O Emmanuel

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.

Father in heaven,

I am eagerly awaiting

the gift of my redemption,

Jesus, the Christ

the Son you sent to save me

Emmanuel, God-with-us.

Bleesed are we who embrace

Him, for by doing so,

we embrace You!

O Rex Gentium

O Come, Desire of the nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind;
bid every strife and quarrel cease
and fill the world with heaven's peace

Father in heaven,
join me together with all your children,
so that in living your will,
we make bring your kingdom here to earth.

O Oriens

O Come, Thou Dayspring from on high,
and cheer us by thy drawing nigh;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night
and death's dark shadow put to flight.

Father in Heaven,

as we enter into the darkest night of the year,

help me to remember that the light of your Son

is with me always.

O Clavis David

O Come, Thou Key of David, come,
and open wide our heav'nly home,
make safe the way that leads on high,
that we no more have cause to sigh.

Father in heaven,
My path is rocky and my heart is heavy,
be with me on my journey and
and help me to not fall into doubt & despair.

O Radix Jesse

O Root of Jesse
by Ansgar Holmberg, CSJ

O Come, Thou Rod of Jesse's stem,
from ev'ry foe deliver them
that trust Thy mighty power to save,
and give them vict'ry o'er the grave.

Father in heaven,

You promised a Savior

who would deliver me from sin & death.

Help me to prepare my heart to receive Him.

O Adonai

O Come, O Come, Thou Lord of might,
who to thy tribes on Sinai's height
in ancient times didst give the law,
in cloud, and majesty, and awe

Father in heaven,

Grant me the strength & courage to follow your ways.

Even when it is difficult and I feel all alone,

I know that you will always be with me
to straighten my crooked path.

O Sapientia

O Come, Thou Wisdom, from on high,
and order all things far and nigh;
to us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go.


Father in heaven,
grant me the gift of wisdom,
to hear and understand your voice.
Teach me your paths and lead me into your light,
so that my thoughts, words & deeds give glory to you always.

Thomas Merton

The writings of Thomas Merton have been an important part of my spiritual journey.  In fact, it was after stumbling across this prayer, that I made the decision to return to the faith.

MY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
~ Thomas Merton, "Thoughts in Solitude"
© Abbey of Gethsemani

Last year, a friend shared this little gem of advent wisdom from "Fr. Louis"~

The Advent mystery is the beginning of the end of all in us that is not yet Christ.

Praying with this piece of wisdom last year proved to me quite enlightening, and helped me to participate in the joy of the Incarnation is a way that I never had before.

Yesterday, December 10th, was the 43rd anniversary of Thomas Merton's death, and I found a link to the Thomas Merton Institute, where I signed up for an Advent reflection newsletter.  This arrived in my "in-box" this morning~

"the only way to enter into that joy is to dwindle down to a vanishing point and become absorbed in God through the center of your own nothingness. The only way to possess His greatness is to pass through the needle's eye of your own absolute insufficiency.

~Thomas Merton. New Seeds of Contemplation. (New York: New Directions Books):

Needless to say, "Fr. Louis" has given me another great Advent gift.  I have a feeling that contemplating on these words, in light of where I am on my journey, will bear much fruit.

Clay in the Potter's hands

I was talking with my spiritual director the other day and he offered this observation.  How many people do you know who spend extra time each day/week, working on something that they are longing for?   For example- the runner, who in addition to their normal exercise routine, spends an extra ½ hour a day working on strengthening their leg muscles.  Or the musician who spends extra time on a practicing their “fingering” so as to keep their fingers limber.  Or the person who schedules time with a counselor or therapist to work on emotional issues and communication skills.  Then he asked me if I spend any extra time working on those places in my "spiritual life" that need strengthening, and if not, why not?  Is not my spiritual health just as important, if not more important,  than my physical or emotional life?

An intriguing question and one that I thought merited a little pondering.  How do I spend my prayer time?  I know that I have very deep wounds, which only God can heal, but have I actually taken the time to really share them with God in prayer, to work through my issues with His help, and to open myself to really  hear what He is trying to tell me?

As I pondered these questions, I came to realize that sometimes the answer is no.  And the reason for this answer is because, in my humanness, I will do anything that does not cause me pain or discomfort.

 HHHMMMM……

So, as I sat in my pew this morning, the First Sunday of Advent, I heard these beautiful words from Isaiah 64:7

Yet, O LORD, you are our father;

we are the clay and you the potter:
we are all the work of your hands.

