Dear all, a friendly reminder that we only have 11 more days of Advent, a spiritually beneficial time to prepare for Christmas, to offer penances for our sins, and to obtain many sought-after graces!  Don't let this time go to waste.  Advent and Lent are 2 of the most merciful times in the whole year (i.e. the "acceptable time" spoken of below), where God will shower abundant graces on those who take it seriously.  It's not too late.

Thus saith the Lord: In an acceptable time I have heard thee, and in the day of salvation I have helped thee: and I have preserved thee, and given thee to be a covenant of the people, that thou mightest raise up the earth, and possess the inheritances that were destroyed:  -Isaiah 49:8


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'Come, Thou, bread of angels and satisfy the cravings of my soul; come, Thou, glowing furnace of charity, and inflame my soul with the fires of divine love; come, Shepherd divine, and guide me; come, Eternal father, my hope, my life, my joy, and source of all my happiness; come, Thou dearest object of all my aspirations; come, Thou comforter of the sorrowful, light supernal of the soul; come, Thou, who art the solace and refreshment fo the weary; come to me, O Thou, for whom the nations prayed, and for whom the patriarchs sighed! come to me, O Thou, the desired of ages, joy of angels, glory of the heavens, supreme delight of the saints! come to me, for I yearn for Thee; come to me, for Thou hast transpierced me with the arrows of Thy love; come, delay not, for my heart waxes faint, and I feel that I cannot exist without Thee; come, O Jesus, I beseech Thee, come.'

St. Leonard of Port Maurice

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"If we would please this Divine Infant, we too must become children, simple and humble; we must carry to Him flowers of virtue, of meekness, of mortification, of charity; we must clasp him in the arms of our love."

St Alphonusus


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'After Andrew had stayed with Jesus and had learned much from him, he did not keep this treasure to himself, but hastened to share it with his brother. Notice what Andrew said to him: We have found the Messiah, that is to say, the Christ. Notice how his words reveal what he has learned in so short a time. They show the power of the master who has convinced them of this truth. They reveal the zeal and concern of men preoccupied with this question from the very beginning. Andrew’s words reveal a soul waiting with the utmost longing for the coming of the Messiah, looking forward to his appearing from heaven, rejoicing when he does appear, and hastening to announce so great an event to others. To support one another in the things of the spirit is the true sign of good will between brothers, of loving kinship and sincere affection.'

St. John Chrysostom


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The rich and poor have met together: the Lord is the maker of them both. [Prov 22.2]

The poor man (human nature) and the rich (divine nature) are joined in Christ, that the poor man, bound by punishment and guilt, might be set free. Proverbs says of the riches of this rich man:

Length of days is in his right hand: and in his left hand riches and glory.
His ways are beautiful ways: and all his paths are peaceable. [Prov 3.16-17]

The right hand is that which gives, the left is that which lets go. The left and right hands of Jesus Christ are his two Advents. The first is denoted by the left hand, the second by the right. In the first, Christ had the riches of poverty and humility, which he displayed in our market-places for us to buy, for without them we cannot be rich. He displayed also the glory which is joy in tribulation and patience in persecution. The Apostles came to these markets, and there were enriched with wonderful merchandise, as they went forth from the council, rejoicing that they were accounted worthy to suffer reproach for the name of Jesus. [Ac 5.41]

There is a concordance to this in Proverbs:

It is nought, it is nought, saith every buyer:
and when he is gone away then he will boast. [Prov 20.14]

If you mean to go to the market of tribulation, where true riches are sold, first see if you have in your heart’s purse the coin of patience and joy, to buy there. If not, I advise you not to go: you will come back empty-handed. If you are confident about the price, go and buy. You will not care if these riches are hard to get, if it is bitter to drink from the cup of tribulation. When you come back you will rejoice, because you will pass from the left hand to the right, wherein is length of days. It is said:

I will fill him with length of days. [Ps 90.16]
There follows: His ways are beautiful ways, etc.

St Anthony of Padua