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Journey with us to the manger.
"Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life."
This Advent, we're inviting you to stop. To not get caught up in the anxieties of daily life to the point where your heart becomes drowsy and you lose sight of the goal of this busy season. But it is a busy season, and we know you may not find the time you need at home or at work.
Instead of adding one more thing to your December to-do list, we're simply asking you to come to Mass. Come to Mass every Sunday, just like you would anyway, but treat each of the four Sundays of Advent as a retreat. Notice the music that calms your mind as you enter the Church. Notice the pauses for reflection as you pray through the Mass. Hear the readings from Scripture. Every Mass prepares us for Jesus's return, and at every Mass, we receive Him and His peace in the Eucharist.
Click here for this Sunday's readings.
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"He shall be peace."
True peace comes not from a lack of difficulty or distraction but from union with Jesus, which brings peace into any situation. He is peace, and when we surrender to Him, we receive His peace. Let us receive this peace and then go in haste to share it with the world!
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Finding Peace at Mass
The good news is that we are not expected to find Christ's peace on our own. Every time we receive Him at Mass, we receive His peace! But the truth is even greater, because Christ not only offers Himself to transform our hearts--He even asks us to bring our worries, our troubles, and our challenges as offerings at Mass.
When the priest asks God to make holy the gifts which we have brought to the altar for consecration, it is not only the gifts of bread and wine which will be transformed. Anything we surrender to the Lord can be made holy by His grace if we only had it over to Him!
If you struggle to find peace at in your heart, start by asking for it, and surrendering your distractions and worries at Mass. These prayers might be a good place to begin.
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A Prayer of Surrender: Psalm 23
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Surrender to God, and he will do everything for you.
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Do not fret because of the wicked;
do not envy those who do evil:
for they wither quickly like grass
and fade like the green of the fields.
If you trust in the Lord and do good,
then you will live in the land and be secure.
If you find your delight in the Lord,
he will grant your heart’s desire.
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Commit your life to the Lord,
trust in him and he will act,
so that your justice breaks forth like the light,
your cause like the noon-day sun.
Be still before the Lord and wait in patience;
do not fret at the man who prospers;
a man who makes evil plots
to bring down the needy and the poor.Calm your anger and forget your rage;
do not fret, it only leads to evil.
For those who do evil shall perish;
the patient shall inherit the land.
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A little longer – and the wicked shall have gone.
Look at his place, he is not there.
But the humble shall own the land
and enjoy the fullness of peace.***
Surrender to God, and he will do everything for you.
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Questions for Reflection
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Am I open to surrender myself to Jesus?
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Do I desire to do His will?
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Am I a vehicle of God's peace to my family, coworkers, friends, and neighbors?
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Looking for more chant?
To help preserve a prayerful environment before Mass, we will play Gregorian chant prior to Mass throughout the Advent season. If you enjoy this sort of music, check out the playlists we are using!
Gregorian Chant (album by the Monks of the Abbey of Notre Dame)Chants of Deliverance by Floriani
Floriani chant of exorcismWhat about Christmas Carols?
Christmas carols are great--and proper to the Christmas season! Try listening to Advent-themed music in these weeks of preparation and then bring out the carols on December 25th!
If you're not sure what "Advent music" is, here are some recommendations! Notice the focus on anticipation and preparation as we approach the Christmas season.
The Advent of Christmas (album by Matt Maher)
Advent at Ephesus (album by Benedictines of Mary
The Oh Hello's Family Christmas album
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Thank you to Acts XXIXWe are drawing from Acts XXIX's Advent Guide this season. Among other ministries, Acts XXIX has produced the Rescue Project. After three successful Rescue Project sessions at St. Monica, we are incorporating this Advent guide to allow our whole parish to experience benefits from this program. Click here to learn more about the Acts XXIX.
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