Christ Jesus, Whom we are going to seek this month, has two thrones: one
of grace and one of justice. While we live we can always approach the
throne of grace. This throne is placed for our refuge, and the pardon of
our sins. Ask and you shall receive; if your sins are as black as jet,
they shall be made white as snow.
When we approach the throne of God’s mercy, love and grace, we must come
deeply penetrated with the knowledge, “Without Me you can do
nothing.”—John xv. 5. We have not the grace, nor the strength, nor the
willingness, nor the intelligence to do good of ourselves without the help
of Jesus. Let us then go with confidence to the throne of grace, that we
may obtain mercy and find grace.
Let us have great confidence in God’s mercy; let us feel, in the depths of
our hearts, a conviction that the only source whence a poor sinner can
expect effectual help is from God’s love. “Although He should kill me I
will trust in Him.” We need aid, and we will get that help without fail.
The Church shows her wisdom by not showing us the manger during Advent;
for one entire month she tells us, “Prepare yourselves that you may be fit
to approach the Infant Jesus at the time of His birth. You must prepare
your heart by meditation, by a lively faith, a fervent love, a true
humility, a sweetness of character, and a spirit of penance and
recollection.” On Christmas day the Lord is not born corporally, as He was
at Bethlehem; but He will be born spiritually in our hearts, if they have
been well prepared for His reception.
Considerations and Prayers for Every Day.
First Day.
Advent is the season in which we are taught to look forward to the coming
of Our Lord into the world at Christmas, and also to His second coming at
the end of time, to judge the living and the dead. His first coming was to
seek and to save that which was lost; the second will be to gather in the
fruits of His labors, the souls that are saved. The sacred time of Advent
is therefore a preparation for Christmas, established by the Church, and
at the same time it leads us to look for the coming of Christ at the end,
and to conform our lives to the life of Christ, so that when we meet Him
on the Last Day it will not be in fear and trembling, but with joy,
because we have been selected to return with Him to heaven. We will, then,
with alacrity enter into this employment during this month, knowing that
if we have prepared well for His first coming, we shall be in a fit state
to receive Him at His second advent. The time of Advent, according to the
Church, is a time of penance, not so great as Lent, but the spirit should
be the same. Every morning, if possible, attend Mass in honor of the
coming of Christ, and on Fridays impose a slight penance on yourself.
Prayer.
O Lord Jesus, Who didst, for the love of us, vouchsafe to reduce Thy
incarnated divinity and most divine humanity to the humiliating state of
birth and infancy: grant that we, acknowledging Thy infinite wisdom in Thy
infancy, Thy power in Thy weakness, and Thy majesty in Thy littleness, may
adore Thee, a little one on earth, and behold Thee great in heaven. Who
livest and reignest with God the Father, in unity with the Holy Ghost,
world without end. Amen.
Second Day.
Of all the miracles in the world, never was there one to be compared to
that of the coming of the Son of God on earth, in the humble form of a
child. It was a miracle so entirely above our reasoning, that unless we
knew it by faith established by revelation, we would say it was impossible
and believe it as little as many of the unbelieving Jews did. That the
infinite God should take the form of a poor creature: that God should so
unite Himself to that creature of His, as to assume its lowliness, clad in
the dust and clay of the earth, is a very great miracle. It was, however,
the infinite power of the Almighty that did this. “For us men, and for our
salvation, He came down from heaven. He humbled Himself, and became
obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross.” Who can now refuse
to believe in the love of God for His creatures? Men looking at life in a
certain light, have doubted God’s goodness to humanity; but let them once
contemplate the world from our point of view and they will necessarily
admit that He loved us to excess, and that He still continues to love us.
Oh, shall we not then return Him love for love?
Prayer.
O Lord Jesus, Who didst, for the love of us, etc., etc.
Third Day.
What was it that induced God to work such a miracle in behalf of mankind,
as to send His only‐begotten Son to this world? It was man’s sin. From all
eternity the Blessed Trinity had decreed that in consequence of sin there
was a necessity of redemption; that the eternal Word should be born into
the world, if man was not to be left to the fate of everlasting perdition.