God is the potter and I am the clay.  I get that.  God is the creator, and forms me in His image, but in my quest for understanding, I had to go deeper.  Just what does it mean to be clay in the potter’s hands?

So, using my friends “Google” and “Wikipedia” I did a little research on pottery and what I found, well it shouldn’t have surprised me, God really does have one hell of a sense of humor!

Before an artist can even think about beginning the design process, the clay needs to be prepared.  It needs to be kneaded, to distribute the moisture and to release the air that is trapped within it.  Basically, one needs to beat the crap out of it before it is ready.  And I started to think; doesn’t God do the same thing to us?  I started to think about all the hard times, when I thought God was nowhere to be found, and was sending pain, hurt and anger my way to punish me, the times I looked up to the sky, shaking my fist and saying “Why, God?  Why are you doing this to me?”  This was God’s way of kneading me, of getting me ready to look to Him for the answers that I was seeking.

So far so good.  Being clay in the potter’s hands- a good thing, God is working in me, but it can’t just stop there.  If it does, I am still just a lump of clay, with no purpose.  Something has to come next.

That’s where “throwing” comes in!  Throwing is a way to form that piece of clay into something useful and beautiful.  From Wikipedia-

During the process of throwing, the wheel rotates rapidly while the solid ball of soft clay is pressed, squeezed and pulled gently upwards and outwards into a hollow shape. The first step of pressing the rough ball of clay downward and inward into perfect rotational symmetry is called centering the clay--a most important skill to master before the next steps: opening (making a centered hollow into the solid ball of clay), flooring (making the flat or rounded bottom inside the pot), throwing or pulling (drawing up and shaping the walls to an even thickness), and trimming or turning (removing excess clay to refine the shape or to create a foot).

So, once I am kneaded, the real formation begins.  First there is the “centering”, an important step that brings the clay into perfect symmetry.  In the spiritual sense, I see this step as one of the most important.  This “centering” has to come from me; I have to choose to allow God to be the center of my life.  Only once I make that decision, can God continue to shape me.

Then next thing is “opening”, or in a spiritual sense, maybe a better word is “emptying”.  A hole must be made in the clay in order to make it a usable vessel.  If I am going to be a “usable vessel” for God, I must open myself to His love; therefore I must empty myself of all the things that keep me from that love.

Next is the “flooring”, making a good solid foundation.  I see the Church and the Sacraments as the foundation.  By making a commitment to my faith and receiving the Sacraments, especially Eucharist and Reconciliation, I am helping to build a good foundation for my life, one that is stable and strong, and will support me, even when I am filled to the brim with anxiety, fear and trepidation.

Now, with the clay prepared the “pulling” starts.   This is where God draws me up to Him, and this is the place where symmetry is most crucial.  If the clay is not perfectly balanced, the vessel will collapse. This is where my free-will comes into play.  I can cooperate with the potter, or I can choose not to.  If I choose not to, I end up just another lump of clay, with no real purpose.

And finally, there is the “turning”, the removal of any excess clay that hinders the beauty and functionality of the piece. It  is now that the piece is ready for the kiln, to be strengthened and changed into a instrument that has a purpose.   For me, this means that God is removing all the things that may hinder my relationship with Him- my need to be “in control”, to rely on myself rather than relying on Him.

If you have ever seen someone working in pottery, you know that it is a very messy job!  Just like life!  And thinking that God is just the “Great Fixer” who, with the wave of His hand, could, if He wanted too, make things “all better” is a very easy trap to fall into.  But without all of these steps, that would be a hollow victory.  Without all of the kneading, forming and trails, I am still just a lump of clay.  But in the hands of God, this insignificant lump of clay can become a vessel, filled to the brim and overflowing, with the unconditional love of God.

Living a spiritual life, one where God is the center of everything, is so counter-cultural in our age, which is why I think that this metaphor is one that many may not understand today.  It takes patience, love and perseverance to mold a lump of clay into a beautiful vessel.  Thankfully, God has all of those things and more!

As we begin this Advent season, this lesson is a very important one, I think.  Now is the time to prepare for the coming of our Lord  & Savior, Jesus Christ.  It is the time of year where I can look at how I can sometimes fall back into that lump of clay, by ignoring the hands of the artist, and repent and allow myself to be “worked”, sometimes messily, and often painfully, by the loving hands of God, so that I may become the vessel that carries His love out into the world.

Happy Advent!

Advent Reflections

It's the 4th week of Advent. It is the darkest few days of the year, my Dad died 3 years ago this week and I have been so sick I spent most of Monday and Tuesday in bed, only to go to work today and find a pile that will take me a week to get through.

