O Come, O Come Emmanuel!

The Holy Season of Advent begins for us!

Today we as a universal church begin a new Year with this most liturgical Season of Advent. Advent is a time of preparation not only for the Second Coming of the Lord, but also a time of remembrance of the Birth of Christ. It is a time of waiting, preparation and hope. It can be a very holy time in our life if we choose to prepare ourselves wisely. I know that this can be a very busy time in our lives as we prepare our own houses for Christmas by putting up lights and a Christmas Tree. A lot of people are frantically running around trying to find the “perfect present” for someone whom we deeply love. The malls seem to be so crowded, the people whom we encounter seem to be so rushed, so unfriendly.

If we deeply love Jesus Christ, our Lord, this most holy season of Advent really becomes a time or waiting for the Lord, watching for the Lord, preparing for the Lord. I invite each of you to be somewhat countercultural and incorporate and Advent Wreath in your house, find and use and Advent Calendar, pray Morning/Evening and Night Prayer (you can sign up for I Breviary to download to your computer, I phone, I pad – You are on it anyway all day). I would encourage you to get to Confession (– call Fr. Carlos or I for a Special Appointment, or come on Saturday from 4:15-5:15pm).

I would encourage you to watch spiritually enriching programs on TV. HBO had a great special entitled Top Ten Monks. I would encourage you and your family to watch this great special about these Cistercian Monks in Austria. They really live in the world, but not of the world. I would encourage you to watch a glimpse of this on You Tube – enjoy. I really enjoyed their authenticity and their peace.

May this be an incredible time of holy preparation for us all!

Happy Advent!

Fr. Brad