The Meditation The Fourth Sunday in Advent A.D December 23 rd - A.D. 2018

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1 The Meditation The Fourth Sunday in Advent A.D December 23 rd - A.D The Annunciation (1914) Painting by John William Waterhouse ( ) English printer Hail Mary, full of grace : The Lord is with thee : Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. Offetory Prayer for the 4 th Sunday in Advent 1

2 The Collect for the Fourth Sunday in Advent O Lord, raise up, we pray thee, thy power, and come among us, and with great might strengthen us: that whereas, through our sins and wickedness, we are sore let and hindered in running the race that is set before us, thy bountiful grace and mercy may speedily help and deliver us. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. To Whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be honor and glory, world without end. Amen. The Impediment of Sin The Collect for today s Mass, although a bit longer, reflects the same spirit as presented in yesterday s Mass-Collect (The Mass for Ember-Saturday in Advent) [1]: O God, who seest us to be sore afflicted by reason of the frailty of our mortal nature: grant we beseech thee, that we may be relieved by thy glorious visitation. The realization is that through our sinful nature, mankind is helpless in running and winning the race of salvation without Divine Assistance. St. Prosper of Aquitaine [2] writes: When human nature had lost those good gifts by which it might have come to an indescribable and unfading mortality, there remained to it nothing but what is at the service of our temporal life, a life entirely doomed to damnation and punishment. (ex. Ad Capitola; c ) What we lost in Adam, we regain a thousand-fold in Jesus Christ. Original sin, though it be an impediment, is at the same time a grace, since it is a source of humiliation and a stimulus to prayer. God s power can be seen in our very weakness, for He consoles us by His assurance: My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness (II Corinthians; Chap. 12, Vs. 9). An impediment, by which we are all nothing more than dust in the wind (to use the words of a popular 1970 s song), prevents us from attaining the perfection that our Father in Heaven desires for each of us. Scripture bluntly says to us: If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (I St. John; Chap. 1, Vs. 8) [3] There is in every one of us a bottomless pit that is filled with evil inclinations. It is from this place, that the mortal sin which will kill the divine life in the soul can rise. The lesser, or venial sin, is sin that will weaken all love. Humanists have been downplaying the concept of sin for many years. They press forth, in an effort to rationalize and even legitimize their philosophies, the notion that humanity is essentially good, and is corrupted by outside forces (some even list religion as one of these). It shouldn t be surprising really, that an upsurge of evil acts by every day people has become so common, as established morals and even laws become adapted to what is packaged as progressive and evolutionary to a world that may be moving forward technically and scientifically, but is rapidly moving backwards in its interpretation of the real 2

3 meaning of life. Denying the existence of evil inclinations, doesn t negate their reality. A friend once shared the phrase: When man decides, humanity back-slides. Hmmm.... There s something to that. Love is a part of life and, like all life, will die if its development ceases, or is impeded. St. Paul tells us: For I know that in me, (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. (Romans; Chap. 7, Vs. 18). However, at the same time, our Saint assures us that the Spirit of Christ dwells in us and enables us to strive after life and peace. [4] If we return, even if it be seventy times seven or more [5] to our Savior, He ll fill us yet again with His Spirit, for such is the incomparable, invulnerable love that is God. The same God Who gives us His Son. No quantity of sin can be too numerous for God s paternal love; no frailty of ours is in itself mortal, when we seek Jesus Christ. Come, O Lord Jesus and don t delay! Take away the sins of thy people! Blessed Ever-Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, pray for us poor sinners! Our sinfulness, the mystery of evil, finds its answer in the very mystery of God s love; and yet, both remain mysteries. However, when we look to Christ, we hear Him say: I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance (St. Matthew; Chap. 9, vs. 13). There comes a radiant certainty from the depths of our misery and sadness: He comes for us! He loves each of us! Therefore, it is this grace which more than all others, makes us just like Christ. This grace empties us of all our self-complacency, showing us the great spiritual abyss that exists in our spiritual poverty, the complete lack of all that is good; worse yet, it shows the limitless possibilities of evil within each of us. Sobering indeed. When we hear the voice of that dust from which we were all drawn, the voice of the earth cursed because of us, we can see how closely our being is bound up with evil and sin. The depths call from that abyss: If thou, Lord shouldst mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand. But there is forgiveness with thee. (Psalm 130; Vss. 3 & 4). Our child-like trust fills us with the Advent spirit: I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning. (Psalm 130; Vss. 5 & 6). The sin that is the heritage of mankind, is indeed an impediment, but it is also a grace that will humiliate and stimulate us through our prayers to seek Jesus Christ. He, Who will redeem and absolve us, and guide us on the road to Perfection and real peace. O divine consolation! Divine deliverance! Tarry not, O Lord Jesus! Come to us! O Blessed Lord, make the bitter waters sweet, or rather, grant that we may find sweetness in their bitterness. Deliver us from the foolish hope that the pain, which is the price of that grace, may be taken from us. Say unto our hearts: My strength is made perfect in weakness. (II Cor.; Chap. 12, Vs. 9). May the greatness of our need drive us into your arms, O my Jesus! 3