Man could not redeem himself; an angel could not give sufficient
satisfaction; none but God Himself could offer atonement for man. Hence,
God, in His great goodness and mercy, resolved to do this work of
redemption. He provides a remedy for all the sins and follies of men, even
before they are committed. We do the harm, and God has to undo it. Has He
not often thus averted from me the consequences due to my evil deeds? What
have I done in my life but wickedness, and very little good? My life has
been so filled with iniquity, that shame fills my heart when I think of
the past. I have not only to bear the sins of Adam and Eve, but I have to
atone for my own sins. So great have these sins been, that the Son of God
had to descend very low to reach our level.
Prayer.
O Lord Jesus, Who didst, for the love of us, etc., etc.
Fourth Day.
The Fathers of the Church, and the Church herself, exclaim, “O happy
fault, that caused the Word to be made flesh, and to dwell among us! O
happy transgression, which earned a Redeemer such as this!” We gained more
than we lost. Adam and Eve were perfect for a time in the sight of God,
but when they fell, they lost all. Then came the redemption, and we were
admitted into the Church of God, a fountain so full of graces, by means of
the sacraments. Our places were secured in heaven by the blood of the
Lamb. What a great gift was that blood of Jesus Christ, poured over our
soul! What a glorious wound was that which was cured by so adorable a
power! We have hope once more, again we breathe freely in the bright trust
of being children of God, and heirs of the kingdom of heaven. So that from
the time of Adam and Eve, there had been a hope in the human breast that
God would come to redeem mankind. Adam and all his children were ever
looking and praying for His coming; and now during Advent we are preparing
for the coming of Him Who is to rejoice every heart. “Come quickly, O Lord
Jesus.”
Prayer.
O Lord Jesus, Who didst, for the love of us, etc., etc.
Fifth Day.
The children of Adam had to lament the deadly effects of the evil they had
committed. As generation followed generation, thicker grew the darkness in
the minds and hearts of the people, and farther and farther away did they
wander from that eternal Light, which was to guide them to heaven. Thus it
is that sin goes on, spreading its painful consequences throughout the
world, even long after the evil‐doer is dead and gone. Gradually the world
lost all regard for virtue, or for God, until it became so wicked that
unless the Redeemer appeared when He did, mankind would have been plunged
into absolute barbarism, and worked its own destruction. If I had lived
then, what kind of a human being would I have been?—who even now, while
enjoying the light of civilization and the freedom with which God has
enriched me, am such a poor specimen of a Christian. I who have been made
by God, for God, and in the image of God.
Prayer.
O Lord Jesus, Who didst, for the love of us, etc., etc.
Sixth Day.
Our life is a circle. We came from God, and to God we must return. If we
have deserted Him we must go back, if our life is to be a success in the
end. We can never find repose or lasting satisfaction in anything but God.
Until we make Him the end and aim of our life, we shall feel that we are
wandering about in the dark. This was the case with the world, which had
gone from its Creator; deeper and deeper it sank in the mire of iniquity.
We must do as Christ bids us, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God.” We seek
Him by a thorough preparation for His coming, for He will come to meet us,
and will be ready to receive us and take us back into His affection. God
comes to us repeatedly in life; but we do not know His fulness. Yet it is
a sad loss that we are so blind. It is the only real misery in life, that
we are meeting God every day, and do not know Him when we meet Him.
Prayer.
O Lord Jesus, Who didst, for the love of us, etc., etc.
Seventh Day.
At length, on the distant horizon, can be discerned the dawn of the Sun
that has been so long desired to enlighten the world. The happy Mother of
the Messias was to be born before He could come. This is the eve of the
feast of the Immaculate Conception; the earth has now a pledge that the
coming of the Messias will no longer be delayed, the Son of man is near at
hand. The conception of Mary takes place under the direct providence of
God; she receives the breath of life from God, without any stain of sin.
The feast of the Blessed Virgin’s Immaculate Conception is the most solemn
of all those which the Church celebrates during the holy season of Advent.
We will, then, honor the feast of the Blessed Virgin with joy. The
intention of the feast is not only to celebrate the anniversary of the
happy moment in which began, in the womb of the pious Ann, the life of the
ever glorious Virgin Mary: but also to honor the sublime privilege by
which Mary was preserved from the stain of original sin—which, by the
curse of God on our first parents, darkened the souls of all the
descendants of Adam and Eve at the very first moment of their conception.
Prayer.
O Lord Jesus, Who didst, for the love of us, etc., etc.
