 From THE LITURGICAL YEAR,Book 1, Advent LORETO PUBLISHING Dom Guéranger OSB First Translation: 1867 |
THIS Sunday, the first of the ecclesiastical year, is called, in the chronicles and charts of the middle ages, Ad te levavi Sunday, from the first words of the Introit; or, Aspiciens a longe, from the first words of one of the responsories of Matins.
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Beloved, I’ve spent a good part of today crying over the two videos below; they are so very beautiful and demonstrate beyond all imagining the truth, strength, and power of God’s love for us.
A number of you heard that I’ve spent the past two weeks in and out of the hospital – actually two hospitals. I’m home three days now and healing, although slowly and am still quite sick to my stomach. I had gone in for a somewhat routine colonoscopy almost two weeks ago, during which my spleen was accidentally lacerated. It sent quite a bit of blood into my system which they say will take a number of weeks to heal.
I’m doing better with each day and awoke this morning with the song below in the video on my heart. I’m not often prone to crying, but cried non-stop at the words and, to me, familiar music of this hymn. What grace is this that brought Our Savior down! May we never get over it – and, please God, never get used to it or take His love and grace for granted.
The second video about the Eucharistic miracle is, I think, the most beautiful and moving one I have ever seen. Some years ago, I was invited on a tour of 13 Eucharistic miracles throughout Italy, including Lanciano. The video of this one from Venezuela has moved me more than any before.
These beautiful videos are an enormous gift to us – reminding us that whatever happens in our lives, in the world or in the Church, the gates of Hell will never prevail against the Church and nothing, not the devil himself, can ever separate or keep us from the love of God in Christ.
I pray you will bask in Our Savior’s love watching these videos and send them out to all you know, unbelievers too. He died for every soul.
Our love and prayers to you with deep gratitude to all who have been praying for my recovery. Our God is faithful.
Mother Miriam of the Lamb of God, O.S.B.
Beloved, I am aware that the previous video I attempted to send was taken down before it reached most of you. I have just now come across the video below which I wish could be shared with the entire world. I truly believe that our time on earth, at least the time in which we can live out our Faith apart from persecution, is growing shorter with each day. What of those who have never heard the Gospel? What of those (including members of our own family and friends) who will die without Christ?
A few figures should haunt us:
I cannot imagine any Christian responding, “What does that have to do with me?” How is it possible that the grace of God, the free gift of salvation in Christ, has reached us and stopped there? How can we, by our silence or by our unChristian behavior, rob others of what we have so freely received and which is meant for every creature?
We MUST share the Gospel. And to the extent we are hindered, support those who will give their very lives to the end that souls can be saved.
Here in Beloit, Kansas, our beginning Priory will hold only 13 women. I am asking Our Lord for an army – as many as God would call. We have plenty of land to build a monastery – we need only resources to build and women who will give all to live for Christ, for the restoration of the family and the salvation of millions of souls.
Please watch the video below and then send it to every young man and woman whom Christ may be calling to the priesthood and consecrated life.
We have little time left – truly, today is the day of salvation. We have only to hear His Voice and heed His Call while it is yet day.
We pray God’s blessings on each of you and your families that your deepest needs may be met in Him.
Mother Miriam of the Lamb of God, O.S.B.
Beloved, greetings to you at long last! Please forgive the unusual gap in time since our last communication (which was our Christmas newsletter!). Much has taken place since then, including our move to Beloit, Kansas (see our temporary address below). We hope to send out our first newsletter from the land of Dorothy and Toto 😊 by summer’s end.
In the interim, I wanted to send you the homily below from the National Shrine of Saint Alphonsus Liguori in Baltimore. I believe this dear priest has the right perspective which can indeed bring comfort to our hearts, especially following the Holy Father’s recent motu proprio, Traditiones Custodes.
Please know you are in our prayers and that we cherish yours on this pilgrim’s way to our eternal home.
Mother Miriam of the Lamb of God, O.S.B.
The two weeks of Passiontide begin today, the first week being known as “Passion Week,” and the second week being known as “Holy Week.”
This day–Passion Sunday, also known as Judica Sunday because of the Introit Júdica me (Psalm 42)–memorializes the increasing antipathy against Christ from the Jews who would not accept Him and accused Him of sorcery and of being blasphemous and possessed by a devil. After today and until Easter, the Júdica me and the Glória patris at the Introit and Lavabo are omitted from Masses of the Season. This signifies Christ’s hiding His glory from the world during these next few weeks as He hides Himself away from the Jews until the time has come for Him to enter into Jerusalem (commemorated on Palm Sunday) and to be crucified (commemorated on Good Friday)–after which comes the Resurrection on Easter.
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On Ash Wednesday, all over the world, traditional and Novus Ordo Catholics are going to be praying and fasting. It is a powerful day to ask for God’s forgiveness and for the salvations of Souls. All of us Catholics need to pray for unity and purity of Catholic dogma. We also want to repent of individual and collective sins that are destroying the Mystical Body of Christ.
Here are some suggestions of what we can do for Lent.
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Beloved, I highly recommend Regina Magazine to deepen our understanding and reverence for the Faith – the Faith once delivered to the saints!
The article below on Saint Athanasius, taken from Regina Magazine’s recent email mailing, is, to us, especially wonderful and indeed fitting in this time of confusion and apostasy. References are included below so that those who wish may read further on this glorious saint.
Saint Athanasius of Alexandria (born c. 296, died 2 May, 373), bishop and confessor, is a doctor of the Church. Athanasius was the greatest champion of Catholic belief on the subject of the Incarnation that the Church has ever known and in his lifetime earned the characteristic title of “Father of Orthodoxy”, by which he has been distinguished ever since. Athanasius was even known as Athanasius Contra Mundum (Athanasius against the World). Athanasius studied under Saint Anthony the hermit, (Athanasius wrote a book titled “Life of Saint Anthony”) then two years later became the understudy of Saint Alexander, the Patriarch of Alexandria. Athanasius came to prominence during the Council of Nice, where he refuted the Arian heresy.
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Today’s first reading gives us an important insight to understand profoundly the mystery of the Lord’s Presentation in the Temple by Mary and Joseph, in accordance with the canons of Mosaic Law. The text, taken from the Prophet Malachi says, ‘I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me; and suddenly there will come to the temple the Lord who you seek’ (Mal 3:1). From all the Gospels, we know that it is the Precursor, St John the Baptist who was born 6 months before Jesus, that God sent to prepare His way. Putting these evangelical facts together, we can comprehend the words of the Prophet Malachi. The Lord God promised that He would send a Precursor to prepare His way. Since there is only 6 months between the birth of St John the Baptist and Jesus it is clear that the prophecy meant that suddenly after the Precursor, the Lord Himself will come. So, soon after the Baptist’s birth, God entered His temple. Jesus’ presentation signifies God’s entrance to His temple. God made man entered His temple, presenting Himself to those who were really searching for Him.
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Taken in its entirety from the wonderful Regina Magazine: https://www.reginamag.com/the-season-of-septuagesima/
Septuagesima and Lent are both times of penance; Septuagesima being a time of voluntary fasting in preparation for the obligatory Great Fast of Lent.
The theme is the Babylonian exile, the “mortal coil” we must endure as we await the Heavenly Jerusalem. Sobriety and somberness reign liturgically; the Alleluia and Gloria are banished.
“The Sundays of Septugesima are named for their distance away from Easter: