First Sunday of Advent: Renewing the HOPE...

 First Sunday of Advent

Renewing the HOPE

In Advent, Christians relive a dual impulse of the spirit:  on the one hand, they raise their eyes towards the final destination of their pilgrimage through history, which is the glorious return of the Lord Jesus; on the other, remembering with emotion His birth in Bethlehem, they kneel before the Crib. The hope of Christians is turned to the future but remains firmly rooted in an event of the past. In the fullness of time, the Son of God was born of the Virgin Mary:  "Born of a woman, born under the law", as the Apostle Paul writes (Gal 4: 4). - Pope Benedict XVI, 27 November 2005

Jesus said to his disciples:

"Be watchful!  Be alert!"

Mark 13:33 (Today's Gospel) 

Fr Orr ~ St John Neumann Catholic Church  ~ Knoxville, TN ~ USA

"Jesus, … the Eucharist is the sacramental testimony of Your first coming, 

with which the words of the prophets were reconfirmed 

and expectations were fulfilled.  

You have left us, O Lord, Your Body and Blood 

under the species of bread and wine that they may bear witness 

to the fact that the world has been redeemed 

 - that through them Your paschal mystery may reach all men 

as the Sacrament of life and salvation.  

The Eucharist is at the same time  a constant announcement of Your second coming 

and the sign of the definitive Advent 

and also of the expectation of the whole Church. 

When we eat this bread and drink this cup,

we proclaim Your death, Lord Jesus, 

until You come in glory. 

Every day and every hour 

we wish to adore You, 

stripped under the species of bread and wine, 

to renew the hope of the call to glory. 

Amen."

St John Paul II
 Quoted in Jesus, We Adore You
Paul Thigpen

Advent season resources

"Prepare your hearts to receive Jesus the Savior." - Pope Francis
 

Advent: Catholic News Agency 

Click here: Advent in 2 Minutes - YouTube 
Click here: Making Advent a more holy season - YouTube (4:30 mins)

Click here: Fish Eaters Advent Overview

__________________________

Learn more about the saints of Advent, including 

the Blessed Virgin Mary (Dec. 8, 10 and 12), St. John the Baptist, 

St Francis Xavier (Dec 3), St John Damascene (Dec 4), 

St. Nicholas (Dec. 6), St Ambrose (Dec 7), St. Juan Diego (Dec. 9), 

St. Lucy (Dec. 13), St John of the Cross (Dec 14), 

St Peter Canisius (Dec 21), St Stephen (Dec 26), 

St John of Kanty (Dec 23), the Holy Innocents (28th) and

St Thomas Becket (Dec 29th).  All you holy ones, pray for us!