Eighth Day.
The faith of the Catholic Church on the conception of Mary, is this: that,
at the very instant when God united the soul of Mary, which He had created
with a special regard to the Mother of His divine Son, to the body which
it was to animate, this ever blessed soul not only did not contract the
stain of that curse which defiles every human soul, but was filled with an
immeasurable grace, which rendered it from that moment the mirror of
sanctity of God Himself, as far as this is possible to a creature. It was
due to His own infinite sanctity that God should suspend, in this
instance, the law which His divine justice had passed upon all the
children of Adam. The relations which Mary was to bear to the divinity
could not be reconciled with her undergoing the humiliations of man’s
punishment. She was not only the Daughter of the eternal Father: she was
destined also to become the very Mother of the Son, and the Bride of the
Holy Ghost. Nothing defiled could be permitted to enter, even for the
shortest time, that sacred structure.
Prayer.
O Lord Jesus, Who didst, for the love of us, etc., etc.
Ninth Day.
St. Anselm, a Doctor of the Church, tells us, in his time, when the
doctrine of the Immaculate Conception had not yet been declared, that, “It
was just that this holy Virgin should be adorned with the greatest purity
which can be conceived, after that of God Himself, since God the Father
was to give her as her Child that only‐begotten Son, Whom He loved as
Himself, as being begotten to Him from His own bosom, and this in such a
manner that the self‐same Son of God was by nature the Son of both God the
Father, and of this Blessed Virgin. This same Son chose her to be
substantially His Mother: and the Holy Ghost willed that in her womb He
would operate the conception and birth of Him from Whom He Himself
proceeded.” When we remember that Mary is the “Mother of God,” so far from
being surprised at the privileges which we see the Church giving her, we
approve of all. That the Almighty would shower down upon her the choicest
graces of heaven, and by special privileges distinguish her from all the
children of God, seems only just. Mary was so surrounded and strengthened
by grace that she never committed the least sin during her life.
Prayer.
O Lord Jesus, Who didst, for the love of us, etc., etc.
Tenth Day.
The closeness of the tie between Mother and Son gave Mary all the
privileges and distinctions which she enjoys. This closeness was to unite
the Son of God with Mary, and was to elicit from Him the most tender love
and the most filial reverence. All this had been present to the thought of
God from all eternity, and the conclusion forces itself upon our mind,
that therefore the divine Word had, for His future Mother, a love
infinitely greater than that which He bore for all other creatures. Mary’s
honor was infinitely dear to Him, because she was to be His Mother, chosen
to be so by His eternal and merciful decrees. The Son’s love protected the
Mother. She, indeed, in her sublime humility, willingly submitted to
whatever the rest of God’s creatures had brought on themselves, and obeyed
every tittle of those laws which were never meant for her. “O Mary, O
marvellous, mystical creature! O resplendent mote, lost almost to view in
the upper light of the supernal fountains! Who can sufficiently abase
himself before thee, and weep for the want of love to love thee rightly,
thou whom the Word so loved eternally?” (Faber.)
Prayer.
O Lord Jesus, Who didst, for the love of us, etc., etc.
Eleventh Day.
Mary was conceived without sin, because the eternal Father would not do
less for the second Eve than He had done for the first; yet the latter was
created, as was also the first Adam, in the state of original justice,
which she forfeited by her disobedience. The Son of God would not permit
that Mary, from whom He was to take the nature of man, should be deprived
of that gift which He had given to Eve. The Holy Ghost, Who was to
overshadow Mary, and through whose operation she was to become the Mother
of the Incarnate Word, would not permit that foul stain of sin in which we
are all conceived to rest even for an instant on His Bride. All men were
to contract the sin of Adam. The sentence was universal, the condemnation
went out against all the race; but God’s own Mother could not be included.
God, Who is the Author of that law; God, Who was free to make it as He
willed, had power to save her from its effects; His omnipotence could
exempt her, and it was nothing more than proper, even according to our
frail reason, that she was exempted.
Prayer.
O Lord Jesus, Who didst, for the love of us, etc., etc.
Twelfth Day.
