Our Lady of the New Advent
In these closing days of Advent, what can our two recent Marian feasts teach us about preparing for Christ’s birth at Christmas?
He is my Love-Person
Another feast day is upon us. It’s Our Lady of Guadalupe’s feast day! And if you’ve ever experienced her feast day in the true “Guadalupano”[1] style, then you know that there’s no celebration like it.
The Dawn of Salvation
The light is Christ. He is a brilliant light. He is an intense light. He is an all-pervading light. Needless to say, His radiance is anything but gentle on the eyes of souls wandering in the darkness of sin. He is to their eyes like high-beam headlights on a dark and winding backcountry county road: blinding.
Day Nine – December 7, 2023 – Immaculate Conception Novena
For the sake of this novena, the ninth beatitude is a uniquely Marian one. It can be found at the beginning of Luke’s Gospel. Upon reaching the house of her cousin Elizabeth, Mary was greeted with the words, blessed. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! (Lk 1:42)
Day Eight – December 6, 2023 – Immaculate Conception Novena
The Eighth Beatitude: Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
Day Seven – December 5, 2023 – Immaculate Conception Novena
What do skilled writers and seasoned runners share in common? An invincible will to finish what they started. When seasoned runners “hit the wall” and when skilled writer’s hit the “block” (writer’s block) they can only finish what they started by taking one more step forward. The only difference is the nature of that step. Whereas the runner must keep running, the writer cannot keep writing. The skilled writer knows that finding his “second wind” means looking for new source of inspiration.
Day Six – December 4, 2023 – Immaculate Conception Novena
El-roi, “the God who sees me.” This was the name Hagar gave to the Lord who spoke to her in Genesis 16:13. Hagar was Sarai’s Egyptian maidservant. We will remember that in Sarai’s barrenness, Hagar was given to Sarai’s husband Abram to bear him a son. Hagar conceived and bore Ishmael. Hagar rejoiced. Abram rejoiced. But Sarai did not rejoice. Sarai was stricken with envy. The heat of Sarai’s resentment ultimately drove Hagar into the heat of the desert.
Day Five – December 3, 2023 – Immaculate Conception Novena
So far in this novena we have considered Mary’s spiritual poverty, her ability to mourn, her meekness and her thirst for righteousness. We have not only considered how she lived out these beatitudes, but also how we are called to follow her example.
Day Four – December 2, 2023 – Immaculate Conception Novena
Only two Gospel writers give us Jesus’ family-tree: Matthew and Luke.. Matthew’s version of Jesus’ genealogy has some unique features. Among other peculiarities, it names three important women.
Day Three – December 1st, 2023 – Immaculate Conception Novena
Mary’s Meekness The Third Beatitude: Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. (Mt 5:5) Isn’t Mary’s meekness a given? Is there really need to talk about it, much less contemplate it? Mary may not have struggled with being meek, but we do. The main purpose of these meditations is not to convince […]
