Pope Benedict XVI

"Beauty... is not mere decoration, but rather an essential element of the liturgical action, since it is an attribute of God Himself and His revelation."
(Pope Benedict XVI, Sacramentum Caritatis, 35)

26 November 2011

First Sunday of Advent


"... our salvation is closer to us now than we first learned to believe. The night is far on its course; day draws near. Let us abandon the ways of darkness, and put on the armour of light." (Extract from today's Epistle, Romans 13. 11-14)

"And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud, with his full power and majesty... the kingdom of God is close at hand." 
(Extract from today's Gospel Luke 21. 25-33)

 Mass at 5pm, St Patrick's Church, College Rd, Kilkenny.

Advent is a season of waiting and of fervent longing for the Redeemer: “Drop down dew, ye heavens, and let the clouds rain the Just One!” As St. Paul reminds us in the epistle today, Advent is a time to arouse ourselves and bring forth the fruits of sanctity. The great fruit of Advent should be that we “cast off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light… put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 13. 11-14). Now is the time to arouse ourselves to a new life, to strip ourselves generously of our meanness and weakness, and to put on Jesus Christ, that is, His holiness.
In the Gospel today we are reminded of that other great theme of Advent. What is put before us is Christ’s coming at the end of time as the supreme Judge. He came with great love to Bethlehem; He comes with grace into our souls; He will come with justice at the end of the world: Christ’s triple coming, the synthesis of Christianity, an invitation to a vigilant, trusting expectation, “Lift up your heads, for your redemption is at hand!”

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