GOLDEN NIGHTS
Genesis, Chapter 42, Verse 35
When they were
emptying their sacks, there in each one’s sack was his moneybag! At the sight
of their moneybags, they and their father were afraid.
Why was Jacob (Israel) and Joseph’s brothers afraid? As I pondered this thought it
occurred to me that they were afraid because they had no compassion in them.
Yes, even Jacob; for was it not Jacob who cheated his brother out of his
birthright and stole Esau’s dying blessing from his own father Isaac. These men
were hard. Yet, God still loved them and blessed them. Finding the money sacks
still in with the grain meant to them that now they would have to pay for the
grain with their lives-for nothing is free! This act of compassion from Joseph
unsettled them. It upset their world; it toppled their assumptions of the world
and they would never be the same. They were by this simple gesture being asked
to radically change. To think in a new way: that is to realize that the dignity
and loyalty that men seek; is not a birthright given to the firstborn or
something to be gained taken by being the most powerful of men. That dignity and
loyalty are the birthright of all persons; however, they can be lost by
unbridled selfishness. Wisdom teaches us that in order to retain our dignity
and the loyalty of others we must be
persons of character and that we must
lose our absorption with ourselves to contemplate and develop a sincere love
for others.
Today also marks the beginning of the O
Antiphons, the seven jewels of our liturgy in preparation of
Christ. With each new Sunday heightening our sense of anticipation and with
every Advent custom doing the same, it is little wonder that the eight days
before Christmas became a semi-official octave of impatient expectation. This
is expressed liturgically in the Divine Office's special magnificat antiphons
for this period. Beginning on the evening of December 17 during Vespers, a "Greater" or "O" antiphon
(so named for its opening vocative) is said which explicitly invokes the Son of
God under various titles and begs Him to come. The Gregorian chant for these
antiphons is exquisite, as are the antiphons themselves, which call attention
to the Word's different manifestations to man in the Old Testament and to
several of His divine attributes. The antiphons are also noteworthy for their
"code." The titles for Christ from each antiphon form an acrostic which, when read
backwards, spells, "ERO CRAS"
-- "I will be [there] tomorrow!" It is as if Christ were answering
our prayers through the prayers themselves. Finally, the Greater antiphons are
the inspiration of the beautiful medieval hymn, Veni, Veni Emmanuel. Each stanza of this famous song is
a poetic rendering of an antiphon, which is why the hymn is traditionally sung
only during the eight days prior to Christmas. In many places, however, the
octave of preparation was extended over nine days, making a Novena. By special permission,
the "Golden Mass"
of Ember Wednesday was sometimes offered in the pre-dawn hours for nine
consecutive days prior to Christmas. Central Europe observed the "Golden Nights," a festive
season honoring the Blessed Virgin, the expectant Mother of God; in fact,
December 18 was once the Feast of
the Expectancy in Spain. In the Alps, schoolchildren observed the
custom of Josephstragen
-- "carrying St. Joseph." Each night, a group of boys would carry a
statue of St. Joseph to another boy's home. The night after the visit, the boy
who had been visited would join the procession, making the number of carriers
grow progressively larger. On Christmas Eve all the boys, accompanied by
schoolgirls dressed in white, would process the statue through the town to the
church, where it would be placed near the manger. In Latin America, on the
other hand, a Novena to the Holy Child (La Novena
del Niño) was held in which prayers would be said and lively carols sung in
front of the church's empty manger.
Come, and
teach us the way of prudence.
O Wisdom, who came from the mouth of the Most High, reaching
from end to end and ordering all things mightily and sweetly, Come, and teach
us the way of prudence.
Read: "Saint
Francis of Assisi began the custom of the nativity scenes when he
celebrated Christmas with his brothers at Greccio in 1223 with a Bethlehem
scene which included live animals. This tradition quickly spread, and people
began to construct their own nativity scenes in their homes. Children take a
great joy in helping to set up a nativity scene. The crèche may be made from
various materials. Simplicity and beauty go often hand in hand. You may set up
your entire scene at the beginning of Advent, leaving the crib empty for the
Christ Child to arrive on Christmas Eve. Or you may set up the scene slowly,
day by day . . . Mary and Joseph can also 'travel' to Bethlehem, as they move
slowly across your room every day until they reach the cave." (excerpted
from "Celebrating Advent as a Family"
foryourmarriage.org)
Reflect: "While
they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to
her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a
manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." (Luke 2:6-7)
Pray: Add this
"O Antiphon" to your daily or meal-time prayer today: "O Leader
of the House of Israel, giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai: come to rescue us
with your mighty power." (Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers,
Revised Edition, 76)
Act: Take
time to bless the family creche in preparation for the coming of Jesus.
(Based on your family's tradition, you may choose to hide the baby Jesus until
Christmas morning.)
Today, according to the Roman Martyrology, is
the feast of St Lazarus known as the brother of St Martha and St Mary of
Bethany. He was the man whom Jesus raised from the dead after having been dead
and in his tomb for four days. The Bible does not trace his history after the
miracle, but tradition says he became a missionary to Gaul, the first bishop of
Marseilles, France, and a martyr in the persecutions of Domitian.
