December 21
O Oriens or O Rising Dawn or Morning Star
O Rising Dawn, (Jer 23:5; Zechariah 3:8; 6:12),
Radiance of the Light eternal (Habakkuk 3:4; Wisdom 7:26; Hebrews 1:3) and Sun of Justice (Malachi 3:20): * come, and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death (Ps 107:10; Lk 1:78).
Songs 2:8-14; Luke 1:39-45
“When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb.” This is astonishing. Luke presents John the Baptist in his mother’s womb leaping for joy when encountering Jesus in Mary’s womb.
Encounters with Jesus bring joy — even in wombs!
Joshua Aaron sings "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" in English & Hebrew Live at the Tower of David.
December 20
O Clavis David or O Key of David
O Key of David, (Isaiah 22:22; Revelation 3:7)
and Scepter of the house of Israel (Numbers 24:17): You open and no man closes; you close and no man opens (Isaiah 22:22). * Come, and deliver him from the chains of prison who sits in darkness and in the shadow of death (Ps 107:10).
2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16
Psalms 89:2-3, 4-5, 27+29
Romans 16:25-27
Luke 1:26-38
Our First Reading for this liturgy, from Second Samuel, pictures David sitting pretty in his palatial house of cedar. The Lord has helped him defeat his enemies and the ark of God at last, has taken its place in Jerusalem. It has been carried into its present resting place accompanied by much dancing and musical celebration.
Sr. Honorata Lyimo, a General Councilor, joined Sr. Basilisa Jacob, the Provincial Superior of the English/Tanzania Province and her Vicar, Sr. Martha Ayaqhoda, for a Visitation to the Mission in Zambia from 19 November – 02 December 2020.
An atmosphere of Christmas filled our Guest House/Procura in Rome on this cold 17 December, when our Sisters and our employees came together at the Procura for a small Christmas celebration. What a joy to be here again, together after some weeks.
December 19
O Radix Jesse or O Root of Jesse
O Root of Jesse, (Isaiah 11:1)
You stand for the ensign of mankind (Isaiah 11:10); before You kings shall keep silence and to You all nations shall have recourse (Isaiah 52:15). * Come, save us, and do not delay (Habakkuk 2:3).
The Gift of Silence
Judges 13:2-7, 24-25; Luke 1:5-25
Do not be afraid, Zechariah
"How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years."
But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day these things take place,
because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.
He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed.
Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God.
Advent is slowly coming to an end and, like many other places around the world, it is different from what it usually is. Our community in Yekaterinburg (Russia) is currently made up of two Sisters. After many years, Sr. Agata Browarczyk returned to Poland. Unfortunately, due to the fact that the external borders of Russia are closed due to Covid-19, Sr. Dorota Szubstarska, who was supposed to come in September, has not yet joined our community. In the meantime, we are waiting and praying for the fast and safe arrival of our Sister.
December 18
O Adonai or O Lord and Ruler
O Adonai (Exod 3:14) and Ruler of the house of Israel (Matt 2:6; Micah 5:1; 2 Sam 5:2), You appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush (Exod 3:2) and on Mount Sinai gave him Your Law (Exod 20). * Come, and with an outstretched arm redeem us (Jeremiah 32:21).
Jeremiah 23:5-8; Matthew 1:18-24
Faith and expectation fill today’s scripture. Faithful expectation is a central advent theme. In Jeremiah and Joseph, we have persons of great faith; faith in their God in the midst of the circumstances in which they found themselves. They are great examples for us as we confront the circumstances of our individual life, our life as a nation or as a global community. We all need a bit of advent’s faithful expectation.
In the picturesque setting of Murambi Hill, two kilometers away is the parish of Ruthuru and the Pallottine Sisters mission nearby! All in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Ven Señor Jesús, Maranathá - Come Lord Jesus, Maranatha
By Harpa Dei
On 16 December, the members of the three Pallottine General Councils participated in an online meeting. This meeting had a formative character and focused on the latest encyclical of Pope Francis, Fratelli tutti. The document was presented by S. Nicla Spezzati, ASC.
What wonderful news! On the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Pope Francis announced the “Year of St. Joseph”. I first heard the news when I was watching the Mass on Facebook (because our Parish Church was closed for two weeks because of Covid-19.) The celebrant announced it at Mass and my heart jumped for joy because my first thought was, “Great, this coincides with St. Joseph Hospital’s 100th Anniversary.”
Pope Francis Twitter Feed
The Holy See
Jubilee of the Canonisation
U.A.C.
Meditations
* Our Way of Life *
"Our diverse talents and abilities, our differences in culture, nationality and age are assets for the richness of the community. Although we may be engaged in a variety of ministries, we all share the common call to apostolic discipleship in a community of the Catholic Apostolate of St. Vincent Pallotti."(OWL, 91)
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"Christ, the Apostle of the Eternal Father, and his mission are central to our personal and community life, giving meaning and direction to our thinking, our spirituality, our prayer, action and suffering." (OWL, 19)
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"As a community of disciples we are gathered around Jesus, the Apostle of the Eternal Father. Like the first disciples, we want to be with Jesus, be sent out by him and return to him to evaluate our service in the light of his presence." (OWL, 88)
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"As Pallottines, it is our special charism to foster growth in faith and love among the laity, to awaken them to awareness of their apostolic call, and to cooperate with them in furthering the apostolic mission." (OWL, 21)
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"Our relationships with one another should be marked by a love that bears all, believes all and hopes for all, a love that is neither conceited nor jealous, which hurts no one, nor is embittered or resentful. It is never discouraged but remains patient and kind. It rejoices with others and shares their suffering. It is with this kind of love that we should help and support one another." (OWL, 90)