Certainly God’s omnipotence came into active operation when He created the
soul of Mary. When Adam and Eve stood before Him in the garden of
paradise, the Lord said to the woman, “Why hast thou done this?” She
replied, “The serpent deceived me, and I did eat.” Then God was angry, and
turning to the serpent He said, “I will put enmity between thy seed and
her seed; she shall crush thy head.” Thus was salvation promised to the
human race, under the form of a victory over Satan, and it is to be gained
by the woman. The second Eve is to be worthy of the second Adam,
conquering Satan and sin. The human race is one day to be avenged, not
only by God made man, but also by the woman miraculously exempted from
every sin, in whom the primeval creation, which was in justice and
holiness, will thus reappear, as though original sin had never been
committed. Raise up your hands then, ye children of Adam, and shake off
your chains. On this day of the Immaculate Conception the humiliation
which weighed you down so heavily is annihilated.
Prayer.
O Lord Jesus, Who didst, for the love of us, etc., etc.
Thirteenth Day.
The dignity of the human race is well portrayed when we see that God so
blessed its members. The Lord loves the human race, and was pleased to be
called the Son of man. He still loves this guilty earth, since He has
deigned to enlighten it with one of the brightest rays of His Mother’s
glory. How the world ought to exult on this feast of the Immaculate
Conception! The present generation will never forget the enthusiasm with
which the entire universe received the tidings of the definition of the
dogma. It was an event of mysterious importance, which thus marks this
second half of our century, and we shall look forward to the future with
confidence. For the Holy Ghost bids us tremble for the days when truths
are diminished among the children of men. He would consequently have us
look on these times as blessed by God, in which we receive an increase of
truth, and an increase both in light and authority. The Church always
professed belief in the Immaculate Conception; it is not a new doctrine.
She had always kept the 8th of December as the feast of the conception of
Mary. Now we add, “Immaculate” Conception.
Prayer.
O Lord Jesus, Who didst, for the love of us, etc., etc.
Fourteenth Day.
There have been no new doctrines added to the dogmas of the Church. People
are sometimes scandalized when they hear, from Protestant and infidel
sources, that the Church is continually adding to her faith without any
warrant from God. Such, however, is not a fact. The present living Church
can add nothing to the revelation of Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
St. Bernard and the Angelic Doctor, St. Thomas, both teach that the Church
cannot celebrate the feast of what is not holy. From time immemorial the
feast of the Immaculate Conception has been celebrated; it was considered
holy then, and is now no new doctrine. The nativity of the same holy
Virgin is kept as a solemnity in the Church, because Mary was born full of
grace. Therefore, had the first moment of Mary’s existence been one of
sin, as that of all the other children of Adam, it never could have been
made the subject of reverence by the Church. O Mary, thou bright ray of
hope, penetrate our hearts, that we may rejoice in thy motherhood; thou
art the dearest, purest, holiest Mother, whom we love most tenderly.
Prayer.
O Lord Jesus, Who didst, for the love of us, etc., etc.
Fifteenth Day.
How thy gentle light gladdens our weary eyes, sweet Mother! Generations
had followed generations on this earth of ours; men looked up to heaven
through their tears, hoping to see on the horizon the Star which they had
been told should disperse the gloomy horrors of the world’s darkness. O
thou fair Morning Star, which dost shed thy blessed rays on the sea, and
dost bring calm after long stormy night, prepare our eyes, that they may
behold the divine Sun which will soon follow in thy path, and give to the
world His reign of light. To see Jesus in truth our hearts must be pure;
purify them, then, O Mother, especially during this sacred time of Advent,
that we, the children of the Church, reflecting on the jealous care
wherewith God preserved thee from every stain of sin, because thou wast to
be the Mother of His divine Son, might prepare to receive this same Jesus
by the most perfect renouncing of every sin, and every attachment to it.
Cease not to bless and protect all these that honor thy great privilege of
being conceived without sin. May this feast fit us for the birth of Jesus
in Bethlehem. Thou art all beautiful, O Mary, and there is no stain of sin
in thee.
Prayer.
O Lord Jesus, Who didst, for the love of us, etc., etc.
Sixteenth Day.
The Church cries out a welcome to the advent of Christ, during this time;
making us feel as if we sat in darkness, as if we were as degraded as was
man before the coming of the Messias: “O Wisdom,” she cries out, “Who
camest forth from the mouth of the Most High, reaching in Thy strength
from end to end, and sweetly disposing all things, come teach us the way
of prudence.” The first title given to Jesus is that of Wisdom, the
eternal Wisdom of God, and the source of all wisdom to men for all time.
