striving to radiate Him always
Liturgical living for us has changed over the years as we have become dominated by boys. But the silence remains an important aspect that we seek to maintain (even if it only last for short intervals).
How are you observing this last week of Advent?
”O Mary, like an aqueduct, bring to our soul the waters of grace. When our soul has received a little more life, it will once again be able to bear fruit.” ~ Family Prayer Booklet for Advent
Most of us are not able to attend an Advent retreat or day of recollection as we always have in previous Advent seasons. Let us not forgo this pious and necessary practice.
Below is a link for an Advent Men’s recollection. Listen to it! Share it with your beloved! Pass it it along for others.
Let us finish our Advent strong as we further prepare for His coming!
Advent is a season specially devoted to the exercises of what is called the purgative life, which is implied in that expression of St. John, so continually repeated by the Church during this holy time: Prepare ye the way of the Lord! Let all, therefore, strive earnestly to make straight the path by which Jesus will enter into their souls. Let the just, agreeably to the teaching of the apostle, forget the things that are behind [Phil. iii. 13], and labour to acquire fresh merit. Let sinners begin at once and break the chains which now enslave them. Let them give up those bad habits which they have contracted. Let them weaken the flesh, and enter upon the hard work of subjecting it to the spirit. Let them, above all things, pray with the Church. And when our Lord comes, they may hope that He will not pass them by, but that He will enter and dwell within them; for He spoke of all when He said these words: ‘Behold I stand at the gate and knock: if any man shall hear My voice will open to Me the door, I will come in unto him.’ [Apoc. ii. 20]. ~ Dom Prosper Gueranger, The Liturgical Year
Last week, in the spirit of peace, I entered into a deeper silence. It was glorious and challenging in the right ways. I give thanks for God’s grace and the dedication of my husband to sacrifice for my own salvation. This coming week will be his turn. Deo gratias!
He did an amazing job taking over all the duties — even if he missed the Jesse Tree readings which I spent hours making assessable for him, skipping the ornaments which were already catalogued by date, or forgoing our Advent Mediations which I sent to him and all the big children before going away and being completely off the grid.
All those things may have been sidelined last week but I trust that it was God’s will for my family to be drawn deeper into a silence of their own — silence which helps cultivates a peace, true peace that only Christ can bring.
He did work from home while tending to their schooling, helped our oldest daughter with her home, kept all the meals going (with some help form Papa & Nana and our resident chef), Holy Day obligation was met, our traditional Marian feastday breakfast (even if it was for dinner), took the girls gift shopping for an impromptu surprise party, prayed our regular daily family devotions and a few Advent staples, washed clothes, cleaned the house, prepped for feast days, and so much more.
I give thanks for his steadfast love which counts no cost and does what is necessary — all for the love of God.
Today, Gaudete Sunday, we are filled with Joy, knowing that the Christ Child is so near. As #domprospergueranger reminds us, “Tomorrow we will resume our attitude of servants mourning for the absence of their Lord and waiting for Him; for every delay, however short, is painful and makes love sad.”
Today, Gaudete Sunday, we are filled with Joy, knowing that the Christ Child is so near. As #domprospergueranger reminds us, “Tomorrow we will resume our attitude of servants mourning for the absence of their Lord and waiting for Him; for every delay, however short, is painful and makes love sad.”
We will go deeper into silence for further preparation of the Chirist-child, to more fully prepare our hearts as a gift to Him.
Next week will be his turn for a silent retreat and I will continue where he left off for the children. Then we will make the last week of Advent a family retreat of our own.
We prepare to enter deeper into silence this Advent and greatly appreciated the good shepherds that continue to be about the business of their God given duties.
Below is an excerpt of a powerful reflection & vow from Archbishop Vigano for the upcoming feast of the Immaculate Conception.
“The Church of Catholics, …that loves those who honor themselves with the name of Christian, …does not retreat before civil authority, thereby making herself an accomplice and courtesan of it, but rather the Church that endures persecution with courage and a supernatural gaze, knowing that it is better to die amidst the most atrocious torments than to offend the Most Blessed Virgin and Her Divine Son.
She is the Church that does not…
remain silent when the tyrant defies the Majesty of God, afflicts her subjects, and betrays the justice and authority that legitimizes it.
yield in the face of blackmail nor allow herself to be seduced by power or money.
