Month 2, Divine Mercy, and the Real Mitigation

For a week or so, there was a scripture bouncing around in my head--something about shortening the time so that we could endure. Finally, I looked it up, and it is Matthew 24:22:

And if those days had not been shortened, no one would be saved; but for the sake the elect they will be shortened.

Mark 13:30 is almost exactly the same.

This passage comes in the middle of Jesus's description of the end of the world. I want to be clear that I'm not saying that this is the END OF THE WORLD, but there are passages in the Bible that, while having one definitive meaning, also speak to other times and events in very specific ways. For instance, the massacre of the Holy Innocents reverberates throughout history.

Also, the world ends in different ways. The Civil War, for instance, was the end of the world of the 19th century South. And 9/11 was the end of our world in that ever since then, we have lived in a different sort of place. It stripped away our image of the United States as a safer sort of place than elsewhere. In our current situation, it's hard to see how we could get back to where we were six weeks ago.

As many people have noted, the onset of the virus in the United States was concurrent with the observance of Lent, and now we are in the middle of the strangest Easter week ever, a celebration of Passover that surely elicits more questions than the usual four, and remote liturgies for the end of the Orthodox Holy Week. We are also in the middle of the novena in preparation for the Feast of Divine Mercy on April 19, next Sunday.

I am not going to go into an explanation of what the Feast of Divine Mercy is all about. There are lots of places online that tell about the messages of Jesus to St. Faustina and explain the picture above and and the feastday if you need more information, e.g. this one, click Basic from the masthead. The one message that I am going to quote from St. Faustina's diary is this:

I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners [all of us]. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the Fount of My Mercy. . . . On that day all the divine floodgates through which graces flow are opened. 

So, getting back to that original scripture, what I have been praying for, and will particularly be praying for this Sunday is that the days will be shortened, and in a way that will be obvious. I am praying for a miracle.

AMDG

Missing the Water

It hasn't been often that I have thought that the Lord was speaking to me directly--not aloud but clearly in my mind--but there have been a few times. Many years ago when I lived a half-mile from my parish church, I sensed the Lord telling me that one day I would not have access to the Eucharist, so I better take advantage while I could. In the 24 years that we lived in that house, there were years when we went to Mass everyday, and there were hiatuses. This must have been during one of the latter. I wondered for a long time what that could mean. Why would I not be able to receive Communion? Then, when we moved to our current home, which is 13 miles from the nearest church, and we only had one car which my husband took to work, I thought that must be it. We could still go to Mass on Sunday, but not during the week.

 But now.

I never imagined a time when most people could not go to Mass. It really makes Azariah's (he of the the three young men in the fiery furnace) prayer from Tuesday's first reading from the book of Daniel come alive:

  For your name’s sake, O Lord, do not deliver us up forever, or make void your covenant. Do not take away your mercy from us, for the sake of Abraham, your beloved, Isaac your servant, and Israel your holy one, To whom you promised to multiply their offspring like the stars of heaven, or the sand on the shore of the sea. For we are reduced, O Lord, beyond any other nation, brought low everywhere in the world this day because of our sins. We have in our day no prince, prophet, or leader, no burnt offering, sacrifice, oblation, or incense, no place to offer first fruits, to find favor with you. But with contrite heart and humble spirit let us be received; As though it were burnt offerings of rams and bullocks, or thousands of fat lambs, So let our sacrifice be in your presence today as we follow you unreservedly; for those who trust in you cannot be put to shame. And now we follow you with our whole heart, we fear you and we pray to you. Do not let us be put to shame, but deal with us in your kindness and great mercy. Deliver us by your wonders, and bring glory to your name, O Lord.  Daniel 3:34-43

I feel like I am starving, although that is a bit hyperbolic since I went to Mass last Sunday, and probably would not have gone to daily Mass this week. And, thankfully, there are many opportunities to pray along with Mass online. We have been watching 12:05 p.m. Mass at the Shrine of St. Martin de Porres.

I've also found this article from The Catholic World Report on fasting from the Eucharistic by Joseph Ratzinger very helpful. Thanks to my friend Amy for linking to this.

I would like to think that once we can return Mass, I will not take it for granted, but I don't know. It's so easy to be the person who sees her face in the mirror and then goes away and forgets what she has seen. But I have the intention of not forgetting, and I am praying for that grace.

AMDG

I Hope I Remember How to Do This

I see it's been over a year since I posted here, but I'm hoping to write something soon. I thought I'd check and see if I remembered the way to do it. AMDG

Ringing the Bell

From the time I was 11, until I married at 21, I lived nextdoor to our parish church, and loved to hear the church bells ring. I love church bells that actually play hymns, but sometimes the one tolling bell is even more effective--and affecting. I also like change ringing very much, and have often thought that it would be great fun (and exercise) despite the fact that my knowledge of it comes almost entirely from mystery novels, or BBC detective series in which a murder occurs in the vicinity of the bells.

Given that I have a gimpy elbow, I'm pretty sure that no change ringing lies in my future; however, now that I am a cantor in my parish, I get to ring the bell before 8:30 a.m. Mass on the weeks when I am singing. It is no easy job to ring it even 10 times, but it's great. When I rang it on the feast of the Holy Family, it was still dressed up from Christmas.

I wonder if the bell has a name. I will have to ask.

AMDG

Silent Night

The last quiet moment.

AMDG

O Emmanuel

O Emmanuel, king and lawgiver, desire of the nations,

Savior of all people, come and set us free, Lord our God.

Nativity, Fra Angelico

AMDG

My Soul Rejoices/O King of the Nations

Image Source: Used by permission of the artist, Owen Swain,
all rights reserved 2014 (may not be reproduced for
personal or commercial use without written permission of the Artist)

I wish I had had time to contact Owen Swain, who drew this picture, before yesterday, because it would have been the perfect image of Mary for the O Rising Dawn antiphon. This is my favorite image of Mary pregnant.

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O King of all the nations, the only joy of every human heart; O Keystone of the mighty arch of man, come and save the creature you fashioned from the dust.

AMDG

O Rising Dawn

O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

AMDG

O Key of David

Yesterday, I had a dental emergency, which turned out well, but took a large part of the already busy
day, so this is for yesterday.

O Key of David, O royal Power of Israel, controlling at your will the gate of heaven: Come, break down the prison walls of death for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death; and lead your captive people into freedom.

AMDG

O Root of Jesse

O Flower of Jesse’s stem, you have been raised up as a sign for all peoples; kings stand silent in your presence; the nations bow down in worship before you. Come, let nothing keep you from coming to our aid.

AMDG

O Adonai

O sacred Lord of ancient Israel, who showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush, who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain: come, stretch out your mighty hand to set us free.

Moses and the Burning Bush attributed to
Dieric Bouts

Here is a video of the chant for today in Latin with the score.

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This painting by Kay Eneim is called Mary with Child. Ms. Eneim was kind enough to give me permission to use it here. You can see more information about the painting, and more of Kay Eneim's work here.

AMDG

O Antiphon House: O Come, O Come Emmanuel

This is our O Antiphon House. The O Antiphons are those which are said with the Magnificat in Evening Prayer (Vespers). If you are not used to praying with antiphons, it goes like this.

Ant. O Wisdom, O holy Word of God, you govern all creation with your strong yet tender care. Come and show your people the way to salvation. 

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. 

 From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name. 

 He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation. 

 He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit 

 He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly. 

 He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty. 

 He has come to the help of his servant Israelfor he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever. 

 Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be for ever. Amen. 

Ant. O Wisdom, O holy Word of God, you govern all creation with your strong yet tender care. Come and show your people the way to salvation.

Or sometimes, you might pray the antiphon between each verse.

The antiphons for the evenings between December 17, and December 23 always begin with an invocation of Jesus, each one addressing him by a different title. The song, O Come, O Come Emmanuel is basically a list of all these antiphons. As you see above, the one for tonight is "O Wisdom."

Behind each of the little doors on the O Antiphon House, there is symbol representing whatever the antiphon of the evening is, so we take one off each day during our prayer time, and we sing the part of the song that goes with the day, and then the day before, and the day before until on the 23rd, we sing the whole song.

