Advent 2015 - Week 4

Advent reflections from Sr. Karol Ann for the 4th week of Advent - posted by her Dad.

"Yes, for your way and your judgment, O Lord, we look to you; Your name and your title are the desire of our souls.  My soul yearns for you in the night, yes, my spirit within me keeps vigil for you." Isaiah 26:8-9


Desire has been a big word for me lately as I've been praying for an increased desire for this vocation.  But in looking at my life, I can see how I was created to desire God - it's so engrained in who we are.  So many of my sins that come up during my examen are a result of misplaced cravings that I have given in to.  Cravings or addictions for so many things - food, alcohol, compliments, success, glory, work, etc. are enslaving me because they are directing my attention and desire away from God.  My prayer this week is that our desire for God - and only him - will increase as we wait for Him!

"And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father's only Son, full of grace and truth." - John 1:14


I have been praying with this verse a lot this fall because of our class on the Gospel of John.  And it struck me how infrequently I notice the glory of God all around me!  First and foremost, of course, in the Eucharist, but also in the people I encounter, the beauty of the stars, or in a church that just points Heavenward. 


I pray that in these last days before Christmas, God will make us more aware of the ways he is still with us.  Come Emmanuel!

Advent 2015 - Week 3

Reflections received from Sr. Karol Ann for the 3rd week of Advent - posted by her Dad.

"I will place the key of the House of David on his shoulder; when he opens, no one shall shut, when he shuts, no one shall open. I will fix him like a peg in a sure spot, to be a place of honor for his family." Isaiah 22:22-23


Fr. Georges told un that in the Old Testament days, the key to the city walls was a huge beam of wood placed on the shoulders of the ruler - it was linked with authority.  In the carrying of the cross and crucifixion, Jesus made Himself the Key to Heaven for us.  By following Him and uniting our crosses with His, he opens the door to eternal life.  But even Jesus had a Simon to help.  I pray that we have the courage to accept help on our own way of the cross and persevere!

"In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace."  Luke 1:78-79


This antiphon makes me think of hope.  The Jewish people hoped for so long with joyful anticipation for a Savior.  Because Jesus was born in Nazareth 2,000 years ago - taking on flesh - to die for our sins, we can have hope that He will not abandon us - that He will come and enlighten us even in our darkest moments when we sit in darkness and the shadow of death;  He is always with us.  This week I am praying for clarity and hope for each of us!


Sr. M. Karol Ann

Advent 2015: Week 2

Adonai: O Adonai and Leader of the house of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the flames of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: Come and redeem us with outstretched arms."

Therefore, say to the Israelites: I am the Lord.  I will free you from the burdens of the Egyptians and will deliver you from their slavery.  I will redeem you by my outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment." - Exodus 6:6


Adonai was the Hebrew word used to replace the name of God in the Old Testament.  God revealed His name to Moses and appeared to him in the burning bush - allowing us to have a close personal relationship with Him.


In this close, personal relationship, God wants to free us from slavery - from anything that keeps us from perfect union with Him.  He died, with outstretched arms, to "buy us back from slavery"; to redeem us.  I pray this week for a greater awareness of what keeps us form totally surrendering to God and for trust that He can free us from our burdens.

Radix Jesse: O Root of Jesse, who stood as a sign for the people, before you kings shall remain silent, and to you the Gentiles shall make supplication; come to deliver us, and delay not."

"But a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom.  The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, a spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the Lord, and his delight shall be the fear of the Lord." - Isaiah 11:1-3a


The footnote in the New American Bible says that these verses are the source of the traditional names of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  It's amazing even the Old Testament points to the Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost as promised by Jesus - the Root of Jesse.
[Dads note: in case you need refreshment, like me, the seven Gifts are: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord.]


Come Holy Spirit - fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in us the fire of your love - delay not! This week I am praying for an out-pouring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit upon friends and family.


Sister Karol Ann

Advent 2015: Week 1

Well, it's been a year since Sr. Karol Ann's (aka Anna) Dad last posted....... 


Sr. Karol Ann is mid-way through her 2nd year as Novice.  If you do not frequent the blog or Facebook of the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration, you can find some of their activities this year here: http://ssfpa.org/blog/


I'll again post Sr. Karol Ann's Advent reflections she sent us before Advent started, as she cannot send our receive mail during Advent. 

Advent 2015

I remember the "O Antiphons" from growing up, especially from the Jesse tree that we sometimes did and of course the song "O come, O come Emmanuel." One of the gifts of religious life is how the Liturgy orders each day - you are really able to enter into the Prayer of the Church - and it is so rich during Advent!  Through the Liturgy of the Hours and the Mass, the anticipation for the coming of Christ builds, and the excitement gets so strong when the O Antiphons begin in the daily Gospel acclimations and antiphons for the Magnificat at Evening Prayer starting December 17. For Advent this year, I decided to focus on these O Antiphons - feel free to read them spaced out through all of Advent.  I read that in Latin, the first letters of the titles, read in reverse order, form the acrostic "ERO CRAS", which means "I will be with you tomorrow".  What a great reminder!

Sapientia: "O Wisdom, you came forth from the mouth of the Most High, and reached from end to end, and disposed of all things sweetly and mightily: come and teach us the way of prudence."

"He has uncovered the whole way of understanding and has given wisdom to Jacob, his servant, to Israel, his beloved." - Baruch 3:37


When I was a postulant, Fr. Georges pointed out how this O Antiphon invokes the whole Trinity:

• God the Father disposes all things mightily
• God the Son teaches us the way of prudence
• God the Holy Spirit disposes all things sweetly
  (Dad's comment: how do you remember that from 2 years ago?)

As I was praying about wisdom, I couldn't help but think of Solomon who asked for wisdom when he could have chosen anything else.  During this Advent, I will be praying especially for wisdom for family and friends - to know and follow God's will in all things, especially jobs, retirement and vocations.


Sister Karol Ann