Tag Archives: advent

O Come Divine Messiah!

On the Third Sunday of Advent we encounter the following from Isaias at the Communion verse:

“Dícite: pusillánimes, confortámini et nolíte timére: ecce, Deus noster véniet et salvábit nos.

My hand missal gave an English rendering along these line…

“Say: Ye fainthearted, take courage and fear not: behold our God will come, and will save us.”

And yet, my personal Latinist confirms for me that the word after “Dicite” could indeed be translated differently in modern English. Although I like the idea of telling all the pansy men out there to man up because God is coming, this is a family blog and I shall leave it to your imagination.

Nonetheless, man up, fellas. If those among us who head diocese aren’t willing to be men, then those of us who head families surely must. Now is not the time for the “fainthearted”. If I’ve learned anything this Advent it is that God comes for each of us. Stay confessed. Offer your sufferings to Him. Ask Him daily for good works to perform and He will give them to you. Offer them to Him as well. Pray much – every hour should be sanctified to Him in prayer.

Watch for Christ.

Watch with Christ.

O key of David, come!

Rorate Coeli

No, I’m not talking about the trad blog, although a lot has been said regarding them this past week. I had thought of chiming in but I really don’t want to be part of the circular firing squad for once.

Rather, I refer to the votive Mass of the Blessed Virgin for Advent. This morning at 5:45 AM (thanks to the forceful assistance of my Angel) I left the house and headed out to this most edifying Mass. I had never attended a Rorate Mass. at 6AM, in the dark of a late winter night, I walked into an already full church – several hundred men, women, and children all dressed in Sunday best – and took my seat in the back of church. And then the door opened and the procession entered, heads and bodies bowing in reverence as first the crucifix and then Father passed by up the aisle. The only light in the building came from a few dozen candles on the altar itself.

“If our timing is right,” Father said in his sermon, “the sun will be coming up as I elevate the Sacred Host.”

Chilling, stunning, and accurate. Although overcast skies dampened the glory of the sun’s rays, the glory of the Son of God illuminated by flames flickering from the work of bees, did indeed shine, miraculously veiled under the appearance of bread.

There was a time not long ago when the whole Catholic world basked in that light and in these traditions.

Please God, the dew from heaven will drop down on us again.

Come O Lord! Come and do not delay!

Advent is Upon Us!

Here is your first penance for this penitential season. Brought to you by VII (and don’t try to tell me it wasn’t)… It’s already cued up to play at just the right moment but if for any reason it doesn’t play correctly, go to 6:55.

Friends, go to Mass. Fast, pray, give alms. Read the Scriptures. Live the Gospel. Remember that Our Lord is not a liar. He cannot be as He IS Truth. He will come again and we know not the day nor the hour; but He’s given us some pretty stellar clues so watch and pray. Pray your rosaries. Do NOT prance about a church sanctuary like Agnes DeMille on Xanax. It will do you no good and it just looks like you have a brain injury.

Come Lord Jesus!