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The Collect of the 4th Week of Advent, a masterfully crafted prayer dating from the eighth century, comprehensively, “situates the mystery of Christ’s incarnation and birth in the context of his saving death and its full effect: our resurrection to glory.”[1] The prayer, which will be familiar to those who
My soul rejoices in my God. (Is 61:10) Today the Church places before our eyes the greatest examples of waiting that we have in the Bible. John the Baptist and Mary, the Mother of Jesus. If we want to learn what to do in the waiting, we can look to
This Sunday is traditionally called Gaudete Sunday because of the first word of its entrance antiphon, “Gaudete in Domino semper: iterum dico, Gaudete,” (“[You all] Rejoice, in the Lord always: again I say rejoice”).[1] We on rejoice because the Lord is near; our joyful period of waiting is rapidly coming
Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, Carrying them in his bosom, leading the ewes with care. (Isaiah 40:11) When we know we are loved it changes everything, when we know we are awaited it changes everything. The story of Josephine Bakhita demonstrates
In our commercial culture the time before Christmas is celebrated as if it were already Christmas Day, and/or is seen merely as shopping season in preparation for the exchange of presents on Christmas. In the midst of this cultural attitude towards this season of preparation, it is easy to fall
O Lord make us turn to you; let us see your face, and we shall be saved. (Psalm 80:4) We do not get to choose whether or even how long we wait, but we do get to choose how we wait. We wait because we are human; but how we
We may easily be confused when we arrive at Mass for the 1st Sunday of Advent and hear the following prayer for the Collect: Grant your faithful, we pray, almighty God, the resolve to run forth to meet your Christ with righteous deeds at his coming, so that, gathered at
One of the guiding principles of the early church in formulating her doctrine was the phrase, “the law of prayer [is] the law of believing.” In that time, the Church Fathers, plagued as they were with heresies no less than we are and faced with formidable intellectual rhetoricians as opponents
Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. (Mt 25:34) Heaven – unending communion with God – that is what you are made for. We ought to long to hear those words; come blest of my Father
We don’t like to admit that Hell is a reality – it makes us uncomfortable to think about. Yet, Jesus speaks often speaks of it. No one goes to Hell accidently, and “God predestines no one to go to hell; for this, a willful turning away from God (a mortal
The mission of St. Mary Catholic Church is for all to KNOW, LOVE AND SERVE our Lord Jesus Christ; provide for the Catholic Educational needs of our children and adults, and proclaim the Good News of His Saving Grace to all we encounter.