A few years ago, I wrote a series on the O Antiphons here. Unfortunately, they will show up in reverse order.

AMDG

Gaudete!

The third Sunday is called Gaudete Sunday, which means Rejoice! We are rejoicing because we roughly halfway through our waiting for the Savior. Of course, the only time it is exactly halfway is when Christmas falls on a Sunday, and since this year it is on Tuesday, we are well over halfway.

Today we light the pink candle in the Advent Wreath, the priest has the option of wearing rose vestments instead of purple, and ours did. This was the first reading.

Shout for joy, O daughter Zion!
Sing joyfully, O Israel!
Be glad and exult with all your heart,
O daughter Jerusalem!
The LORD has removed the judgment against you
he has turned away your enemies;
the King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst,
you have no further misfortune to fear.
On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem:
Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged!
The LORD, your God, is in your midst,
a mighty savior;
he will rejoice over you with gladness,
and renew you in his love,
he will sing joyfully because of you,
as one sings at festivals. Zephaniah 3:14-18a

And I can't resist posting this, even though it is really about Christ being already born.

AMDG

Abiding

This is my last group of Nativity figurines. The shepherds are here where they always have been, and where they still are. Who spends more time waiting patiently than a shepherd, and now, the king whom they are about to meet, will be known as one of their number.

He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: He shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his arm, and gently lead those that are with young. Isaiah 40:11

 Not your normal professional performance, but I love this little flock, and so nervous soloist.



AMDG

Another Visitor

Today when I got home from the grocery store, I pulled part way into my driveway, and then quickly stopped, because I saw this hawk sitting in a tree right next to where we park. It was nice of him to sit still long enough for me to get a picture. I tried to ease the car a little closer, but he flew away. I think it is a red shouldered hawk. I hope he comes back, I could easily watch him from my porch.

Other good ornithological news is that there was a chickadee eating my bird food, which up until today had been scorned by one and all.

Today is the feast day of St. Lucy on which it is the custom in some countries--Sweden in particular--for the oldest daughter to dress in a white robe and to wear a wreath of lit candles on her head and serve breakfast to the family. We actually did this once, although I could not bring myself to set fire to my daughter's head. We are a very clumsy family. I saw a St. Lucy's wreath made of felt the other day on someone's blog, and thought that that was probably what we needed. 

Wait! I see now that today is the 14th and not the 13th! Oh well. A day late.

I got the recipe for St. Lucy's saffron rolls from this little book, which is full of good bread recipes for every December occasion, and probably goes all the way to the Epiphany. I see it is available for $1..99 used at Barnes and Noble, and would be well worth the price.

AMDG

A Shoot Shall Spring Up

Today, while I was getting out the rest of my Nativity figures, I found this book, which I bought several years ago and promptly forgot. The Jesse tree is based on Isaiah 11:1, "A shoot shall spring up from the stump of Jesse [King David's father]; from his root a Branch shall bear fruit," and a legend that Jesse had a dream in which he saw all of salvation history.

It is modeled after the Jesse Tree Window in Chartres Cathedral.

This is only part of the window, but it's hard to get a picture that shows the whole thing, and still allows you to see the detail.  This panoramic picture gives the best view of the individual images. You can click to enlarge it, and then scan up and down the window.

The book has 24 pictures which you color and attach to a large piece of paper.

As you can see, there is a paragraph about each of the pictures to read before you

attach it to the mural.

In the end, you get a mural like the one on the cover of the book, except much longer.

You could do one a day, or several each day, especially if you have more than one child involved.

Sad to say, this book is no longer in print, and I almost feel bad about posting about it, but it seems that given the availability of images online you could probably come up with you own--maybe not this year, but there will be lots more Christmases.

AMDG

Just a Bit Today

Yesterday I spent almost the whole day sitting at my computer, taking care of some business; therefore, today, I am not going to spend much time on my computer, so I will be brief.

It took me a while to figure out where Mary and Joseph were going to rest on their way to Bethlehem this year because I moved their regular sitting place. I finally decided that the center of the Advent Wreath would be nice. 

