O Sapientia (Advent Meditations)
by VP
Posted on Tuesday December 17, 2024 at 12:00AM in Advent Sermons
"Before
the feast of Christmas, the coming Savior is welcomed in seven
antiphons, which greet Him under various titles, and entreat Him to come
quickly to enlighten and deliver His people.
“O Wisdom, Who
earnest forth from the mouth of the Most High, reaching in Thy strength
from end to end, and sweetly disposing all things, come and teach us the
way of prudence."
1. The first title given to Jesus is that of
Wisdom. He was the Eternal Wisdom of God, and the source of all wisdom
to men from one end of time to the other. With Him all wisdom ; without
Him no wisdom. Yet I have sometimes fancied myself wise when I was
acting quite apart from Him, and perhaps His wishes or commands. What
utter folly !
2. It is the Eternal Word that disposes all things
sweetly. Everything that happens in heaven or earth is arranged by Him,
and is arranged not unkindly, or harshly, or bitterly,but sweetly. Why
then do I regret what I ought to know He has arranged sweetly, i.e. t
with designs of love for me if I take it in the right spirit ?
3.
Come and teach us the way of prudence. This is our first petition to
Him Who is to come. If only He imparts prudence, all must be well.
Prudence chooses the right end, viz., the glory of God, and the right
means to the end, viz., what we know God asks of us now, and in our
present circumstances. Teach me, O Jesus, that lesson of prudence which
will guide me safe to the kingdom of heaven."
Meditations #21 for Advent . By Rev. Richard F. Clarke S.J. The Catholic Truth Society, London 1891 Digitized by google
Saint Andrew Christmas Novena:
Hail and blessed be the hour and moment In which the Son of God was born Of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires, [here mention your request] through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother. Amen. (15 times)
Prayer to the Holy Infant for priestsJesus, Divine Infant, I bless and thank Thy most loving Heart for the institution of the priesthood. Priests are sent by Thee as Thou were sent by the Father. To them Thou entrusted the treasures of Thy doctrine, of Thy Law, of Thy Grace, and souls themselves.
Grant me the grace to love them, to listen to them, and to let myself be guided by them in Thy ways. Jesus, send good laborers into Thy harvest. May priests be the salt that purifies and preserves; may they be the light of the world; may they be the city placed on the mountain. May they all be formed after Thy own Heart. And in heaven may they be surrounded by a joyous throng of those they shepherded on earth. Amen.
Glory Be (three times).
Infant Jesus, make me love Thee more and more
