From a Pastoral Letter by St. Charles Borromeo
Beloved, now is the
acceptable time spoken of by the Spirit, the day of salvation, peace and
reconciliation: the great season of Advent. This is the time eagerly awaited by
the patriarchs and prophets, the time that holy Simeon rejoiced at last to see.
This is the season that the Church has always celebrated with special
solemnity. We too should always observe it with faith and love, offering praise
and thanksgiving to the Father for the mercy and love he has shown us in this
mystery. In his infinite love for us, though we were sinners, he sent his only
Son to free us from the tyranny of Satan, to summon us to heaven, to welcome us
into its innermost recesses, to show us truth itself, to train us in right
conduct, to plant within us the seeds of virtue, to enrich us with the
treasures of his grace, and to make us children of God and heirs of eternal
life.
Each year, as the
Church recalls this mystery, she urges us to renew the memory of the great love
God has shown us. This holy season teaches us that Christ’s coming was not only
for the benefit of his contemporaries; his power has still to be communicated
to us all. We shall share his power, if, through holy faith and the sacraments,
we willingly accept the grace Christ earned for us, and live by that grace and
in obedience to Christ.
The Church asks us to
understand that Christ, who came once in the flesh, is prepared to come again.
When we remove all obstacles to his presence he will come, at any hour and
moment, to dwell spiritually in our hearts, bringing with him the riches of his
grace.
In her concern for
our salvation, our loving mother the Church uses this holy season to teach us
through hymns, canticles and other forms of expression, of voice or ritual,
used by the Holy Spirit. She shows us how grateful we should be for so great a
blessing, and how to gain its benefit: our hearts should be as much prepared
for the coming of Christ as if he were still to come into this world. The same
lesson is given us for our imitation by the words and example of the holy men
of the Old Testament.
Source: The Liturgy of the Hours – Office of
Readings
From a pastoral letter by St Charles Borromeo
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