasemos por alto a nuestros jefes y a la gente de la administración, pero ellos también agradecen nuestra amabilidad. Todas las personas quieren saber que los demás las ven como personas queridas, valiosas y dignas de agradecimiento.

 

Cuando escuchamos las historias de alegría de los demás, debemos aceptarlas como lo hizo María con Isabel. Debemos celebrar las buenas noticias de los demás, por pequeñas que sean, porque son un signo de esperanza y de logro, y parece que recibimos buenas noticias justo cuando más las necesitamos. Debemos aferrarnos a la esperanza, y la esperanza se convierte entonces en una opción que impulsa nuevas realidades a la existencia. La esperanza es más que una ilusión. A menudo surge de las rupturas que tenemos en la vida, pero es persistente y alegre. La esperanza trasciende nuestro sufrimiento y nos hace seguir adelante porque está anclada en algún lugar de un horizonte futuro. La esperanza es una capacidad de trabajar por algo más grande porque es bueno y correcto, y eso nos trae alegría.

 

En Adviento, celebramos la ruptura de la esperanza en una visita entre María e Isabel. Sabemos que Dios se ha acordado de nosotros y quiere estar con nosotros y nos ha dado una familia humana para que entendamos lo importantes que somos unos para otros. Sabemos que Dios está al tanto de nuestros momentos mundanos y especiales y que Dios nos ve y nos conoce. Vemos la presencia de Dios a través de los demás: cuando llamamos a un amigo que sabemos que no se siente muy bien; cuando alguien se ha alejado; cuando nos enteramos de que un amigo está preocupado por un miembro de la familia; cuando enviamos una tarjeta o un mensaje de texto con un sentimiento para demostrar que conocemos los pequeños detalles significativos de la vida de una persona. Estos son los momentos en los que la alegría puede estallar. Estos son los momentos de conexión que le dicen a otra persona que es importante. Estos son los momentos en los que sabemos que somos honrados, aceptados y bienvenidos tal como somos. Y estos son los momentos en los que sabemos en lo profundo de nuestro corazón que Dios nos está visitando, a través de las palabras, los gestos y la presencia de un ser querido. Y al igual que el infante Juan el Bautista, nuestros corazones saltan de alegría.

 

Escritura para la misa diaria

Primera lectura: 

Lunes: (Jueces 13) Una mujer estéril recibió la visita de un ángel para recibir el mensaje de que tendría un hijo. Ella lo llamó Sansón y el espíritu del Señor se agitó dentro de él.

 

Martes: (Isaías 7) Esta es la señal que se les dará: la virgen concebirá y dará a luz un hijo, y se llamará Emanuel.

 

Miércoles: (Isaías 9) El pueblo que andaba en tinieblas vio una gran luz; una luz brilló sobre los que habitaban en tierra de tinieblas. Les has traído abundante alegría y gran regocijo, pues se alegran delante de ti como en la cosecha, como se alegran cuando se reparten el botín.

 

Jueves: (Hechos 6) Esteban hizo grandes prodigios entre el pueblo y sus adversarios debatieron con él encarnizadamente. Lo echaron fuera de la ciudad, lo apedrearon y lo pusieron a los pies de Saulo.

 

Viernes: (1 Juan) Lo que oímos y vimos con nuestros ojos, lo que contemplamos y palparon nuestras manos, se refiere a la Palabra de vida.

 

Sábado: (1 Juan) Dios es luz y en él no hay tinieblas. Tenemos comunión con él. Andad en la luz como él está en la luz.

 

 

Evangelio: 

Lunes: (Lucas 1) Zacarías, en funciones sacerdotales, y su esposa Isabel oraban fervientemente. Un ángel los visitó para anunciarles que tendrían un hijo, que se llamaría Juan.

 

Martes: (Lucas 1) El ángel Gabriel anunció a María que daría a luz un hijo que se convertiría en el salvador del mundo. Se llamaría Emmanuel.

 

Miércoles (Lucas 2) Había pastores en aquella región que vivían en los campos y vigilaban su rebaño durante la noche. El ángel del Señor se les apareció y la gloria del Señor los rodeó de resplandor, y quedaron llenos de gran temor.

 

Jueves (Lucas 7) Jesús preguntó: ¿Por qué salieron a ver al Bautista? Él es el más grande de los hombres nacidos de mujeres.