I've been thinking about their journey. It was about 80 or 90 miles, so it had to have taken several days, so where did they sleep on the way? All those people who were filling the inns in Bethlehem, must have been on the road, too. Did they sleep in tents, or just in the open? It must have been an incredibly hard journey for a 9 months pregnant woman. When we drive 500 miles to see our son in a comfortable truck, I feel like I have been run over by said truck when we get there. How tired Mary must have been, and how concerned Joseph must have been.

Today is the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which I wrote about here. If you live in an area where there are a lot of Hispanics, you have almost certainly seen this image around.

We know that Mary is pregnant in this image, which appeared miraculously on the tilma or cloak of a Mexican peasant, by the black belt tied above her waist, which was the custom of women in that place. There is a lot more information in the post I linked to.

AMDG

Visitors

Last night, we were visited by Jack Frost.

But yesterday, we had more substantial visitors.

There were six altogether.

This one kept looking up to check me out, and I spent a LOT of time standing stock still and freezing in front of an open window so they wouldn't leave.

I had been planning to post this painting by Mariotto Albertinelli of the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth as one of the pictures of Mary while pregnant. When Gretchen posted an icon of the same event this morning, I thought today would be right day for it.

I love the intimacy of the gaze between these two women, who carry miraculous babies hidden within. How good it must have been for them to be able to talk to someone else who somewhat understood the work that God was doing in them. If you click once on the picture, you can see this better.

I love both paintings like this and icons. They can speak to us about the same event or person from different points of view. We can identify with this painting, and feel some of the emotions, joys, and worries that Mary and Elizabeth share. The icon, however, is a window from heaven. It is more idealized and helps us to see these events and people from an eternal perspective.

AMDG

We Saw His Star Rising

Today, I finally got out my next group of Nativity figures. This is our bedroom window, and it is as far east as you can get in the house. I set them up first because I figure it must have taken a lot longer for them to get to Bethlehem from Persia or wherever they were, than it took Mary and Joseph to get there from Nazareth.

We know very little about the Magi. We talk about three wisemen, and in the west we call them Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthazar, but we don't know where those names came from. We assume there were three because there were three gifts. In some places, the names are different and they believe that there were at least 20. At any rate, their main importance is that they were the first Gentiles to see Jesus. This was the moment when the Jewish Messiah was revealed as being the Saviour of the world.

My little Magi sitting on my bedroom window have no idea what lies ahead for them. If you told them, they had come such a long way to find a poor baby in a stable, they probably would have scoffed at the thought. None of us yet knows what surprises the might come at the end of our journey through Advent, all we can do is keep our eyes on the Light.

The earliest image of the Magi is found on a 3rd century sarcophagus. Images in catacombs and sarcophagi were the earliest Christian images. 

You can see this picture enlarged if you click on it once. You might notice that the gifts don't exactly look like gold, frankincense and myrrh.

I am going to departed a bit from my Advent Hymns, because somehow I just resist pointing you to this.

AMDG

There Hath Not Risen a Greater

Our gospel reading for the Second Sunday of Advent is Luke 3:1-6, John the Baptist crying in the wilderness, "Prepare the way of the Lord." This painting is from the Ghent Altarpiece by Jan van Eyck, which is one of the most complex and fascinating works of art in the world. Here, John is sitting on the left hand of Christ. He has on his heavenly robe, but his hair is still wild and bristling, he points to the Lamb of God, and he is wearing his camel hair clothing underneath the robe. I wish I knew what scripture that Bible is open to. I have looked at it very close up on a website where you can really enlarge the pictures, but I still can't tell.

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I'm going to keep it brief today because we are really busy. Instead of posting a video of a song, I'm going to link to a post that I did about six years ago with a list of the songs I recorded on a CD that I listen to during Advent. You can see it here

There are two versions of On Jordan's Bank on the list. We almost always sing this at Mass on the second Sunday of Advent.

And here is a reflection by a friend of mine on the second Sunday of Advent which features this song, and happened to appear on Facebook at just the right moment.

AMDG