My Adventures in Advent

Happy Advent to you Reader,

This year we were fortunate to have four full weeks of Advent to reflect on the grandeur of the Father's plan to send His Word to us as a human being named Jesus.  Lord Jesus is truly Emmanuel "God with us."

I think that every week this Advent Season, the Lord has given me little events to show a particular aspect of my Franciscan heritage that I am studying for.  It started with reading a new publication "To the Stable" by Brother Richard Contino, OSF.  In his talk the following week, I saw how this Advent's journey is to the emptiness of my open heart waiting for the Blessed Babe to come and reside.  I have kept my stable (conscious) clear to be able to receive Him worthily.

The next important event was the attendance at Christ the King Church (Commack) "Advent Lessons and Carols" where I received my Peace Light from Bethlehem.  This light has been lit in my house since then and when the pressures of my Christmas preparation get to me, I place myself in the Grotto church in Bethlehem with Divine Peace.  Also, I seem to be really into learning about our Blessed Mother and so when Our Lady of Guadalupe's feast day (Dec 12) came around, I will really paying attention.

I received a statue at my Fraternity's Gathering to meditate upon, as it is of a penitent monk.  It's very solemn and sober looking but I feel I haven't really been paying attention to it.  I am hoping to keep it one more month so I can really start 2012 in the right spirit.  Finally this whole month I have doing little acts of good as inspired by the Holy Spirit. 

Prayers, reflections, good book reading and the list seems to go on.  Every once in a while I ask myself "Self, why are you doing this any way?"  The answer always seems to be that I want to be in His presence.  I want Him to be born in me and in my world.  Even the Winter Solstice seems less important since I have Jesus' Light in my life.  How truly grateful I am.

God bless you!  And Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Sylvia
Candidate for SFO

Happy Belated Thanksgiving to you!

Hi Folks,

I cooked this year and that made me very JOYFUL!  I worked on my recipes and menu but it was just my immediate family.

I wanted to write though that November's formation was all about Mary.  My relationship with Mary can be very sweet and gentle.  I see her getting stronger in my life everyday and I can thank St. Francis for that.  He loved that Sweet Lady and Mother so much.

I will write about my Advent Adventures in the next post.  I keep remembering that hopefully in December of 2012, I will be professed.

Yours in Christ,

Sylvia