4. The Long Darkness (Advent Meditations)
by VP
Posted on Wednesday December 03, 2025 at 11:00PM in Advent Sermons
"1. The light extinguished at the Fall was rekindled in the hearts of
our first parents when the promise was given them of a Redeemer Who
should undo the fatal mischief that had been done. But in their children
Adam and Eve had to lament the fatal effects of that deadly evil that
they had introduced into the world. As generation followed generation
thicker and thicker grew the darkness, farther and farther did men
wander away from the light, that gave to each the power of guiding his
feet aright from earth to heaven. Thus it is that each ill deed goes on
bearing its deadly fruit, often long after the doer is dead and gone.
2.
Yet every man had light and grace sufficient, and more than sufficient,
to enable him to walk in the ways of God, and to find his way to the
kingdom of heaven. But none save a very few availed themselves of it.
"They loved darkness more than light." The world gradually lost all
regard for virtue or for God. How grateful should I be to God that I
live in happier days!
3. If I had lived then, what should I have
been? Even with all my countless graces and advantages, what a poor
specimen I am of one made by God, for God, and in the image of God! In
heathen days should I not have been among the most depraved? Should I
not have recklessly indulged my own inclinations, irrespective of the
voice of God warning and reproaching me? What chance should I have had
of saving my soul in those days of dark corruption and depravity?"
Meditations 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 priests
Jesus, 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!
St. Francis Xavier, Apostle of the Indies, Confessor, a.d. 1552.
by VP
Posted on Wednesday December 03, 2025 at 03:00AM in Saints
Saint Francis Xavier
"AMONG those who have laboured most successfully in the conversion of nations in these latter ages, is St. Francis Xavier. He prepared himself by extraordinary application to prayer and mortification, and thus obtained of God that great spirit with which he undertook and discharged with so wonderful success the mission of the East. When John III., king of Portugal, had requested of Pope Paul III. some labourers for the East, of the Society of Jesus, then recently established, St. Francis Xavier was commissioned by the Pope to proceed upon the important work, with the powers of Apostolic Nuncio. On his arrival in the East Indies, he at once acquired by divine inspiration the knowledge of the most difficult languages of those nations, to whom he came to preach. He travelled over numerous provinces, always on foot, and often barefoot. He carried the faith of Christ into Japan, and six other countries. He converted many hundreds of thousands to Christ in the East Indies, and baptised several kings. The Almighty was pleased to confirm this his ardent zeal and courage in diffusing the gospel, by the multitude and splendour of the miracles which he was enabled to perform; among which were four dead persons restored to life. He was also favoured with the gift of prophecy, and foretold many things far distant as to time and place. Worn out at length with labours, and full of merits, the saint died in the island of Sancian on the 2nd of December, 1552.Pray for all who are preparing to become labourers in our Lord's vineyard, that they may obtain a spirit and zeal like those of St. Francis Xavier. Pray for those nations whom this saint enlightened, but who are now returned to darkness, that the light of faith may again shine upon them. Pray for all who labour in the care of souls; and that you yourselves be faithful to your own duties." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother
