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Thursday of the Fourth Week of Advent

The Light of Hope

Prayer for Hope

Loving God,

We conclude this season of Advent in anticipation of the Coming of Your Son Jesus. We have experienced of all Your creation. We have seen the pain, the violence, the grief and the sorrow that is in our world. Fill us with the hope that comes from knowing Your Son. Grant us the strength to persevere in loving You and loving our neighbor and tending to our “common home.” In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
-Father Phil Paxton, CP

Let us live in the joyful hope of reciprocating to our brothers and sisters, through what little we can, the abundance we receive from God each day. -Pope Francis

Scripture:

Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24
Luke 1:57-66

Reflection:

Bob Rizzi is a longtime parishioner at St. Joseph Monastery Parish in Baltimore, Maryland, and a member of the Passionist Family.

“Hope” is the Thing with Feathers
-Emily Dickinson

“Hope” is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all –

And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard –
And sore must be the storm –
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm –

I’ve heard it in the chillest land –
And on the strangest Sea –
Yet – never – in Extremity,
It asked a crumb – of me.

Call to Action:

Celebrate an old-fashioned and healthy tradition: tonight, fill children’s stockings with fruit and nuts, rather than toys and candy. If you do not have children, start a Christmas Eve tradition this year that is Jesus-centered and expresses solidarity with the poor.

Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Advent

The Light of Hope

Prayer for Hope

Loving God,

We conclude this season of Advent in anticipation of the Coming of Your Son Jesus. We have experienced of all Your creation. We have seen the pain, the violence, the grief and the sorrow that is in our world. Fill us with the hope that comes from knowing Your Son. Grant us the strength to persevere in loving You and loving our neighbor and tending to our “common home.” In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
-Father Phil Paxton, CP

Let us live in the joyful hope of reciprocating to our brothers and sisters, through what little we can, the abundance we receive from God each day. -Pope Francis

Scripture:

1 Samuel 1:24-28
Luke 1:46-56

Reflection:

Sandra Sierra serves on the Board of Directors, where she is the Treasurer, for Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center in Houston, Texas.

“Hope” is the Thing with Feathers
-Emily Dickinson

“Hope” is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all –

And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard –
And sore must be the storm –
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm –

I’ve heard it in the chillest land –
And on the strangest Sea –
Yet – never – in Extremity,
It asked a crumb – of me.

Call to Action:

For your bookshelf:  The Impossible Will Take a Little While: A Citizen’s Guide to Hope in a Time of Fear” by Paul Rogat Loeb.

Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Advent

The Light of Hope

Prayer for Hope

Loving God,

We conclude this season of Advent in anticipation of the Coming of Your Son Jesus. We have experienced of all Your creation. We have seen the pain, the violence, the grief and the sorrow that is in our world. Fill us with the hope that comes from knowing Your Son. Grant us the strength to persevere in loving You and loving our neighbor and tending to our “common home.” In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
-Father Phil Paxton, CP

Let us live in the joyful hope of reciprocating to our brothers and sisters, through what little we can, the abundance we receive from God each day. -Pope Francis

Scripture:

Song of Songs 2:8-14 or Zephaniah 3:14-18a
Luke 1:39-45

Reflection:

Lissa Romell is the Administrator at St. Vincent Strambi Community in Chicago, Illinois. She is the co-chair of the Holy Cross Province Laudato Si Vision Fulfillment Team.

“Hope” is the Thing with Feathers
-Emily Dickinson

“Hope” is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all –

And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard –
And sore must be the storm –
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm –

I’ve heard it in the chillest land –
And on the strangest Sea –
Yet – never – in Extremity,
It asked a crumb – of me.

Call to Action:

Focus for a moment on an image of someone or a marginalized group who are the “face of Christ Crucified” in your life, community or in the world.

Monday of the Fourth Week of Advent

The Light of Hope

Prayer for Hope

Loving God,

We conclude this season of Advent in anticipation of the Coming of Your Son Jesus. We have experienced of all Your creation. We have seen the pain, the violence, the grief and the sorrow that is in our world. Fill us with the hope that comes from knowing Your Son. Grant us the strength to persevere in loving You and loving our neighbor and tending to our “common home.” In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

-Father Phil Paxton, CP

Let us live in the joyful hope of reciprocating to our brothers and sisters, through what little we can, the abundance we receive from God each day. -Pope Francis

Scripture:

Isaiah 7:10-14
Luke 1:26-38

Reflection:

Mike Owens is the Coordinator of the Passionist Alumni Council. Building off the values gained during his Passionist formation years, he is active in religious education, volunteering and board memberships.  Mike and his wilfe, Joyce, live in Louisville, Kentucky.

“Hope” is the Thing with Feathers
-Emily Dickinson

“Hope” is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all –

And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard –
And sore must be the storm –
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm –

I’ve heard it in the chillest land –
And on the strangest Sea –
Yet – never – in Extremity,
It asked a crumb – of me.

Call to Action:

Name a hope you have for yourself, your family, your community this Advent. What can you do to make it a reality?

Fourth Sunday of Advent

The Light of Hope

Prayer for Hope

Loving God,

We conclude this season of Advent in anticipation of the Coming of Your Son Jesus.
We have experienced all of Your creation.
We have seen the pain, the violence, the grief and the sorrow that is in our world.
Fill us with the hope that comes from knowing Your Son.
Grant us the strength to persevere in loving You and loving our neighbor and tending to our “common home.”
In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
-Father Phil Paxton, CP

Let us live in the joyful hope of reciprocating to our brothers and sisters, through what little we can, the abundance we receive from God each day. -Pope Francis

Scripture:

Micah 5:1-4a
Hebrews 10:5-10
Luke 1:39-45

Reflection:

Deacon Phillip Donlan, CP, is currently a student at Catholic Theological Union (CTU) in Chicago, Illinois, as he continues to prepare for Ordination to the Priesthood in Spring 2022.

English:

Spanish:

“Hope” is the Thing with Feathers
-Emily Dickinson

“Hope” is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all –

And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard –
And sore must be the storm –
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm –

I’ve heard it in the chillest land –
And on the strangest Sea –
Yet – never – in Extremity,
It asked a crumb – of me.

Call to Action:

If you use social media:  post a hopeful Advent message on your pages.

Saturday of the Third Week of Advent

The Light of Joy

Prayer of Joy

Loving God,
Christmas is almost here! Fill us with the joy of this season!

Fill us with the joy Mary and Elizabeth felt when they reunited after Mary was told that Elizabeth, long considered barren, was with child.

“Lord, Elizabeth declared to Mary, ‘Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you would be fulfilled.'”

Help us believe that Your promises to us have been fulfilled in Jesus. May we rejoice in Him. Amen.

-Father Phil Paxton, CP

True Joy

The true joy experienced in the family is not something casual or accidental. It is a joy born of the profound harmony among persons, which gives us a taste of the beauty of being together, of supporting one another along the journey of life. But at the heart of that joy is always God’s presence, his welcoming, merciful, and patient love toward all. If the doors of the family are not opened to the presence of God and his love, the family loses its harmony, selfishness prevails, and joy is extinguished. Instead, the family that lives the joy of life, the joy of faith, spontaneously communicating it, is the salt of the earth and light of the world. It is the leaven for all of society.”
-Pope Francis,   — Angelus prayer, Dec. 27, 2015

Scripture:

Jeremiah 23:5-8
Matthew 1:18-25

Reflection:

Father Nicholas Divine, CP, servers on the Ministry Team at Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center in Houston, Texas.

A Christmas Prayer for You
-Rebecca Barlow
(Excerpt)

We not only need Your peace and joy; Lord, we crave it. You’ve promised rest for the weary, victory for the battle-scarred, peace for the anxious, and acceptance for the brokenhearted—not just at Christmas, but every day of every year. Release the joy in us that’s been crushed by pride, wrong priorities, or world events. Tear down the strongholds that have held us captive far too long. Extinguish the flames of apprehension that rob us of a calm, quiet spirit. Show us again the beauty of that holy night so many centuries ago.

Call to Action:

Sit in silence for 3 minutes.  Breathe in the silence.  Pray for peace.

Friday of the Third Week of Advent

The Light of Joy

Prayer of Joy

Loving God,
Christmas is almost here! Fill us with the joy of this season!

Fill us with the joy Mary and Elizabeth felt when they reunited after Mary was told that Elizabeth, long considered barren, was with child.

“Lord, Elizabeth declared to Mary, ‘Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you would be fulfilled.'”

Help us believe that Your promises to us have been fulfilled in Jesus. May we rejoice in Him. Amen.

-Father Phil Paxton, CP

True Joy

The true joy experienced in the family is not something casual or accidental. It is a joy born of the profound harmony among persons, which gives us a taste of the beauty of being together, of supporting one another along the journey of life. But at the heart of that joy is always God’s presence, his welcoming, merciful, and patient love toward all. If the doors of the family are not opened to the presence of God and his love, the family loses its harmony, selfishness prevails, and joy is extinguished. Instead, the family that lives the joy of life, the joy of faith, spontaneously communicating it, is the salt of the earth and light of the world. It is the leaven for all of society.”
-Pope Francis,   — Angelus prayer, Dec. 27, 2015

Scripture:

Genesis 49:2, 8-10
Matthew 1:1-17

Reflection:

Phil Jackson is a long-time member of the Passionist Family. He currently works in Donor Relations at the Province Offices and serves on the Passionist Alumni Council. Phil has a great devotion to The Passion of Jesus Christ.

A Christmas Prayer for You
-Rebecca Barlow
(Excerpt)

We not only need Your peace and joy; Lord, we crave it. You’ve promised rest for the weary, victory for the battle-scarred, peace for the anxious, and acceptance for the brokenhearted—not just at Christmas, but every day of every year. Release the joy in us that’s been crushed by pride, wrong priorities, or world events. Tear down the strongholds that have held us captive far too long. Extinguish the flames of apprehension that rob us of a calm, quiet spirit. Show us again the beauty of that holy night so many centuries ago.

Call to Action:

Multiply your giving: for each person on your gift list, donate to a favorite cause of theirs, or give a gift in their name to someone in need.