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Recently we enjoyed a visit with Fr. Ramon Gonzalez, OP, of our Dominican province of St. Martin de Porres (the southern province). He came to our monastery to visit our chaplain, Fr. Marcos Ramos, OP, and graciously met with us on Friday evening. Father Ramon is an accomplished flautist and spent most of the visit entertaining us on the flute: 

St. Barbara was one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers in medieval times, especially invoked against sudden death (which is why she has become the patroness of electricians, artillery gunners, etc.). Although she was removed from the General Calendar of the Catholic Church in 1969, she is still venerated by the Eastern Orthodox and the Anglicans. Barbara was a martyr, possibly in Greece, who converted to Christianity against her father\’s wishes and was later killed by him. A bolt of lighting struck him dead as soon as he had killed his daughter. St. Barbara is also the patroness of builders and architects, because she proclaimed her new-found faith by insisting on the addition of a third window in her new bath house–three windows to honor the Holy Trinity. We have a statue of St. Barbara in the infirmary of our monastery, possibly as a holy reminder of the fragility of life. 

St. Barbara is an Advent companion because she was a woman of great integrity. When she found the truth, she lived it, regardless of the consequences. And she proclaimed her faith to the world through her willingness to die rather than give it up. In the times we live in, our Christian faith is often held up to mockery and hatred. May we, like St. Barbara, find the courage and singleness of heart to hold fast to the faith in the face of so many temptations to take the easier road, to lead a quiet life, to keep silent. May we call out from our modern-day towers, \”Throw open the third window / In the third name of God.\” (G.K. Chesterton)

\”Listen and understand, my humblest son. There is nothing to frighten and distress you. Do not let your heart be troubled, and let nothing upset you. Is it not I, your Mother, who is here? Are you not under my protection?\” –Our Lady of Guadalupe to Juan Diego

Juan Diego and his family were among the first Indians to embrace the Catholic faith when it was brought to the land we know today as Mexico. The story of the apparitions of Mary to Juan Diego are well known. It is touching to remember that one day, when Juan Diego was hurrying to visit his sick uncle, he took a different route for fear of being detained by Mary–but she found him, anyway, and cured his sick uncle as well. After the miracle of the tilma and the construction of a church on the hill of Tepeyac, tradition holds that Juan Diego lived as a hermit near the church, caring for pilgrims who came to visit the miraculous image and worship the true God. 

Juan Diego is a companion for us during Advent because of his humility and obedience–virtues which are also traditionally associated with the Virgin Mary who appeared to him. Although he was rebuffed several times by the bishop, who did not believe in the apparitions at first, Juan Diego continued to return and make Mary\’s requests known to the bishop. Juan Diego valued the good graces of God above any human opinion, and he trusted in Mary, his mother and ours. May we imitate him as we continue our way through this Advent season!

 \”I am the Immaculate Conception.\” — Our Lady to St. Bernadette Soubirous

Mary was conceived without sin, and she never committed any sins. She was as perfect as a human being can be. Does she perhaps sound boring? Despite what the world may tell us, sin is not what makes more interesting, more intriguing, more human. Mary was not a static, boring person. You can see this from what she has to say in the Gospel of Luke, the text we call the Magnificat: 

These are the words of a woman who means business! God has chosen her, and she thanks and proclaims the greatness of God for what He has done, for her and for all people. Mary is infinitely interesting because she is so closely united with God. 

The Magnificat is a powerful song that overturns our conceptions of how the world is, reminding us that God will put things right in His own time and in His own way. Mary is a good companion at all seasons of the year, but especially during Advent when we celebrate two of her feasts (the Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Guadalupe) because she reminds us that we are also called to help effect positive change in our world, through listening to the Word of God and acting on it. God speaks to us constantly–through Mary, and through many other means. Are we listening?

\”Be it known to you that we have made a league–all the Jesuits in the world…–cheerfully to carry the cross you shall lay upon us, and never to despair your recovery, while we have a man left to enjoy your Tyburn, or to be racked with your torments, or consumed with your prisons. The expense is reckoned, the enterprise is begun; it is of God, it cannot be withstood. So the Faith was planted: so must it be restored.\” –St. Edmund Campion, \”Campion\’s Brag\”

St. Edmund Campion (c.1540-1581) was a Jesuit priest and martyr for the faith in Elizabethan England, when it was a crime to be a Catholic. He left a promising career in England to become a Catholic priest and a Jesuit, returning to England secretly in 1579. While ministering to imprisoned Catholics in London, he wrote a challenge to the Protestant authorities called \”Campion\’s Brag\”. This, and the publication of his treatise \”Ten Reasons\”, caused great sensation in England and efforts to capture Campion were stepped up. He was finally captured in Norfolk in 1581, and after repeated tortures was executed at Tyburn on December 1. 

We remember St. Edmund Campion during Advent, not only because his feast day often falls within this season but also because he is a man who defended the faith not with gloom and doom (as we might expect in such a time and situation) but with style and grace. He forgave his enemies and prayed publicly for Queen Elizabeth I right before his death. He shone a light which illuminated countless others: one young man who attended his execution was so moved that he became a Jesuit and a martyr himself. May we too be encouraged by St. Edmund\’s example to defend the faith, to promote it, and to do it with the cheerfulness and joy that is the infallible sign of the Holy Spirit.

Usually during Advent, we try to bring our readers meditations on the Sunday readings–and that has been very fruitful, for us and hopefully for you as well. This year we are trying something a little different: meditations on different saints and holy people who can be companions for us during this Advent season. We will be publishing six or so of these at various times throughout Advent. 

Advent is not just a historical reenactment. We don\’t pretend to be surprised that Christ is born on Christmas any more than we pretend to be surprised when He is risen on Easter. But every day we are all preparing for something we cannot possibly imagine: the second coming of Christ in glory. We don\’t know the day or the hour, but we know it will come. Advent is happening at all times as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. May these holy men and women–and all the saints–be our companions as we travel onward toward Christmas, remembering always the wonder of the Incarnation and the mysteries of Christ\’s coming: in the flesh, into our hearts, in glory.

This weekend we begin a year dedicated to consecrated life! The year officially begins on November 30, 2014 (the first Sunday of Advent) and ends on February 2, 2016 (the feast of the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple). As consecrated women, we\’re excited about this year and look forward to celebrating in many ways! 

In fact, we\’re getting things off to a good start with a Holy Hour for Vocations in our Monastery chapel on Tuesday, December 9, 2014. It starts at 7 PM and will include the Rosary, Compline and Benediction as well as time for silent prayer and reflection. If you are in the area, we hope you will join us–and if you\’re not close enough to come in person, we hope you will join with us in spirit!