Advent—Let’s Keep Going

Wasn’t it just Thanksgiving and now it’s the feast of the Immaculate Conception, and can it be Christmas in two weeks ? Things are moving fast; I’ve hardly digested the Thanksgiving turkey. In the midst of this blitz, I sometimes  revert to imagining myself living in a monastery with my hooded robe, walking through the woods with my prayer book, focusing on the beautiful trees, the Advent readings. I hear,  “Oh Brother Dave, the brewmaster wants you to come in and taste the latest batch of our Belgium beer to make sure it’s okay…. oh I’ll be there right after I check out the new fruitcakes being cooked… and I need to complete the Christmas cards to family and friends…. “and then I hear “oh Bird, please take out the garbage and we need to get a Christmas tree…” 

I wish everything would slow down. Things are happening too fast. In the midst of this wonderful season, life is intervening. Good friends are getting sick and some are dying. I will have gone to the funeral of 3 very good friends in the last 2½ weeks. Two more very good friends experienced serious health challenges in the past few days. I’m afraid to answer my phone and look at my messages. In the middle of this, I’m experiencing some minor challenges. I need to remember that the Lord is at hand and has it all in his control .….. and he does. 

So let’s keep the greatness of this season in the forefront. We were in a desperate mess and almighty God paid a tremendous price to get us out of this mess. He couldn’t have given more. So let’s keep going. God has plans for each of us during this season …. for the sick, for the dying, and for all of us. And all will be well with our soul.

As a P.S.to this BLOG,  I want to include an excerpt from some notes and pictures that Judy put together from our pilgrimage in Italy… 

St. Paul Outside the Wall–-First Holy Door

Lucina, a Roman Christian buried St. Paul’s body here in the 4th Century.  Constantine built a basilica there. We earlier saw the pillar he was tied to for his beheading.  

St. John Lateran-2nd Holy Door

-Nero confiscated the Lateran family land then Emperor Constantine donated the land to the church in the 4th Century AD.  Constantine legalized Christianity and built the first Basilica for the Christians in 324 AD.  He asked Pope Sylvester how big he should make it and the pope said as big as it can be.  It has been rebuilt and renovated many times.  It is dedicated to St. John the Baptist and St. John the apostle. It is the cathedral of the diocese of Rome. 12 Niches with huge statues of the apostles holding symbols that described their life. Above the statues are scenes from the Old Testament that pointed to the Messiah. We walked through our second holy door only open every 25 years.

St Mary Major 3rd Holy Door

Oldest Marian Shrine in Rome

The relics of the manger in which Jesus laid are under the high altar. Pope Francis is buried here, he visited here before his travels. They removed one of the many confessionals and buried him in a simple tomb next to a chapel of Mary

St Peter’s Basilica 4th Holy Door

Magnificent and glorious the church in its grandeur. It is said that the Statue of Liberty could fit inside. Photo is St. Peter’s Square leading into St. Peter’s Basilica.Burial place of St Peter and other popes