O come Emmanuel!

Veni, veni, Emmanuel,

Captivum solve Israel,

Qui genit in exilio,

Privatus Dei Filio.

Gaude! Gaude! Emmanuel,

Nascetur pro te, Israel.

O come, O come Emmanuel,

And ransom captive Israel,

That mourns in lonely exile here,

Until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel,

Shall come to thee O Israel.

Once again, the world is hurrying around, rushing to get the last minute gifts, or that perfect item for someone special. The pace quickens as the date of the Nativity of Our Lord draws near, with people concentrating on preparations for Christmas gift-giving and family gatherings. So many of us get so very wrapped up in getting ready for Christmas that we lose sight of what we are preparing for, or rather, what we should be preparing for: the coming of the Christ child.

My dear brothers and sisters, in this hustle and bustle of the holiday season, so many have abandoned the central reason for what this time is truly for. In great wisdom and clarity, the Church has set aside this period for us to prepare, in the right way, for the coming of the Incarnation. The season of Advent, which we have entered as of Sunday, is not for hurrying around getting that last minute deal and preparing for the in-laws to come to town, but is instead for preparing our hearts for the coming of Christ, and deepening our relationship with Him.

During Advent, we are called to contemplate His coming Incarnation. We are called to realize that the Almighty God, creator of the cosmos, has humbled Himself to dwell in the womb of the Virgin Mary and come forth at the Nativity as an infant child. What wonder, majesty, and humility God has shown in this extraordinary action!

Friends, I have a challenge for you all during this season of Advent. Why not step away from the craziness of the world, and step into a mode of prayerful contemplation of the coming of Christ?

This challenge that I place for you all applies to my non-Catholic and non-Christian friends as well. In your heart this Advent season, why not consider the impetus behind all of this gift-giving and visiting. Why do we go to all of this trouble? For some, it may indeed be a materialistic desire of getting the best and newest gift, for others it may be the noble motivation of wanting to be with family and friends. But both of these reasons fall woefully short of why this season even exists. Advent is indeed a time of prayer and preparation.

I challenge you all to enter this period of contemplation, peace, and consideration of what we are preparing for: the very Incarnation of the Christ child, who humbled Himself in the manger, and again on the cross, for the redemption of mankind.

May you all have a blessed and peaceful Advent and Christmas season my dear friends. You all remain in my prayers.

Pax Christi,

Dean

Sancta Dei Genetrix, ora pro nobis!

N.B.: I realize that posting has gone down to nothing since the summer, but as I am now in college full time, I am indeed without time. :) Please keep me and my fellow students in prayer as we approach finals, and prepare to go home to family and friends for Christmas. May we also enter into this Advent season more fully, without letting the worries of school distract us from the reason for the season…