Month: December 2011

Advent Wreath – A popular Christian Custom – Fourth Week

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Each Sunday in Advent we say the Advent Wreath Prayer for the week and light the candle. In the fourth week of Advent, light all four candles. This week we ask Christ to forgive us for our sins and, through His grace, to create us anew when He comes.

Advent Wreath Prayer for the Fourth Week:

Bestir, O Lord, Thy might, we beseech Thee, and come; and with great power come to our aid, that, by the help of Thy grace, that which is hindered by our sins may be hastened by Thy merciful forgiveness. Who livest and reignest, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.

Saint John of the Cross, considered one of the first, and greatest mystics

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This is the first year in my Catholicism that I’ve noticed how many saints are remembered this time of year, in Advent. What a powerful time to reflect and prepare for the coming of our Savior with the stories of all these saints. Today we celebrate Saint John the Cross (June 1542 – 14 December 1591). He was a major figure of the Counter-Reformation, a Spanish mystic, Catholic saint, Carmelite friar and priest. He is famous for having written “The Ascent of Mt. Carmel,” “The Dark Night of the Soul,” and “The Spiritual Canticle.” He and St. Teresa of Avila reformed the Carmelite order at a time when they had moved away from a life of fasting, prayer and penance. The order resented the reforms. At one point even tortured St John and kidnapped him. Painfully, this is when he wrote some of his most profound writings. When he moved beyond earthly interactions and mystically saw how the spirit existed and journeyed, you can imagine how that would have overshadowed any evil earthly events even with the severity of them.

Advent Wreath – A popular Christian Custom – Third Week

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Each Sunday in Advent we say the Advent Wreath Prayer for the week and light the candle. In the third week of Advent, light two purple candles and one rose candle. As we begin the third week of Advent, we anticipate Christmas, and so we ask Christ to grant us His grace that we might be prepared for welcoming His Birth.

Advent Wreath Prayer for the Third Week:

Incline Thine ear to our prayers, O Lord, we beseech Thee; and make bright the darkness of our minds by the grace of Thy visitation. Who livest and reignest, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.

Go to second week here