The eternal Word disposes all things sweetly: everything that happens in
heaven and on earth is arranged by Him, not unkindly, nor harshly, but
sweetly. We invite Him to come and teach us the ways of prudence, because
where there is prudence all must be well. Teach me, O Jesus, the lesson of
prudence, which will guide me safely to the kingdom of heaven. The prophet
Micheas says of the Child to be born in Bethlehem: “His going forth is
from the beginning from the days of eternity.” O divine Wisdom, how strong
art Thou, in thus reaching Thine ends by means which are infallible though
hidden!
Prayer.
O Lord Jesus, Who didst, for the love of us, etc., etc.
Seventeenth Day.
O Adonai and Leader of the house of Israel, Who didst appear to Moses in
the fire of the flaming bush, and didst give him the Law on Sinai, come
and save us with a stretched forth arm! O sovereign, almighty Lord, come
to redeem us! Heretofore Thou didst show Thyself to Moses in a fiery bush,
Thou didst give Thy Law to Thy people amidst thunder and lightning on
Mount Sinai; come and redeem us now in the goodness of Thy Heart, in
kindness and love. Thy chaste Mother, having heard the emperor’s edict,
which obliges her and Joseph, her spouse, to repair to Bethlehem, prepares
everything needful for Thy divine birth. She makes ready the humble
swaddling‐clothes which are to cover and protect Thee from the cold of
that midnight hour. Thus it is that Thou willest to deliver us from the
slavery of pride, and to show man that Thy divine arm is never stronger
than when he thinks it powerless. Everything is prepared for Thy
reception, except our hearts, which still await Thy holy grace, which is
to change them, and make them fit temples for Thy abode.
Prayer.
O Lord Jesus, Who didst, for the love of us, etc., etc.
Eighteenth Day.
The expectation of the birth of Our Lord is a fact which is celebrated
throughout the Church. The expectation of the world is now at its greatest
tension. Nobody knows whether the event of the birth of Christ is going to
take place to‐day, or to‐morrow; but soon it will be accomplished.
Everything is in readiness; the earth groans for need of the Lord, the
holy people pray that they may see the great day; we, too, on this feast,
will pray for the coming of the Lord. We wish with all our hearts that the
Messias would come. Most just indeed it is, O holy Mother of God, that we
should unite in that ardent desire thou hadst to see Him, Who had been
concealed for nine months in thy chaste womb; to know the features of the
Son of the heavenly Father; to come to that blissful hour of His birth,
which will give glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace to men of
good‐will. Yes, dear Mother, the time is fast approaching, though not fast
enough to satisfy thy desires and ours. Make us, O Mary, redouble our
attention to this great mystery; complete our preparation by thy powerful
prayers for us, that when His hour has come, Jesus may find no obstacle to
His entry into our hearts.
Prayer.
O Lord Jesus, Who didst, for the love of us, etc., etc.
Nineteenth Day.
O Root of Jesse, Who standest as the standard of the people, before Whom
kings shall not open their lips; to Whom the nations shall pray, come and
deliver us: tarry now no more. At length, O Son of Jesse, Thou art
approaching the city of Thy ancestors! The ark of the Lord has arisen, and
is journeying with the God that is in her to the place of rest. “How
beautiful are thy steps, O thou daughter of the Prince,” now that thou art
bringing to the cities of Juda their salvation! The angels escort thee,
heaven delights in thee, and earth thrills with joy to bear thus upon
itself, its Creator and its Queen. Blessed is the womb of the Virgin Mary,
which bore the invisible God; there did He deign to dwell, Whom even
thrones cannot hold, and she bore Him as a light weight. Our hearts, O
Mary, are with thee. Like thy royal ancestor, David, “we will enter not
into the dwelling, our house, nor go up to bed whereon we lie, nor give
sleep to our eyes, nor rest to our temples,” until we have found the place
in our hearts for the Lord Whom thou bearest, a tabernacle for this God of
Jacob. Then will be silenced the enemies of thy name, and nations will
offer thee their prayers.
Prayer.
O Lord Jesus, Who didst, for the love of us, etc., etc.
Twentieth Day.
