Advent: A Brief History

This Advent I am once again using a book of meditations and reflections titled, Monastery Journey to Christmas. by Brother Victor-Antoine D’Avila-Latourrette. The book begins with a very helpful history of Advent in the Christian East and West from as early as 330 AD. The author says, “In appearance, the Advent liturgical traditions from the East and the West may seem to differ in certain aspects and practices, but deep down I find they complement and complete each other in the one and common celebration of the Nativity and Theophany of our Lord and Savior.”

To read this entire history of Advent, click here…
Advent: A Brief History

Advent 2012 Resources & Links

This year the first Sunday of Advent arrives the week after Thanksgiving….next Sunday, December 2. I am a little behind, but here is my annual blog post of resources and links in preparation for the Advent season.

For those of you who have followed my blog in Advents past, most of the links below will look familiar. I will pass on additional resources and links as I discover them. Just click on the link title...

CRI/Voice - The Season of Advent: Anticipation and Hope
This is a helpful introduction and summary of Advent.

Christine Sine’s annual Advent meditation video for 2012
“Alleluia, The Christ Child Comes

GodSpace Blog
This Advent Christine Sine will host a blog series, “Let Us Wait as Children Wait.“ It will include blog posts and reflections from a variety of contributors.

Ignatian Spirituality Advent Resources
This page includes a variety of resources, including an Advent Retreat booklet based on Ignatian contemplative and prayer practices.

Songs for Advent
A couple years ago I discovered this Advent worship digital download. It quickly became a favorite!

Book of Common Prayer Daily Scripture Readings for Advent 
(Year One)

Revised Common Lectionary Sunday Scripture Readings for Advent
(Year C)

Praying Advent
Creighton University’s Online Ministries offers a selection of materials to help people prayerfully enter into Advent, from short prayers to longer reflections and retreats.

Work of the People
This is a website of visual media and videos that I have explored throughout the year. It also includes some Advent videos.

Sojourners Top Ten Advent Resources

And Some Books...
The following are a few Advent books that I have used in the past or will be using this year.

Silence and Other Surprising Invitations of Advent 
By Enuma Okoro
This was just published this year and focuses on waiting and longing of Elizabeth and Zechariah.

Monastery Journey to Christmas
By Brother Victor-Antoine D’Avila-Latourrette
I purchased this book last year and it quickly became a favorite!

Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas
This is a great compilation of readings from both classic and contemporary writers.

Waiting for the Light: An Advent Devotional
Christine Sine & Mustard Seed Associates have put together a book of reflections, liturgies, and prayers posted on Godspace blog in years past.

Begin with Gratitude

Happy Thanksgiving to all! Below is a reflection on gratitude originally posted on This Ignatian Life blog last year. Original post...HERE.

Recently I took some time out to renew and refresh my understanding of Ignatian spirituality. While I consider myself very much a newbie to all things Ignatian, it was good to recall and remember how the themes and posture of Ignatian spirituality have impacted my life in significant ways these past five years. Ignatian themes of attentiveness, finding God in all things, contemplative activism, imagination, discernment and gratitude have all shaped and deepened my formation and vocation. All this has inspired me to give renewed attention to these Ignatian themes and practices in my own life. I begin with gratitude.

Gratitude has a prominent place in Ignatian spirituality. The practice of examen begins with looking at your day with gratitude. The process of examen that I often use says it this way,  “Gratitude is the foundation of our whole relationship with God. So use whatever cues help you to walk through the day from the moment of awakening – even the dreams you recall upon awakening. Walk through the past twenty-four hours, from hour to hour, from place to place, task to task, thanking the Lord for every gift you encounter.” (1) In my experience with examen, I have found it important to begin with this posture of gratitude.

Too often my self-examination is critical and focuses on the negative in my own life. I am my own worst critic. However, as I prayerfully enter into examen, making space for gratitude provides necessary focus and directs my self-examination towards God. As I move into reviewing my feelings of consolation and desolation, a posture of gratitude provides the lenses I need to recognize God’s presence and gifts in both the painful and the pleasing.

The Spiritual Exercises close with an invitation of “Contemplation of the Love of God.” These instructions for contemplation also begin with gratitude, "I ask God to give me an intimate knowledge of the many gifts I have received, that filled with gratitude for all, I may in all things love and serve the Divine Majesty." Ignatius celebrates gratitude and gives it a foundational place in relationship with God and others. These closing weeks of the year I intend to practice the examen regularly. I look forward to the space it will provide to not only recognize God’s gifts and grace in my life, but also joyfully respond in worship and thanksgiving.

(1) “Rummaging for God: Praying Backward Through Your Day,” Dennis Hamm (America: The National Catholic Weekly, May 14, 1994). 
(http://ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-examen/rummaging-for-god-praying-backward-through-your-day/)

What’s ahead in 2013…

Recently, I shared about my plans to begin a study program in spiritual direction this coming January. To read more, check out my November prayer letter…CLICK BELOW.
November Prayer Letter

What is Spiritual Direction? You ask? Well, for starters, the following description from Rev. Bill Haley, Director of Coracle, is a helpful summary….CLICK HERE.

Love and Live the Questions

Be patient toward all that is unresolved in your heart

And try to love the questions themselves

Like locked rooms and like books that are written in a very foreign tongue

Do not seek for the answers that cannot be given

For you would not be able to live them

And the point is to live everything

Live the questions now

And perhaps without knowing it

You will live along some day into the answers

~ Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926), Letters to a Young Poet