4 Meditation Notes: [1] Ember Days: Are four groups each of three days, in the Church year, that is; Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday after: Feast of St. Lucy Dec. 13, Ash Wednesday, Whitsunday (Pentecost), and Holy Cross Day, Sept. 14 th. These days are observed with fasting and abstinence. Their early history and original purpose are obscure and may have had a connection with agriculture and the seasons. Ordinations, in the present time, are often performed during these days or special prayers are offered on behalf of the clergy and seminarians. [2] St. Prosper of Aquitane: Lived: A.D. A Christian writer, apologist, and disciple of St. Augustine of Hippo. Resided for most of his life in France during the waning years of the Western Roman Empire. A layman who fought aggressively against heresies in his writings, especially against the Pelagians. He was secretary to Pope Leo I. Many of his works survive today. His feast day (depending upon what calendar one follows) is June 25 th or July 7 th. [3] This verse of Scripture is so important for us to always keep in mind, that Holy Church places it in the various Offices of Confession or Self-Examination before Confession. One well-known place is in the 1928 Book of Common Prayer (BCP); in The Daily Office of Evening Prayer, it s the Opening Verse for the season of Lent. (Page 22 in the BCP). [4] Ref. Romans; Chap. 8, Vss. 1 2 & 5-6: There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death... for they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh ; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death ; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. [5] Seventy times seventy: It was believed in old Israel, that mathematics was a finite quantity. The phrase seventy times seventy was their reference to an infinite number, in other words: unlimited. This reference, in connection with today s Meditation, is clearly an invitation for all of us to utilize the great Sacrament of Holy Confession as often as we can. Christ will never tire of our petitions for His mercy and forgiveness. Just as He would forgive us of our sins seventy times seventy... so too, should we to those who, in any way bring offence to us by word and deed. If we are to truly imitate our Master, we must do no less. Let us, like Mary and Joseph, hasten to Bethlehem! 4

5 Priory Kalendar For the week of: December 23 rd to December 30 th - A.D In Sapientia-tide * and Christmas-tide Sunday, December 23 rd... Fourth Sunday in Advent... O Virgo Virginum Monday, December 24 th...vigil of the Nativity (Christmas Eve)... cum ortis fuerit Tuesday, December 25 th... Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ Christmas. Wednesday, December 26 th... St. Stephen Protomartyr (the first Martyr) - 1 st. cent. Thursday, December 27 th... St. John; Ap. & Ev. - 1 st cent. Friday, December 28 th Holy Innocents Saturday, December 29 th.. St. Thomas of Canterbury; Bp. & Myr th cent. England Sunday, December 30 th.... First Sunday after Christmas *Sapientia-tide: December 16 th 24 th. The period in which the Great O Antiphons are sung before and after the Magnificat at the evening office of Vespers. A Season within a Season. 5