 

Viernes (Juan 5) El Bautista era una lámpara ardiente y resplandeciente, y por un tiempo ustedes se contentaron con regocijarse en su elevación, pero yo tengo mayor testimonio que el de Juan.

 

Sábado (Mateo 1) Libro de la genealogía de Jesucristo, hijo de David, hijo de Abraham. Jacob fue el padre de José, esposo de María. De ella nació Jesús.

 

Jueves: (Mateo 10) Jesús dijo: “Cuídense de los hombres que los entregarán a sus tribunales y los azotarán en sus sinagogas. Serán llevados ante gobernadores y reyes.

 

Viernes: (Juan 20) Magdalena corrió a contarles a Simón Pedro y a los discípulos amados la noticia de que Jesús había sido sacado de la tumba. Con miedo, corrieron a ver la tumba.

 

Sábado (Mateo 2) Cuando los magos se fueron, un ángel le dijo a José que llevara a su esposa y a su hijo a Egipto porque Herodes iba a buscar al niño para destruirlo.

 

 

Santos de la semana

 

Los santos no se celebran durante la octava previa a la Navidad.

 

22 de diciembre – Oh Rey de todas las naciones, y su deseo, y piedra clave de la iglesia: ven y sálvanos, a quienes formaste del polvo.

 

23 de diciembre – Oh Emmanuel, nuestro Rey y dador de la Ley, esperanza de las naciones y su Salvador: ven a salvarnos, Señor Dios nuestro.

 

24 de diciembre: ERO CRAS

En la tradición católica romana, el 23 de diciembre, la última de las siete “Antífonas O” se canta con el verso “Aleluya” antes de la lectura del Evangelio en la Misa y en las Vísperas – Oración de la tarde en el Oficio Divino/Breviario. Sin embargo, la mayoría de los católicos comunes están más acostumbrados a escuchar estas antífonas como versos en el himno de Adviento “Oh Ven, Oh Ven, Emmanuel”. 

Pero la construcción literaria de estas maravillosas antífonas está dispuesta de una manera única y sorprendente: el orden de los siete títulos mesiánicos de las “Antífonas O” (y los siete versos de “Oh Ven, Oh Ven, Emmanuel”) fue fijado con un propósito definido. 

En latín, las letras iniciales de las antífonas – Emmanuel, Rex, Oriens , Clavis , Radix, Adonai, Sapientia – forman un acróstico inverso – un juego de palabras – ERO CRAS, que se traduce al español como “Mañana, seré”. 

Así, en el silencio de la Nochebuena, miramos atrás a los siete días anteriores y escuchamos la voz de Aquel para cuya venida hemos preparado –Jesucristo– que nos habla: “Estaré aquí mañana”.

 

26 de diciembre: Esteban, el primer mártir (fallecido en el año 35), fue uno de los siete diáconos originales elegidos para ministrar a los cristianos de habla griega. Los judíos lo acusaron de blasfemia. Aunque fue elocuente en su defensa, Saulo de Tarso condonó su sentencia de muerte.

 

27 de diciembre: Juan, apóstol y evangelista (fallecido en el año 100), era hermano de Santiago y uno de los tres discípulos del círculo íntimo. Dejó la pesca para seguir a Jesús y estuvo con él en los acontecimientos más importantes: la transfiguración, la resurrección de la hija de Jairo y la agonía en el huerto. También se le considera el autor del cuarto evangelio, tres cartas y el libro del Apocalipsis.

 

28 de diciembre: Los Santos Inocentes (fallecidos en 2002) eran los niños de Belén menores de dos años que el rey Herodes mató en un intento de evitar el ascenso del rey recién nacido, tal como habían predicho los astrónomos del este. Este acontecimiento es similar al rescate de Moisés del Nilo mediante la matanza de los niños por parte del faraón.

Esta semana en la historia de los jesuitas

 

• 22 de diciembre de 1649. En Cork, murió el padre David Glawey , misionero en las Hébridas Interiores y Bajas, Islay, Oronsay , Colonsay y Arran.
• 23 de diciembre de 1549. Francisco Javier fue nombrado provincial de la recién erigida Provincia de la India.
• diciembre de 1587. Fallece en Ancona el padre Claude Matthe, francés de origen humilde, muy estimado por el rey Enrique III y el duque de Guisa. Predijo que el padre Acquaviva sería general y que ocuparía ese cargo durante un largo período.
• 25 de diciembre de 1545. Isabel Roser pronuncia sus votos como jesuita junto con Lucrezia di Brandine y Francisca Cruyllas en presencia de Ignacio en la iglesia de Sta. María della Strada en Roma.
• 26 de diciembre de 1978. Asesinato de Gerhard Pieper, bibliotecario, asesinado a tiros en Zimbabue.
• 27 de diciembre de 1618. Henry Morse ingresó en el Colegio Inglés de Roma.
• 28 de diciembre de 1802. El Papa Pío VII permitió al Padre General Gruber afiliar a los jesuitas ingleses a la Compañía de Jesús en Rusia.

Photo: Christian Science Church

 

Spirituality: Howard Zinn in "A Power Governments Cannot Suppress"

To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness. What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. If we remember those times and places—and there are so many—where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction. And if we do act, in however small a way, we don't have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory.

Photo: A Floor-Sized Ornament

 

Prayer: God's Plan of Salvation

 Saint Ignatius uses imaginative contemplations to help a person of prayer contemplate the Trinity’s plan of salvation, which is introduced at the Annunciation. The Trinity gathers in the heavens looking down upon the earth. We are invited to stand there with them, hear their conversation, and share with them what you see and what surprises you. You are not to be a bystander; you can be an active participant. Look at the world with God the Father, the Son, and the Spirit, and gaze upon the world in all its beauty and its charm. See humanity working together for the good. Also notice the hatred and indifference that exists in the human heart. What does this experience make you feel? Watch how the second person of the Trinity volunteers to begin the work of redemption of humans. What is that conversation like? What are the vulnerabilities that Trinity faces? How does God become vulnerable.

As we do the contemplation again, we take it into our own context within the world. How does the Trinity look upon my individual situation as I consider my own particular community and living situation? Where is the beauty in these gatherings? Where are the disappointments and places of indifference? How does God labor to save the people within my particular living context?

 

We then look at the Annunciation. Let’s first to consider the first exchange between God the Father and the Angel Gabriel. What is it like as Gabriel is called from the realm of angels to come forward for this conversation? How does God begin to announce to Gabriel God's plan of redemption? Perhaps Gabriel asks, “why me?” Why was I chosen to deliver this message to a 14-year-old girl in Palestine? How do I even talk to a 14-year-old girl? How do I let her know that she will begin to bear a son? A son who will be called Emmanuel. How does Gabriel formulate the thoughts in his mind as he prepares to talk with her in a way that she can hear him? What is that conversation like as Mary shares her vulnerabilities and fears? What is she going to say to her parents? How is she going to explain this to her village people? How is God made vulnerable wondering and hoping if Mary is going to say yes? What support will Mary have along the way? This is a big task to ask of her. Is Gabriel just there for the conversation and then leaves, or does Gabriel remained during her pregnancy to reassure her that all will be fine? How is it that the Holy Spirit visits Mary in a way that doesn't frighten her? What is the role of human freedom and cooperation? Simply listen to all these types of conversations that go on between each person in the contemplation.

 

How does Mary’s visit to Elizabeth give her courage and reassurance? How does Mary begin to see the plan of God's action develop in her life? How is there a bond form between the two expectant mothers? What do they talk about other than the pregnancy? 

 

Listen to the revolutionary words of Mary's Magnificat. Allow those words to turn the world upside down.

 

How closely is Joseph's dream related to God the Father's dream?  Joseph is being asked to do something countercultural in his society. Scripture honors Joseph for his great role in being the father of Jesus, and yet our Christian tradition downplays his importance. Allow Joseph to be elevated once again because his participation was critical. How does the Angel comfort Joseph? Is this Angel the same one as Gabriel? What is that dream of Joseph? Allow him to tell you. Does it match the same dream that God told Gabriel? How does Joseph hear it differently.

Poem: John of the Cross, "If you want..."

 If you want, 

the Virgin will come walking down the road 

pregnant with the holy, 

and say, 

“I need shelter for the night. Please take me inside your heart; 

my time is so close.”

 

Then, under the roof of your soul, you will witness the sublime 

intimacy, the divine, the Christ, 

taking birth forever, 

 

as she grasps your hand for help; for each of us 

is the midwife of God, each of us.

