Daughters of Divine Charity

Together We Live in the Legacy that is the Daughters of the Divine Charity

Featured Homepage

Christmas Day – Come Into The Light

Christmas Day – Come Into The Light

            Blessed Christmas!  Today is a day of light and love and we rejoice and celebrate.  This Advent, the word light has resonated with me.  Many of the Mass readings describe Christ as the Light. This continues at Christmas in the scripture passage from Isaiah 9:1 (which is the Mass reading during the night,)

 “the people who walked in darkness – have seen a light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom – a light has shown.”

            In the gospel reading for the Mass during the day we have the mystical and lyrical passage that begins John’s gospel.

            1:1‑5 “In the beginning was the Word… all things come to be through Him and without Him nothing came to be – what came to be through Him was life – and the life was the light of the human race; – the light shines in the darkness – and the darkness has not overcome it.”

              In December the days are shorter and there are more hours of darkness.  In some ways I treasure the darkness – I see the stars more brightly and the different phases of the moon.  The Christmas lights brighten homes and places that may seem ordinary and a little bleak in the bareness of winter. I sleep better in the dark.  I draw my shades to the very bottom of the window sill because the littlest stream of light in my room awakens me.  I sleep with blindfolds on as well to keep the light out.  I am in “a dead” sleep.  Every morning upon awakening I remove the blindfolds and can see. That light makes all the difference. In our spiritual life if we are not connected to the light of Christ, we remain dead.

            As we begin the Christmas season (and we have 20 days of celebration) I ask myself, have I prepared myself during Advent to truly let the light in?  The littlest ray of light can eradicate the darkness. There is an interplay between light and darkness and knowing what is dark and what is light can help us discern what choices we make.  Is something bringing me closer to the light like a moth to a flame or is it bringing further away and further into the darkness.

 Close your eyes and envision the star of Bethlehem illuminating the sky and pointing to Christ in the manger.  Are we being a light for others and pointing the way to Christ and to life itself?  “Have you cleared away anything that is not of Christ? “This is the question Thomas Merton asked in describing the Advent mystery.

            When we open our souls to the light, we see the shadows.  Our faults, habitual sinful behavior, compulsive thoughts, grief, depression, spiritual desolation and addiction.  We cannot keep them hidden pretending they are not there nor be ashamed of them. Affliction and brokenness is part of the human condition.  Christ came to show us how His grace can heal our brokenness and our humanness. As you look at the Nativity, pray with St. Augustine, “Look, Oh Jesus, and let all the darkness of our souls disappear before the beams of your brightness.”

 This Christmas embrace the healing light, and remember a ray of light can lead you out of the shadows. As you get closer to the light the shadows and darkness disappear. This is the gift Christmas.

            Remember a ray of light can lead you out of the shadows.  As you get closer to the light the shadows and darkness disappear.  This is the gift of Christmas and Christ.

Advent

Advent

Week 1
Week 1

AN ADVENT CHALLENGE

The first Sunday of Advent marks the end of the liturgical season of ordinary time, and we begin a new liturgical year. In this season of Advent 2023, I propose a challenge.

1. Celebrate Christmas and the Incarnation of Christ with joy; and

2. Reflect on the end of time; and ask if you will be ready when He returns.

Advent is a season of preparation and waiting. Mother Church reminds us during Advent to prepare for Christ's second coming, and to examine our own lives and ask, "Am I ready for my own death? Am I ready for judgment when Christ comes again?"

"Are we laboring to make our lives conform to His?" Thomas A. Kempsis, Page 15, Imitation of Christ.

Bishop Barron explains, "Christianity in a certain sense is a religion of fulfillment. The Lord has come, the Incarnation and the Resurrection have taken place. It's happened already. But in another sense, Christianity is permanently a religion of waiting, because we wait in joyful hope for the second coming of the Lord. That's why there is a permanent Advent quality to the Christian life."

There are 106 references in the Bible to waiting. Most of us, and society at large, does not like to wait. Life is faster than ever, and a sense of immediacy infects every aspect of our lives. Reflect on today's readings, does anything resonate with you?

Isaiah 63:17, "Return for the sake of your servants."

Psalm 80:8, "Give us new life."

First Corinthians 1:6-7, "As the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you, so that you are not lacking any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord, Jesus Christ."

Mark 13:33, "Jesus said to his disciples, 'Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come.'"

In His word, we are reminded to be aware of God's presence and to continue in love and faith until he comes again. That is the true meaning of preparing for and celebrating Christmas.

Week 2
Week 3
Week 4

Prayer to Saint Joseph

Please join us in prayer to St. Joseph. Our Sisterssay this devotion every day in honor of him during this special year proclaimed by our Holy Father.

 O Saint Joseph our Guardian dear, this house and its members keep in your care;  that the grace of God and blessings without end may from heaven upon us abundantly descend. 

Grant that unity we may possess and love and peace and happiness.

And may the spirit of the fear of God at all times with us abide.

May our every work a virtue be leading us onward to God and to you.

With fervent prayers for this we sigh that you, with us, will always abide.

The key of this house to you we give, grant we may always in happiness live.

Sin and the spirit of darkness, lock out from the hearts of your devoted flock.

Into the Sacred Heart of our Lord enfold us and our dear ones; we you implore, that our home and life may always be like unto Nazareth with Jesus, Mary and you.             

Amen.