6 Guardian Angel Card of the Week Christmas Blessings! KALENDAR KEY: Abt. = Abbot, Abs. = Abbess, Abp = Archbishop, Anc. = Anchorite, Ancs. = Anchoress, Ap. = Apostle, Bl. = Blessed, Br. = Brother, Bp. = Bishop, Card. = Cardinal, C. or Conf. = Confessor, Comm. = Commemoration/Commemorate, Dcn. = Deacon, Doct. = Doctor of the Church, Ev. = Evangelist, H. = Hermit, LBr. = Lay Brother, LSr. = Lay Sister, K. = King, Mat. = Matron, M. = Monk, M.M. = Month s Mind ( Requiem for the recently departed on the 30 th day after death or burial). Myr. = Martyr, N. = Nun, Obl. = Oblate, P. = Priest, Po. = Pope, Pr. = Prior, Prs. = Prioress, R. = Recluse, RM = Requien Mortuorum, ( Mass and Offices for the departed once a month as designated on Kalendar). SDcn. = Sub Deacon, Q. = Queen, Ven. = Venerable, Vir.=Virgin, W. = Widow. FASTING KEY: A = Abstinence, F = Fast, F & A = Fast and Abstinence RELIGIOUS ORDER ABBREVIATIONS: C.O = Congregation of the Oratory (Oratorians), C.P. = Congregation of the Passion (Passionists), C.S.J. = Congregation of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), Er. Cam. = Camaldolese Hermits, F.P. O. = Franciscans of the Primitive Observance, O. Car. = Carmelite Order, O. Cart. Carthusian Order, O.C.D. = Order of Discalced Friars (Carmelites), O.F.A. = Augustinian Order, O.F.M = Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans), O.F.M. Cap = Capuchin Order, O.P. = Order of Preachers (Dominicans also called Blackfriars ), 6

7 O. Praem. = Order of Cannons Regular (Norbertines), O.S.B. = Order of St. Benedict (Benedictines), O.Ss. S. = Bridgettines, O.S.U = Ursulines, O.C.O. = Order of the Cistercian Observance (Trappists/Trappistines), O.C.S.O. = Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance (Trappists/ Trappistines). Tert. = Tertiary (Third Order religious) About the Meditation and About Us The Meditation is an online apostolate of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Priory in Raymond, Maine, USA. We are an Anglican-Catholic Benedictine contemplative community that follows the Holy Rule of St. Benedict, the 5 th century Father of Western Monasticism. We are resident within the Diocese of the Northeast (DNE), of the Anglican Church in America (ACA), a member of the worldwide Traditional Anglican Communion (TAC). The Meditation is a weekly online offering that is sent out free of charge to anyone who desires to receive it. Subscribers may copy and pass along The Meditation to their families and friends, or send us their e-address (with their permission) to add to our subscription list so they may receive it directly from us. Each issue is sent out as a BCC (Blank Copy) in respect to subscriber privacy and online security. To subscribe, contact us at: klamarre@maine.rr.com To read past issues of the Meditation, please go to our website at: and you can find them in the section marked Meditations on the homepage. PLEASE NOTE: In respect to our contemplative vocation and the animals in our rescue and rehab center, we do not have guest or bathroom facilities and do not regularly receive visitors. Fr. Kevin is available to hear confessions and give spiritual direction by appointment only. Please contact via to make an appointment or to make us aware of your needs, concerns and intentions for our prayerful attention. It is our privilege to pray for you. PLEASE CONSIDER REMEMBERING US IN YOUR ESTATE PLANNING Contact Sr. Mary Francis, O.S.B. for more information via our address Animal News By Sr. Mary Francis, O.S.B. All of the animals here at the Priory rescue farm wish you all a very Merry and Blessed Christmas and send their heartfelt gratitude and blessings for the coming year. We would not be able to serve these creatures as we do without your continued support, and we truly appreciate your kind and thoughtful generosity. Many of these animals come to us at death s door, and are not expected to live very long but with your help and God s graces, we are able to help them have a happy and usually much longer life than expected, and they know they are loved before they exit. We also enjoy hearing about your animals! There are more animals working their way to the farm for 2019 who will need a lot of help. Thank you and bless you for what you do! Merry Christmas from Ruthie, Luna, Alice, Chloe, Claire, Cheech, Jack, Reily, Oliver, Gunner, Willow, Clover, Freckles and the turtles. 7

8 Ruthie and sister Luna 8

9 Old lady Willow Br. Chip Br. Raymond Br. Sylvester 9

10 Gunner PAX 10

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