Mary was able to turn a stable into a home for Jesus, with poor swaddling clothes and an abundance of love. She is the handmaid of the Father who sings his praises.
She is the friend who is ever concerned that wine not be lacking in our lives. She is the woman whose heart was pierced by a sword and who understands all our pain. As mother of all, she is a sign of hope for peoples suffering the birth pangs of justice. She is the missionary who draws near to us and accompanies us throughout life, opening our hearts to faith by her maternal love. As a true mother, she walks at our side, she shares our struggles and she constantly surrounds us with God’s love. Through her many titles, often linked to her shrines, Mary shares the history of each people which has received the Gospel and she becomes a part of their historic identity. Many Christian parents ask that their children be baptized in a Marian shrine, as a sign of their faith in her motherhood which brings forth new children for God. There, in these many shrines, we can see how Mary brings together her children who with great effort come as pilgrims to see her and to be seen by her. Here they find strength from God to bear the weariness and the suffering in their lives. As she did with Juan Diego, Mary offers them maternal comfort and love, and whispers in their ear: “Let your heart not be troubled… Am I not here, who am your Mother?”
(Pope Francis Evangelii Gaudium, 286)
Readings for Saturday of the Second Week of Advent
Eccles (Sir) 48:1-4, 9-11. Ps 79:2-3, 15-16, 18-19, R/ v 4. Mt 17:10-13. www.catholicbishops.ie/readings
Going before Jesus in the spirit and power of Elijah, John bears witness to Christ in his preaching, by his baptism of conversion, and through his martydom.
Audio: Advent Thought for the Day
Each day during Advent we are bringing you an audio Thought for the Day on a different theme. Today’s Thought for the Day is from Bishop Fintan Monahan, Bishop of Killaloe. In this piece Bishop Fintan speaks about the anticipation of Christmas and shares a beautiful Advent poem from John Bell.
Click below to listen to the reflection
Visual Thought for the Day
Today’s thought for the day visual for sharing on social media is from Pope Francis.
The Words of Pope Francis
“Christ is alive! He is our hope, and in a wonderful way he brings youth to our world. The very first words, then, that I would like to say to every young Christian are these: Christ is alive and he wants you to be alive!”.
Thus begins the post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation, Christus vivit (Christ is alive) by Pope Francis published in April. This year’s Advent Calendar is featuring Pope Francis’ words from Christus vivit which he has addressed to young people , and to the entire People of God and published on 2 April 2019. In the document, the Pope explains that he allowed himself to be “inspired by the wealth of reflections and conversations of the Synod” on Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment which took place in the Vatican in October 2018.
Today’s excerpt is on a young Church being open to renewal:
The youth of the Church
Youth is more than simply a period of time; it is a state of mind. That is why an institution as ancient as the Church can experience renewal and a return to youth at different points in her age-old history. Indeed, at the most dramatic moments of her history, she feels called to return with all her heart to her first love. Recalling this truth, the Second Vatican Council noted that, “enriched by a long and living history, and advancing towards human perfection in time and the ultimate destinies of history and of life, the Church is the real youth of the world”. In her, it is always possible to encounter Christ “the companion and friend of youth”.
A Church open to renewal
Let us ask the Lord to free the Church from those who would make her grow old, encase her in the past, hold her back or keep her at a standstill. But let us also ask him to free her from another temptation: that of thinking she is young because she accepts everything the world offers her, thinking that she is renewed because she sets her message aside and acts like everybody else. No! The Church is young when she is herself, when she receives ever anew the strength born of God’s word, the Eucharist, and the daily presence of Christ and the power of his Spirit in our lives. The Church is young when she shows herself capable of constantly returning to her source.
(CV 34-35)
#LivingAdvent 2019
During Advent are sharing family prayers and suggestions for acts of kindness or charity that all of us are encouraged to undertake during the month of December. The Advent Calendar is also also offering tips on how families can care for our common home by having a more sustainable Christmas.
Advent Random Act of Kindness
Be kind to those you meet in the coming days. Don’t forget those important phrases that are at the heart of family life – Please, I’m Sorry and Thank You!
Living Advent by Caring for Our Common Home
Don’t forget to think ethical gifts if you are doing some Christmas shopping today or to think of local families who might need assistance in putting their family meal together for this Christmas. There are lots of services out there that need our help this year like Saint Vincent De Paul, the Capuchin Day Centre in Dublin, Crosscare to name just a couple. Diocesan and parish websites are a good source of information on local initiatives such as parish food banks.
You can also find information on Trócaire’s range of ethical gifts on their website www.trocaire.org
Living Advent by welcoming Migrants and Refugees
At home, at school, at work, wherever we go today, let us be committed to welcoming the vulnerabilities of our brothers and sisters with whom we come into contact.
Advent Prayers
Our Prayer Intentions for the Day to Pray Together
We pray for our Holy Father’s prayer intentions for the month of December:
That people, who are involved in the service and transmission of faith, may find, in their dialogue with culture, a language suited to the conditions of the present time.
ViVideo: A Blessing of the Crib in the Home
A Blessing of the Crib in the home from the Council for Marriage and the Family.
Christmas Crib Prayer
Filled with wonder at the nearness of our God in
Mary’s newborn child, may we now offer him our
praise, worship and thanksgiving and give him
the love and loyalty of our hearts. Amen.
Advent Music
Creator of the Stars at Night performed by Ely Cathedral Choir.
