December 24

The Month of December Dedicated to Advent and the Coming of Christ

Saints: Saint Tarsilla, Roman Virgin, Aunt of Pope Saint Gregory the Great (d. 6th century); Saint Irma, Benedictine Abbess (7th-8th century)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 66 The Porter of the Monastery

Mass in the Morning: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Resp Ps 89; Lk 1:67-79

The favors of the Lord I will sing forever.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

JOSEPH, GUARDIAN OF THE VIRGIN,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

I will make his Kingdom firm.

(2 Sm 7:12)

We are just about there faithful readers. United in faith and prayer, we get ready, for in the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace (Lk 1:78-79). Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!

CHRISTMAS EVE DAY

(Some Other Morning: Poems by Jeremy Driscoll)

The earth asleep a season

and birdsong few

the gliding clouds

and the immense quiet

soggy soil yet

already the noiseless

push of the green.

This afternoon the light

was clearly longer than

yesterday

and the day

before.

Let us celebrate the light 

tonight.

let us light a candle

and a tree.

Far stars shall see

our hopeful signals 

and let down mercies 

and skyly strengths

waking the earth

stirring the birds

drying the soil

and pulling the green.

SAINT TARSILLA,

SAINT IRMA,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: This was a welcome favor. My mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

December 24

Year of Saint Joseph

Other saints: Saint Delphinus, Bishop (403); Saint Tharsilla (c. 550); Saint Mochua, Abbot (657); SS Dagobert II (679), Irmina (c. 710), and Adela, Abbess (c. 724); Bd Bartholomew dal Monte, Founder (1726-1778); Bd Paula Cerioli, Foundress (1816-1865); Saint Sharbel Makhlouf (1828-1898)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 66 The Porter of the Monastery

Mass in the Morning: Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Resp Ps 89; Lk 1:67-79

For ever will I sing the goodness of the Lord.

SAINT JOSEPH, LIGHT OF PATRIARCHS,

PRAY FOR US.

CHRISTMAS EVE DAY

Jeremy Driscoll

The earth asleep a season

and birdsong few

the gliding clouds

and the immense quiet

soggy soil yet

already noiseless

push of the green.

This afternoon the light

was clearly longer than

        yesterday

        and the day

        before.

Let us celebrate the light

        tonight.

let us light a candle

        and a tree.

Far stars shall see

our hopeful signals

and let mercies

       and skyly strengths

                                        waking the earth

                                        stirring the birds

                                        drying the soil

                                        and pulling the green.

BLESSED BE THE LORD, THE GOD OF ISRAEL; FOR HE HAS COME TO HIS PEOPLE AND SET THEM FREE.

(Lk 1:68)

Today's photo: One last look at our 2020 Advent wreath with a friendly reminder: Advent "ends before First Vespers (Evening Prayer I) of Christmas", and "Christmas Time runs from First Vespers (Evening Prayer I) of the Nativity of the Lord [Christmas] up to and including the Sunday after Epiphany or after January 6" (Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year, 40, 33).

© Gertrude Feick 2020

December 24

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 66 The Porter of the Monastery
Mass in the Morning: 2 S 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Resp Ps 89; Lk 1:67-79
Vigil Mass: Is 62:1-5; Resp Ps 89; Ac 13:16-17, 22-25; Mt 1:1-25

Behold, when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son into the world.

Fourth Sunday of Advent : Christmas Eve

Readings of the day: RB 66

Mass: 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Resp. Psalm 89; Romans 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-38

 

From the Cistercian Abbey of Quilvo, Curicó, Chile

Drop down dew from above, you heavens, and let the clouds rain down the Just One;

let the earth be opened and bring forth a Savior.

(Entrance Antiphon, Mass)

We have busy, exciting 24 hours in which to immerse ourselves. First, we move towards the conclusion of this holy season with the celebration of the Fourth Sunday of Advent, then end Advent before First Vespers of Christmas. At First Vespers of the Nativity of the Lord we enter Christmas Time.

Ethiopian icon

To prepare for today’s liturgy, I went to my postcard collection and selected those with artwork of the Annunciation. One of my favorites, included here, is from the Cistercian Abbey of Quilvo, Curicó, Chile. The other depiction of the Annunciation I especially like is not on a postcard, but framed on my wall: included here, an Ethiopian icon written on skin. Although very different, these icons speak to me in similar ways. First, in the depths of their simplicity. Second, in the hands of the Angel Gabriel and of Mary. I’ve been told that eyes are the window to the soul; for me, hands are the window to the heart. Hands intrigue me: they speak to me in their lines, smoothness, coarseness, elasticity of the skin, in their delicacy no matter they big or small. Look at the hands in the photos. The artist of the Quilvo picture shows both Gabriel and Mary with oversized, plump hands—open, directed toward the Word, ready to give the Word, and receive the Word. In the Ethiopian piece, the writer shows hands with elongated fingers pointing to the Word, guided towards Mary; Mary too pointing while covering her heart. The sheer magnitude and impact of the Word: ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. You will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.’ Mary was troubled, afraid, yet with open hands, she pondered in her heart. I like to think Gabriel took the hand of Mary and calmed her. Today may be a day to take the hand of one lonely, ill, anxious, grieving, or appearing distant. Getting ahead of myself, I wonder what would have happened had someone taken the hand of ‘perturbed’ Herod. Or, take the hand of a loved one and look at it, hold it—examine its beauty and let it speak to you and lead you to the beauty of her heart. Hands—Heart: may they lead us to the child to be born.

When the human spirit is ready, God enters without hesitation or waiting.

You need not look either here or there.

God is no farther away than the door of the heart.

(Meister Eckhart)

With outstretched hands and enlarged hearts,

may we welcome the WORD made FLESH dwelling among us.

MAY IT BE DONE TO ME ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD.