In examining our Visitandine archives, we have discovered some exhortations for the season of Advent, handwritten in a notebook, undated and unsigned.
We will post excerpts of them during this holy season of Advent for your reflection.
“This time is destined to prepare us for the coming and birth of Jesus Christ. Although the Savior will not be born again, as He is to die no more, He renews spiritually in His Church and in each one of the faithful in particular, the mysteries which he has accomplished to save us . To each mystery is attached a particular grace, which recalls to us its remembrance and presence and applies to us its virtues and fruits.
The 4 weeks which compose Advent, represent to us the era preceding His birth.
The patriarchs represent to us the Messiah, the prophets announced Him, the sacrifices prefigured Him, St John the Baptist pointed Him out.
Let us join the faithful and retrace by the practices of a true piety, as becomes the law of grace, what was done in former times, to prepare for the birth of the Savior.
Above all, let us be continually occupied with the desire of seeing Him spiritually born in our hearts and reign sovereignly in our soul.
Let us employ for this all the expressions of the prophets, which the Church puts in our mouths by the prayers of these holy days.
“O heavens, send from on high your dew and let the clouds rain down the just one!
O Eternal Wisdom, enlighten us!
O Key of David, open to us the door which sin had closed.
O King of Nations bring us salvation!”