O Key of David and Sceptre of the house of Israel! Who openest and no man
shutteth; Who shuttest and no man openeth; come and lead the captive from
prison, sitting in darkness, and in the shadow of death. O Gabriel! blest
messenger of heaven, thou camest through closed doors, and didst announce
the word “Thou shalt conceive and bear a Son, and He shall be called
Emmanuel”! O Jesus, Son of David, heir to his throne and his power, Thou
art now passing over, on Thy way to Bethlehem, the land that once was the
kingdom of Thy ancestors, but now is tributary to the Gentiles. Not an
inch of this ground about Bethlehem, historic for many centuries, but has
witnessed the miracles of the justice and mercy of Jehovah, Thy Father, to
the people of that Old Covenant which is so soon to end. Before long, when
Thou hast come from beneath the virginal cloud which now hides Thee, Thou
wilt pass along this same road, doing good, healing all manner of sickness
and every infirmity; and yet having not whereon to lay Thy head. Thou art
now about to come forth, Thou art now to shine in the midst of this
world’s darkness. Open the gates then, with this all powerful Key of
David.
Prayer.
O Lord Jesus, Who didst, for the love of us, etc., etc.
Twenty‐first Day.
Orient Splendor of eternal light, and Sun of justice! Come and enlighten
them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death. O Jesus, bright
light from heaven, the brightness of God Himself, the Splendor of the
early Sun: we welcome Thee. We need Thy light, for we sit in darkness: all
are in darkness who commit sin, and the world is full of sin. Jesus, the
great Sun, must rise over this darkness, that it may be dissipated, and a
new life may be infused into it; then the angel of darkness will fly away;
then will grow the life of light. Nothing prospers in darkness; man sleeps
and does not work, plants fade and die; so that, O Light of the splendid
Orient, arise in our hearts! We beseech Thee, O God, to remove from us all
that resists Thee, so that with a believing heart we may in such a manner
bring forth the branches of Thy gifts bestowed on us, that the root of
humility may never dry up within us.
Prayer.
O Lord Jesus, Who didst, for the love of us, etc., etc.
Twenty‐second Day.
O King of nations and their desired One, the corner‐stone that joinest the
two walls! Come and save man, whom Thou didst form out of slime. O King of
peace! Thou wast born before all ages! come by the golden gate; visit
those whom Thou hast redeemed, and lead them back to the place from whence
they fell by sin. The journey of Our Lord to Bethlehem is nearly over, and
our blessed Mother is engrossed entirely in the expectation of the coming
of her divine Son. She adores His majesty; she gives thanks for His mercy;
she rejoices that she has been chosen for the sublime ministry of
motherhood towards the Son of God. Mary longs for that happy day when her
eyes will look upon Him, and yet she fears that moment, too. How will she
be able to serve her God in His human life? How will she dare to raise Him
up in her arms—the King of nations, and she but a humble Virgin? When she
reflects that the hour is approaching in which she is to see the Light of
the world, her heart almost fails her, for on the one hand she knows that
she bears her God, and on the other she is full of love because she is His
Mother. Come, then, speedily we beseech Thee, come and save us!
Prayer.
O Lord Jesus, Who didst, for the love of us, etc., etc.
Twenty‐third Day.
O Emmanuel, Our King and Lawgiver, the expectation of the Gentiles and
their Saviour, come and save us, O Lord, Our God! O Jerusalem, city of the
great God! lift up thine eyes round about, and see thy Lord, for He is
coming to loose thee from thy chains. As Mary and Joseph passed Jerusalem
they surely did not omit to visit the Temple of the Lord. This was the
first visit which Our Lord paid to His Father’s house. Then was fulfilled
for the first time the prophecy of Aggeus. “Great shall be the glory of
this last house, more than of the first.” Now was standing in this second
Temple the Ark of the New Covenant, greater by far than the Ark of Moses.
The angels that lived in the Temple were roused to special prayer on that
occasion. Mary and Joseph, when their devotions were ended, hastened on
their way in order that they might seek suitable shelter, but they were to
be disappointed everywhere. Thus Jesus Christ, the Son of God, comes into
the world.
Prayer.
O Lord Jesus, Who didst, for the love of us, etc., etc.
Twenty‐fourth Day.
Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem. They knocked at several doors for
admittance or for information, but were invariably turned away; for great
was the crowd that was going the same way. The rich had their houses
engaged; the poor had to look for shelter in any place. Joseph, mindful of
Mary, his spouse, was much concerned for her comfort, and he did the best
he could. After great industry he at last found a cave where she might
have shelter from the open sky, and the darkness and chilliness of the
night. This holy eve is indeed full of grace and hope, and we ought to
spend it in spiritual communion and joy. Let us enter into the spirit of
the Church, and prepare ourselves in all the joy of our hearts to meet the
Saviour Who is about to be born to us. Let us dispose our hearts with
great simplicity, for to‐morrow we shall see the glory of God. Let us
delight in the thought that before we lie down again to rest, we shall see
the promised Redeemer born in the solemn midnight: “Sanctify yourselves
to‐day, and be prepared, because in the morning you shall see the majesty
of God among you.”
Prayer.
O God, Who makest us to rejoice in the yearly expectation of the feast of
the redemption: grant that we, who joyfully receive Thy only‐begotten Son
as a Redeemer, may behold without fear the same Lord Jesus Christ, coming
as our Judge: Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.
Special Devotions to Mary, the Mother of Jesus, during the Time of Advent.
The devotion of the forty Hail Marys, which St. Catharine of
Bologna introduced, has been enriched by Pope Pius VII. An
indulgence of forty days is granted to the faithful who recite it
during the month of December.
Daily Prayer.
O Mary, great Mother of Our God, and merciful intercessor for us poor
sinners! we throw ourselves humbly at thy feet, and we beg thee by the
sacred blood of Thy divine Son, which He has shed for us, and by the
prayers of St. Catharine of Bologna, that thou wilt infuse into our hearts
the true spirit of devotion in this little exercise and give us the grace
to imitate the virtues of that saint, under whose protection we say this
prayer. Think not of our unworthiness and our ingratitude, but let us feel
the depth of thy great love for us; and in the contemplation of the love
with which thou didst consider thy servant Catharine, obtain for us from
God the remission of our sins, that we have a cause to expect the grace of
God for our salvation. Amen.
Prayer For Each Day.
Let us now take this devotion of this saint of God, Catharine, and every
day during this month before Christmas, say a prayer in preparation for
the coming of Christ, by reciting forty Hail Marys in honor of the great
Mother of God, who was so well prepared to receive the Lord at His birth.
We will have sorrow for our sins, for that will purify our souls, which is
a necessary quality for the reception of the Lord at His coming.
_The First Ten Hail Marys._
After each Hail Mary say:
“Blessed be the hour, O Mary, in which thou becamest the Mother of Jesus,
the Son of God.”
Then consider the great mystery of the incarnation of the Son of God, the
greatest miracle of God’s mercy, also the great dignity of Mary in the
Christian world and in heaven, because she became the Mother of God and
yet remained a Virgin.
_The Second Ten Hail Marys._
After each Hail Mary say:
“Blessed be the hour, O Mary, in which thou didst give birth to Jesus, the
Son of God.”
Then consider the humility of Mary, the Queen of heaven, who was content
with the will of God and became the Mother of God in a lowly stable.
_The Third Ten Hail Marys._
After each Hail Mary say:
“Blessed be the hour, O Mary, in which thou didst nourish and care for the
Child Jesus.”
Then consider the solicitude of Mary, with which she looked after the
Child Jesus in all the temporal necessities of a newly born infant, when,
according to His own will, He was not able to help Himself. She loved that
Child, and spent upon it her tenderest care.
_The Fourth Ten Hail Marys._
After each Hail Mary say:
“Blessed be the hour, O Mary, in which thou didst screen Jesus, the Son of
God, from the persecution of Herod.”
Consider here that as soon as Jesus was born He became the object of the
persecution of men. Herod sought to murder Him, and Mary had to take the
Child and flee into Egypt.
Daily Prayer After These Devotions.
Praised be God, that we have undertaken this devotion according to the
instruction of St. Catharine. We beg of thee, Mary, Mother of the expected
Child, and Queen of angels, that thou deignest to obtain for us especially
two graces. First, to really bewail our sins and our past infidelities,
and second to attain after our death eternal salvation. We will cry out
from the bottom of our heart according to the example of Catharine: “Turn
then, Mary, thine eyes of mercy towards us, and after this, our exile,
show us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O blessed, O pious, O sweet
Virgin Mary!”