An Advent Meditation
ADVENT MEDITATION
for the Eucharist on 8th December (The feast of the Conception of the
BVM)
The angel
Gabriel said to Mary, "Do not fear, Mary, you shall conceive and bear a
son and give him the name Jesus.
Great will be his dignity and he will be called
Son of the Most High..." Lk. 1
O Jesus, I believe you were
born of Mary and are God's Son.
Your mysterious coming is beyond
understanding. Yet like your holy mother, Mary, I wish that you come to
me,
for you promised you will.
Let me serve you in any way I can and know that you are with me day by
day as my life goes by.
Like Mary, your mother, though I
know you only by faith, may my whole being proclaim your greatness
and my spirit rejoice in
your favor to me.
O Wisdom, holy Word of God,
Jesus Christ, holding all
things in your strong yet tender hands,
come and show us the way to
salvation.
Music - Rorate Caeli
The text of this hymn is frequently
used in the Mass and Divine Office during Advent.
It is a plea of the Prophets,
the Patriarchs, and the entire Church, all of whom long for the coming
of the Messiah.
As dew comes down from the
sky and quenches the dry earth, only to evaporate back, so too will the
Messiah
come to save his people and return
to heaven. We recall our past offenses and sins and seek forgiveness
as we await the birth of Christ for
our redemption, a redemption that will bring the waters of life to
desolate Jerusalem.
Drop down dew, ye heavens,
from above, and let the clouds rain the Just One.
A
Penitential Litany
You know, O Lord, the vigilance of
my spiritual enemies, and the weakness of my humanity.
Lord Jesus Christ,
Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Cover me with the wings of your
loving mercy that I may sleep not in death;
Lord Jesus Christ,
Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Enlighten the eyes of my mind, that
I may delight in your word, and glorify you in praise, O lover of
souls.
Lord Jesus Christ,
Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
How awesome is your judgement, O
Lord, when we shall stand before you, the books are opened,
deeds are put to the test,
and thoughts are searched out.
Lord Jesus Christ,
Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Quench the flames of your anger,
lighten my darkness, and show mercy on me for the sake of your tender
love.
Lord Jesus Christ,
Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Grant me, O God, the tears of the
sinful woman, and let me wash your feet, for they have led me from the
broad
path of destruction.
Lord Jesus
Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Let me offer you the sweet sacrifice
of a pure life, fashioned by my repentance.
Lord Jesus Christ,
Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Let me hear that voice of yours for
which I long, saying,
Your faith has saved you; go in
peace.
Lord Jesus Christ,
Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
For you are the lover of souls, and
to you is glory, praise, dominion and power, now and to the ages of
ages.
Amen.
Music
Ave Maria - Moore
December
Eighth
Beloved, Mother of us all,
Today we remember That, of all
earth's millions,
You, Mary, in the womb,
Were shining, whole,
And Godward-turned.
You only, O Morning Star,
Lighted the clouds of sin and
waiting.
You only, Immaculate Ark,
Glided above the depths of the
primal curse;
For you were to bear safely over
those waters
Emmanuel, your little Son, from
whose baby hand
Streams the rainbow up which we
climb to God.
You only, little white moon, are the
crystal
Reflection of our Sun.
But for your whiteness, O Gate of
Heaven,
We had never entered, nor seen our
God.
But for your loveliness, O Mystic
Rose,
We had never breathed the Rose of
Sharon.
White Tower of David, Ivory Tower,
Princess whose beauty lured Love's
kiss when life began,
Mother, who died a thousand deaths
for us,
We thank Him for you.
To-day, when He smiles to see His
image in you, clear, Remember us.
Sr.
St. Francis S.S.J.
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