Sermons of SFS for Advent & Chirstmas

Christmas Eve, 1614. Outline of a sermon preached to the ‘Oblates of the Visitation’ as the Order was known in the earliest years]

Since Jesus was to be the Salvation of all, He was certainly expected by all. [cf. Jacob’s prediction: Gn. 49/10, 26]; Hag. 2/8]. Therefore, prepared your hearts for the Lord: [I Sam. 7/3]

Prepare your intelligence by faith in a double mystery: the Incarnation: the one person of Christ has two natures – the Divine is incarnate; the Human is assumed; neither destroying or eclipsing the other. Illustration = The burning bush [Ex. 3/2]; and the quotation: [Is. 7/15] ‘He shall eat butter and honey, namely, butter food of the earth, and, honey, heavenly food. The second mystery is that of Virginity: symbolized by Myrrh [Cant. 1/12-13] Oh, such admirable fecundity that does not destroy virginity; what admirable virginity which sanctifies fecundity.

Prepare your Will by pious thought and affections. There are four kinds of people: some do not wish to come – these are heretics and non-believers; others who come are seeking something of their own – these are bad Christians; others come in order to adore – like the shepherds and the magi; others come to stay – like the Blesssed Virgin and St. Joseph. There are still others who come and leave, yet nevertheless remain – these are the angels [Heb. 1/6; Ps.96(97)/7] who like preachers, leave in order to pass the message to others. They, indeed, remain while leaving, since in spirit they remain present although they have left.

The Manger is the model of a Religious Community, since it highlights Chastity; admirable Obedience [Where the superior is Joseph, who is the least of all after Jesus and Mary, yet the angel always communicates with him. Joseph may not be very prevoyant, since he came to an unprepared shelter. However, no one in the Holy Family complains. And extreme Poverty: in the manger there is no ‘mine’ or ‘thine’. Indeed, only Mary could have rightfully said the Divine Child was hers; yet she did not keep Him only for herself. And later at the temple she would exclaim: “Your father and I have been searching for you in sorrow”. [Lk. 2/48] In this religious community – the Holy Family – we find the Superior of the House, Joseph; the professed, Mary; and, Jesus, the novice. And again, Mary is the infirmarian, who feeds the feeble babe with the life-giving tonic of the milk of her breasts.