Things to do
·
Read this account of St. Lazarus of Bethany at the The
Military and Hospitaller Order of St. Lazarus website.
·
Read about Bethany,
where Jesus raised St. Lazarus from the dead.
·
Read about the Agios Lazaros Church in Cyprus.
·
Read about the translation of the relics of St. Lazarus.
The
Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem[4]
The
Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus is one of the orders of
chivalry to survive the downfall of the Kingdom of Jerusalem and the attempts
by the Crusader knights to win control of the Holy Land from the forces of
Islam. In theory the Order remained a military one, but with the exception of a
brief period in the 17th century it played no military role after 1291. The
Order of Saint Lazarus is one of the most ancient of the European orders of
chivalry. At the very least it dates back to the time of the Crusader knights.
From its foundation in the 12th century, the members of the Order were
dedicated to two ideals: aid to those suffering from the dreadful disease of
leprosy and the defense of the Christian faith. Today the Military and
Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem is an international
self-governing and independent body, having its own Constitution; it may be
compared with a kind of electoral kingdom. According to the said Constitution
the Order is nonpolitical, oecumenical or nondenominational, as its membership
is open to all men and women being practicing members of the Christian faith in
good standing within their particular denomination. Its international
membership consists of Roman-catholic, Anglican, Protestant, Orthodox, United,
Old Catholic, New Apostolic and other Christians, upholding with their lives,
fortunes and honor the principles of Christianity. Traditionally it is organized
as a Christian Chivalric Order. The Order is registered in London in accordance
with the laws in England. It is both a Military Order of Mercy and a
Hospitaller Order dedicated to the care and assistance of the poor and the
sick. Its aim is to preserve and defend the Christian faith, to guard, assist
succor and help the poor, the sick and dying, to promote and maintain the
principles of Christian chivalry and to follow the teachings of Christ and His
Holy Church in all its works. With the exception of the present Teutonic Order
("Deutscher Orden") the Order of Saint Lazarus is today the smallest
of the orders of Christian chivalry. It is made up of approximately five
thousand members in the five continents. The Order sees itself as an
oecumenical Christian order whose genesis goes back to the Holy Land, to the
crusades and to the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
Spiritual Crib[5]
A special devotion that can be performed during Advent to
prepare for the coming of the Infant Savior. It can be adapted for adults
and/or children and applied as is appropriate to your state in life.
·
7th day, December 17th THE CRIB—Confidence
Build the little Crib by an unbounded confidence in God. Give not way to
sadness in adversity. Also think not too much of our past sins and faults,
making many acts of hope in God's mercy instead. Reflect a little each hour on
the great love of God, who becomes Man for us.
During this Advent season let us take up the nature of God by
reflecting on these traits that make us a model for our children and our
sisters and brothers in Christ. Today reflect on:
Forgiveness vs. Rejection
Clearing the record of those who have wronged me and
allowing God to love them through me (Ephesians 4:32)
1462 Forgiveness of sins brings
reconciliation with God, but also with the Church. Since ancient times the
bishop, visible head of a particular Church, has thus rightfully been
considered to be the one who principally has the power and ministry of
reconciliation: he is the moderator of the penitential discipline. Priests, his
collaborators, exercise it to the extent that they have received the commission
either from their bishop (or religious superior) or the Pope, according to the
law of the Church.
2151 Rejection of false oaths is
a duty toward God. As Creator and Lord, God is the norm of all truth. Human
speech is either in accord with or in opposition to God who is Truth itself.
When it is truthful and legitimate, an oath highlights the relationship of
human speech with God's truth. A false oath calls on God to be witness to a
lie.
2844 Christian prayer
extends to the forgiveness of enemies,
transfiguring the disciple by configuring him to his Master. Forgiveness is a
high-point of Christian prayer; only hearts attuned to God's compassion can
receive the gift of prayer. Forgiveness also bears witness that, in our world,
love is stronger than sin. The martyrs of yesterday and today bear this witness
to Jesus. Forgiveness is the fundamental condition of the reconciliation of the
children of God with their Father and of men with one another.
"Read
these counsels slowly. Pause to meditate on these thoughts. They are things
that I whisper in your ear-confiding them-as a friend, as a brother, as a
father. And they are being heard by God. I won't tell you anything new. I will
only stir your memory, so that some thought will arise and strike you; and so
you will better your life and set out along ways of prayer and of Love. And in
the end you will be a more worthy soul."
How clear the way! How easily seen the obstacles! What good
weapons to overcome them!... — And nevertheless, what side-tracking and what
stumbling! Isn't it true? That fine thread — that chain: that chain of wrought
iron — of which you and I are conscious and which you don't want to break, that
is what draws you from your way and makes you stumble and even fall.
Why do you hesitate? — Cut it... and advance!
Why do you hesitate? — Cut it... and advance!
Daily Devotions
[6]http://graceonlinelibrary.org/home-family/christian-parenting/49-godly-character-qualities/
[7]http://www.escrivaworks.org/book/the_way-point-1.htm
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