 

Yet there, under the dome of your being, does creation 

come into existence eternally, through your womb, dear pilgrim – 

the second womb of your soul, 

 

as God grasps our arms for help; for each of us is 

His beloved servant 

never far.

If you want, the Virgin will come walking 

the down street pregnant 

with Light and sing …

Poem: “Advent” by Edwina Gateley

Advent means
we are waiting for something,
we are to expect
something good and up-lifting
to make us feel better.
And why not?
We struggle so,
and we only want
peace, security, and even
a little happiness.
We dream of it –
like a lost treasure in an empty desert.

Then, in the very dying of the Autumn Season,
along comes Advent
with candles, prayers, songs,
and promises
of new possibilities.
And, all tingling
with excitement and expectancy,
we are seduced
into hoping once again.

Oh – thank God
for Advent –
and its perennial promise –
pointing to a light
which never dies.

Photo: Glowing Cubes

 

Spirituality: List of Papal Trips

List of Papal Trips

 

Actions are the proof of one's faith. Pope Francis has brought the message of salvation to all peoples across the globe. This is a list of places he has visited - emphasizing that the Church is a worldwide communion, and he has emphasized ecumenical and inter-faith relationships. Many people worship in countries that do not freely afford human rights to people of different faiths. Pope Francis, through his appointment of Cardinals, is emphasizing that all people have representation in the Church and in their local municipalities

2013

 Brazil (July 22 to July 29, 2013)

 

2014

 Jordan,  Israel, and  Palestine (May 24 to May 26, 2014)

 South Korea (August 14 to August 18, 2014)

 Albania (September 21, 2014)

 France (November 25, 2014)

 Turkey (November 28 to November 30, 2014)

 

2015

 Sri Lanka and Philippines (January 13 to January 19, 2015)

 Bosnia and Herzegovina (June 6, 2015)

 Ecuador, Bolivia, and  Paraguay (July 5 to July 13, 2015)

 Cuba and United States (September 19 to September 27, 2015)

 Kenya,  Uganda, and  Central African Republic (November 25 to 30, 2015)

 

2016

 Cuba and  Mexico (February 12 to February 18, 2016)

 Greece (April 16, 2016)

 Armenia (June 24 to June 26, 2016)

 Poland (July 27 to July 31, 2016)

 Georgia and Azerbaijan (September 30 to October 2, 2016)

 Sweden (October 31 to November 1, 2016) 

 

2017

 Egypt (April 28 to April 29, 2017)

 Portugal (May 12 to May 13, 2017)

 Colombia (September 6 to September 10, 2017)

 Myanmar and Bangladesh (November 27 to December 2, 2017)

 

2018

 Chile and  Peru (January 15 to January 21, 2018)

  Switzerland (June 21, 2018)

 Ireland (August 25 to August 26, 2018)

 Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania (September 22 to September 25, 2018)

 

2019

 Panama (January 23 to January 27, 2019)

 United Arab Emirates (February 3 to February 5, 2019)

 Morocco (March 30 to March 31, 2019)

 Bulgaria and North Macedonia (May 5 to May 7, 2019)

 Romania (May 31 to June 2, 2019)

 Mozambique,  Madagascar, and  Mauritius (September 4 to 10, 2019)

 Thailand and  Japan (November 19 to 26, 2019)

 

2021

 Iraq (March 5 to March 8, 2021)

 Hungary and  Slovakia (September 12 to September 15, 2021)

 Cyprus and  Greece (December 2 to December 6, 2021)

 

2022

 Malta (April 2 to April 3, 2022)

 Canada (July 24 to July 30, 2022)

 Kazakhstan (September 13 to September 15, 2022)

 Bahrain (November 3 to November 6, 2022)

2023

 Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan (Jan 31 to February 5, 2023)

 Hungary (April 28 to April 30, 2023)

 Portugal (August 2 to August 6, 2023)

 Mongolia (August 31 to September 4, 2023)

 France (September 22 to September 23, 2023)

 

2024

 Indonesia, Papua New Guinea,  Timor-Leste and Singapore (Sept 2 to 13) 

 Luxembourg and  Belgium (September 26 to September 29, 2024)

 

Upcoming international visits

2024

 France (December 15, 2024)

2025

 Turkiye (May or August) 

State Visit is to celebrate the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea. 

2027

 South Korea (TBD)