It is times like this when my faith seems to be at it's lowest. 

Then I remember these words...

"Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

I wonder if Mary realized what an awesome gift her faith was. 

For me, that is all I want for Christmas this year.

O come, O Dayspring from on high

And cheer us by your drawing nigh;

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,

And death's dark shadow put to flight.

Advent Reflections

Today is "Gaudete Sunday"

Brothers and sisters:

Rejoice in the Lord always.
I shall say it again: rejoice!
Your kindness should be known to all.
The Lord is near.
Have no anxiety at all, but in everything,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
make your requests known to God.
Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding
will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.


In these words from this weekend’s second reading from St. Paul (Phil. 4:4-7) we are reminded that we are not in this alone. "The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all…,"

The dictionary defines anxiety as a painful or apprehensive uneasiness of mind over an impending or anticipated ill. And as much as I hate to say it, I seem to live here. I am often worried about the state of affairs in our community, our churches, our state, country and world. There is much too much violence and disrespect and not enough love and understanding. Anyone who was stuck in traffic on Thursday night knows that “common courtesy”, is unfortunately a thing of the past. (Side bar: This is Rochester, NY people; it snows here, sometimes a lot, real quick! Pay attention; turn on your headlights, clear the snow off your car and SLOW DOWN!) There is a lot to be anxious about. And add to that all the “preparations” that need to be done- the shopping, the wrapping, the cooking and baking, and it becomes very easy to forget about what is actually is we are really “preparing” for.

St. Paul then tells us, “…but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.” In other words, we need to talk to God. And share with Him all of our worries, our fears, our hopes and dreams. We need to praise and thank Him for all He has already given us and pray for the grace to see His hand at work in our lives.

As we reach this mid-point of the Advent season, let us take the time to look at what makes us anxious and worried, and offer those things up to God in prayer. “Fast” from the shopping, wrapping, baking, whatever for a day and spend the time contemplating the Nativity story. What was it like for Mary? For Joseph? What will it be like for me, when we celebrate the coming of our Emmanuel, God-with-us, the Word made flesh? Thank God for all He has done for us so far and for all that He will do. Share our time, our talent and our treasure with those less fortunate. Love more, criticize and condemn less.

God is sending us our Saviour, let us Rejoice!

Happy Advent

Advent Reflections

As we start the second week of Advent, we hear the words of John the Baptist calling us to repent and seek forgiveness for our sins, and then he reminds of Isaiah the prophet’s words, “Prepare the way of the Lord…”

Prepare. This is a word that will be heard a lot the next few weeks.

"I have to prepare for that party at work."  

"I have to prepare Christmas dinner for 14 people this year."  

"Our Christmas preparations are not going as planned; we don’t even have a tree yet!"

These are many of the things that seem to take the forefront in this time of Advent.

And with all the preparations for Christmas that keep us hurried and harried, I wonder

What am I doing to prepare myself to receive the gift of the incarnation?

Do I need to seek forgiveness from someone? To give it? Do I need to make amends for something I have done, or not done? Do I need to celebrate in the joy of reconciling with someone or mourn the fact that I must reconcile with myself that the reconciliation that I pray for may never come? Can I love and accept all that I am, good and not so good, solely based on my faith that I am a beloved creation of God, created in His image, to be His face to all I meet?

Advent is a time of waiting. A time of anticipation. A time in which to listen to the whisperings of the Holy Spirit, stirring deep within my heart. A time of emptying out all off the clutter that fills my soul, so that I may receive the present of God’s presence on earth as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

It seems to me that this is the most important preparation I can do for Christmas this year.

Happy Advent!

Advent Reflections

The past few years, amidst a sea of loss, grief and personal tragedy, I have come to a much deeper understanding and appreciation for the season of Advent. It is a time of waiting. A time of anticipation. A time of hope.


For someone who was not graced with the virtue of patience, waiting has never been easy for me. And this time of year, with everybody rushing around, hurried and harried, trying to get everything on the “To Do” list done, the long dark nights, the cold and usually the snow (a huge “Thanks be to God” for the lack of that so far this season!), it is easy to lose sight of what a special and wonderful time of year it is.

The Church gave us a wonderful gift with the lectionary cycle. In this week’s second reading, I have found my Advent prayer. A wonderful reminder for us all of what this season of waiting in joyful hope is really all about.

Brothers and sisters:
May the Lord make you increase and abound in love

for one another and for all,

just as we have for you,

so as to strengthen your hearts,

to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father

at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen.

Let the wait begin!

Happy Advent!