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Christmas Novena, Ninth Oration

By
Paul Zalonski
 on December 24, 2009 9:19 AM | | Comments (0)
O God, Who in Your very nature contain all the riches of heaven and earth, You loved the poverty of humanity by choosing to become one of us. You are the descendant of Kings and the Heir of David the Venerable. You were satisfied to be born in a stable and a humble manger. We beseech You, through Your Pure Nativity and through the intercession of Your Mother and Saint Joseph, Your Chosen One, to grant us an appreciation of voluntary poverty.

May we be satisfied with only that which is necessary for the maintenance of our lives. Teach us to flee from excessive luxury and the love of abundance all the days of our lives. Amen.

The Christmas tree points to the Divine Mystery

By
Paul Zalonski
 on December 24, 2009 8:30 AM | | Comments (0)
Vatican Christmas Tree.jpgThe Pope received the bishop and a delegation from Wallonia, from where this year's Vatican Square Christmas tree came from, to say thank you for gift on behalf of the Church. He said, "The role of this tree is similar to that of the shepherds who, watching through the shades of night, saw how the darkness was illuminated with the message of the angels. ... Standing next to the nativity scene the tree indicates, in its own particular way, the great mystery present in the poor and simple grotto. It proclaims the arrival of the Son of God to the inhabitants of Rome, to pilgrims and to everyone who sees St. Peter's Square on television. Though this tree your land, and the faith of the Christian communities in your region, greet the Christ Child." (Benedict XVI)

Christmas Novena, Eighth Oration

By
Paul Zalonski
 on December 23, 2009 8:16 AM | | Comments (0)

O King of Great Counsel, You joined Your admirable power with the prudence of human judgment when You, the Mighty and All-Powerful God, fled into Egypt from the face of Herod. We beseech You, through Your Pure Nativity and through the intercession of Your Mother and Saint Joseph, Your Chosen One, to grant us good judgment in all our actions, that we may think and act wisely all the days of our lives as we subject ourselves to Your divine service. Amen.

Christmas Novena, Seventh Oration

By
Paul Zalonski
 on December 22, 2009 8:14 AM | | Comments (0)
O You Who are One person but also have the Nature of man; You Who have told us what You have heard from the Father; We beseech You, through Your Pure Nativity and the intercession of Your Mother and Saint Joseph, Your Chosen One, to grant us an ardent belief in Your teachings and good acts to harmonize with them. Do not permit us to lose the reward of our faith because of our own wrong doings. Rather, make our lives fruitful in beliefs and good works. Amen.

Bethlehem make ready...friends be alert

By
Paul Zalonski
 on December 21, 2009 1:47 PM | | Comments (0)

Adoration of the Magi SBotticelli.jpg

Bethlehem, make ready,

for Eden has been opened for all.

Ephrathah, be alert,

for the Tree of Life has blossomed forth

from the Virgin in the cave.

Her womb has become a spiritual paradise

wherein the Divine Fruit was planted,

and if we eat of it,

we shall live and not die like Adam.

Christ is coming forth to bring back to life

the likeness that had been lost in the beginning.

Bethlehem, make ready, for Eden has been opened for all!


(a Byzantine poetic text for the time before the Nativity of the Lord)

Christmas Novena, Sixth Oration

By
Paul Zalonski
 on December 21, 2009 10:15 AM | | Comments (0)
O Word of God, Who comes from the Mouth of God to be the Life of all men; You Who became Living Bread and was born in Bethlehem, "The House of Bread," to satisfy our hunger; We beseech You, through Your Pure Nativity and the intercession of Your Mother and Saint Joseph, Your Chosen One, to grant us a piercing hunger for that Bread which is Your Pure Body and Blood. May we ever approach Your altar and receive Your Sacred Mysteries with fitting preparation so that our Communion may be for us salvation and life everlasting. Amen.

2 beating hearts, hidden but present in Mystery

By
Paul Zalonski
 on December 20, 2009 11:26 AM | | Comments (0)
Thumbnail image for Annunciation detail Angelico.jpgWe have all had the occasion by a moment to sense more intensely the presence of Christ in the Eucharist during the celebration of the Mass, during Eucharistic adoration, or even in the Tabernacle, when we walk into a church. There is Christ. He is there whether we sense or experience His presence.  But precisely because this is the case, we are sometimes given to experience that He is present. Such experience is not the source of faith, but in some way it is its consequence.

But what about the experience of the Blessed Virgin Mary during Advent? It is reasonable, like the Fathers of the Church, to see Mary as the original tabernacle. The Word became flesh and dwells among us.  This being hidden but present among us is first of all realized during the time of Advent in the home of Nazareth, in the womb of Mary, under the protection of Saint Joseph.  Mary meditated upon all these things and kept them in her heart. We can reasonably speculate that she read scripture during this time, in silence, most likely the words of Isaiah, his prophesies, and found in them a sense of the meaning of what was happening to her.

St. Augustine says that she conceived the Word in her heart before she conceived the Word in her flesh. So that her maternity was accompanied by an intensification and growth in faith, in contemplation, in the intelligent perception of mystery. The Second Vatican Council says that during the time of her pregnancy the heart of the Incarnate Word beat gently below the heart of Mary, her immaculate heart. Two immaculate hearts, beating silently and prayerfully in the night of this world.

(Fr. Thomas J. White, OP, Dominican House of Studies, Washington, DC)

Christmas Novena, Fifth Oration

By
Paul Zalonski
 on December 20, 2009 7:11 AM | | Comments (0)
O Most High, by nature supreme and outranking all men and all things, Who has left the magnificence of Your Divinity and loved the lowliness of our humanity to become for us a model in humility and lowliness; We beseech You, through Your Pure Nativity and through the intercession of Your Mother and Saint Joseph, Your Chosen One, to grant us humility of heart and an accurate estimation of ourselves. Help us to conquer every show of false pride, which would have us choose our own whims rather than Your Will. 

May we realize that, compared to You, we are little indeed. Glory be to You, for You alone are holy and great is Your Name. To You be Glory, Magnificence and Power! Amen 
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About the author

Paul A. Zalonski is from New Haven, CT. After years of study, work and trying to find meaning in life, he still has a sense of humor. Paul is discerning God's plan and is preparing for ordination to the priesthood. Contact Paul at paulzalonski(at)yahoo.com.

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