She is the Church that ascends Calvary, as the Mystical Body of Christ, in order to complete in her own members the sufferings of the Redeemer and to rise again triumphantly with Him.
She is the Church who assists the weak and the oppressed with mercy and charity, while she stands fearless and terrible in the face of the arrogant and the proud.
…We have the promise of Mary Most Holy: “In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph.”
Let us bow before that heart, which beats with the most pure Charity, so that the flame of that holy love may reflect on each one of us, so that the flame which burns in it may illuminate our minds and make them capable of grasping the signs of the times.
And if our Shepherds are silent out of fear or complicity, the multitude of lay people and good souls have the opportunity to compensate for their betrayal and expiate their sins, invoking the Mercy of God who “has come to the help of his servant, Israel, remembering his mercy” (Lk 1:54).
Today the high priests of this modern Sanhedrin outrage Our Lord and His Most Holy Mother, complacent servants of the globalist élite who want to establish the kingdom of Satan; tomorrow they will retreat before the victory of the Virgo Potens, who will restore the Holy Church and will give peace and harmony to society, thanks to the prayers and sacrifices of so many of her humble and unknown children.
May this be our vow for the upcoming Feast of the Immaculate Conception, with which to honor Our Lady and Queen.”
You can read the full address from Carlo Maria Viganò, Archbishop, here.
Things add up fast when you have many bodies to shop for and you hold off on items of “need” for a feast day.
Today may not be an official commemoration of St. Nicholas in the Church since his feast falls on a Sunday in Advent this year, but were still giving thanksgiving for him on the home front and bringing some much needed physical joy to our children.
We observe a “mini-Lent “ during Advent so any feast day celebration seems to have an added impact on building up their joyful anticipation for the Christ Child (which is pictured, covered, in the mirror along with Mary & Joseph).
Prayer of Petition to St. Nicholas
Holy Pontiff Nicholas, how great is your glory in God’s Church! You confessed the name of Jesus before the proconsuls of the world’s empire, and suffered persecution for his name’s sake; afterwards, you were witness to the wonderful workings of God, when he restored peace to his Church; and a short time after this again, you opened your lips, in the assembly of the three hundred and eighteen Fathers, to confess with supreme authority the Divinity of our Saviour Jesus Christ, for whose sake so many millions of Martyrs had already shed their blood.
Receive the devout felicitations of the Christian people throughout the universe, who thrill with joy when they think of your glorious merits. Help us by your prayers during these days when we are preparing for the coming of Him, whom you proclaimed to be Consubstantial to the Father.
Vouchsafe to assist our faith and to obtain fresh fervour to our love. You now behold face to face that Word by whom all things were made and redeemed; beseech him to permit our unworthiness to approach him. Be our intercessor with him. You have taught us to know him as the sovereign and eternal God; teach us also to love him as the supreme benefactor of the children of Adam.
It was from him, charitable Pontiff, that you learned that tender compassion for the sufferings of your fellow men, which made all your miracles to be so many acts of kindness: cease not, now that you are in the company of the Angels, to have pity on and to succour our miseries.
Stir up and increase the faith of mankind in the Saviour whom the Lord has sent them. May this be one of the fruits of your prayer, that the Divine Word may be no longer unknown and forgotten in this world, which he has redeemed with his Blood. Ask for the pastors of the Church that spirit of charity, which shone so brilliantly in thee; that spirit which makes them like their divine Master, and wins them the hearts of their people.
Remember, too, O holy Pontiff, that Church of the East which still loves you so fervently. When you were on this earth, God gave you power to raise the dead to life; pray now, that the true life, which consists in Faith and Unity, may return once more and animate that body which schism has robbed of its soul.
By your supplications, obtain of God that the sacrifice of the Lamb, who is so soon to visit us, may be again and soon celebrated under the cupolas of Saint Sophia. May the sanctuaries of Kiev and Moscow become re-sanctified by the return of the people to unity. May the pride of the Crescent be humbled into submission to the Cross, and the majesty of leaders be brought to acknowledge the power of the Keys of Saint Peter; that thus there may be henceforth neither Scythian, nor Barbarian, but one fold under one Shepherd.
Hi! I'm Lena, mama of JOYfilledfamily.
We are a traditional Catholic family striving to live for Jesus Christ in everything we do. We pray to completely surrender our will to His and to become His servants. Our mission of this blog is to share our JOY.
This blog serves as a journal of us making good memories, living the liturgical year, and our spiritual journey.