Christmas Octave

I hope everyone is enjoying a wonderful Christmas holiday. I love that we get a full week to bask in the mystery that is Christmas! Yesterday was the feast of the martyr St. Stephen, today St. John the Evangelist, tomorrow the Holy Innocents. Oh, how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of Him Who brings glad tidings, announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation ~ Is 52:7. We are so blessed to be able to make a visit to the hidden Christ in the Tabernacle. Of course, He's in our hearts too, but our home is a busy place right now as we prepare for Dagny and Ian's nuptials, so I appreciate having the opportunity to make a Holy Hour in church, so beautifully decorated. 

Enjoy Cantique of Jean Racine by Gabriel Faure sung by Voces8. 

Word equal to God, the Almighty, our only hope,

Eternal day of the earth and heavens;

We break the silence of the peaceful night,

Divine Saviour, look upon us!

Fan the fire of your powerful grace upon us,

So that all Hell may flee at the sound of your voice;

Shake off the sleep of a languishing soul,

Who has forgotten your laws!

O Christ, be kind to these faithful people

Who have now gathered in thanks.

Listen to the chants they offer to your immortal glory,

And may they come away fulfilled with your gifts!

Merry Christmas!

Adoration of the Shepherds, Seville, 19th century unknown artist

 

I love preparing for the Christmas liturgies. O Holy Night is one of my favorite Christmas songs. The text is brilliant, giving us the Christmas story in a nutshell. I love that from the beginning it tells us why we need a Savior--because we sin and cannot save ourselves. He loves us so much and He comes down from heaven to teach us to love. He is Love Himself. True Love. A Blessed and Merry Christmas, my friends!

Advent

I finally got some holders for our tapered Advent candles and it's hard to believe how quickly time is marching on. Next weekend will be Gaudete Sunday--Rejoice! Last year our beloved Stella Maris got flooded that Sunday morning so evening High Mass was canceled. But with many helping hands, the church was readied for Christmas! It was the shortest Advent too, with Christmas falling on a Monday.

We've had a busy Advent so far with recorder and barbershop concerts, getting together with friends, most special treat, going to The Messiah by George Frederich Handel right here at St. Clare of Assisi. It was so lovely to be able to walk to church to listen to the production by the Charleston Symphony. Simply beautiful! 

And just when I thought I cannot add another thing to do, I'm finding it extraordinary how the Lord draws me ever closer to Himself. These retreats finally became available (I'd wanted to do them in the summer) and I also know that the Lord's timing is always perfect, so I'm taking the time to do this now and I am so grateful: The Path to Healing Our Broken Hearts - Oblates of the Virgin Mary Perhaps you too need to make a retreat. And when you're ready, you might want to check these out: Virtual Workshops - Oblates of the Virgin Mary  

 

Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe! It's the story of how Mary appeared to a Juan Diego on a hill in Tepeyec, Mexicao, with a request to take to the bishop. He was reluctant but he obeyed and on Dec. 12, 1531, she arranged Castillian roses in his tilma as a sign that the bishop had requested. When Juan Diego showed them to the bishop, her image was on his tilma. The tilma of St. Juan Diego is displayed in Mexico and there are so many interesting features within it. Including music! There is music embedded in her mantle. Harpa Dei, an ensemble of four siblings, composed the text between Mary and St. Juan Diego based on his account: Harpa Dei · Mantle Song (Our Lady of Guadalupe) Enjoy! Happy Feast Day!

December Saints and Feast Days

Again, I am so impressed with how succinctly Enid Chadwick depicts the three types of martyrs in My Book of the Church's Year. I do love all the feast days during the penitential season of Advent. However, the challenge isn't the feasting, it's the fasting. Thankfully we have Christmas music to practice to keep the proper focus. We have four concerts between recorder group and barbershop as well as a couple of Christmas parties and I view it as a time of sharing our hope and joy of Christmas. Of course, this year it's extra-busy making final wedding preparations. It's going to be wonderful. Dagny and Ian have waited so patiently. They had a beautiful betrothal ceremony--it really is going to be the most blessed Advent for them. Pray for them.