Advent Meditations

My SIL mentioned a book of Advent meditations that her family is using this year and I wanted to share some others with anyone still searching. There are many wonderful Advent meditations to be found. Here is one from EWTN. It's in calendar form and comes from the Sacred Heart League. Also on that page, you can find a link to Bishop Robert Baker's Reasons for Hope Meditations. Over at OSV, you can find a link to download Bishop Baker's eBook or just bookmark it and enjoy the daily readings. American Catholic also offers some Daily Reflections that might be worth checking out. We are enjoying Bishop Baker's reasons for hope very much! He has a great way of connecting with the reader, atleast, that's what The Professor said and I have to agree. Find the one that's right for you or your family, if you are so inclined and feel free to share some others in the combox.

Someone brought an issue to my attention privately that I also wanted to share here. Most of us are aware of the fact that our Protestant brothers have embraced some of the liturgical seasons like Advent and Lent. Because of that, some of the materials available out there for growing closer to Our Lord during these seasons are written from a Protestant perspective and while there might be much that we have in common with our separated brethren, there is also much that we differ on. Most of it comes from our basic theological perspectives and I think it wise just to be mindful of those differences.

As Catholics, we believe in holy helpers. We believe in the intercession of the saints. And even though we know that we are in need of assistance and ask for it regularly, we also know that we have the strength of the life of the Church in us. We receive grace, the life of God in our souls, every time we receive a Sacrament. And our salvation is not a given thing! We must run the race without giving up, and work out our salvation in fear and trembling says St. Paul. While we rely on the mercy of Our Lord, we cannot presume on it. We believe that we are sinful, but not weak. And while we absolutely believe that Our Lord is everything, that doesn't make us nothing or worthless. We are made in His image and likeness. We cooperate with God's grace and there find the strength to persevere and finish the race.