Friday, December 24, 2010

And in the morning...


Today you will know that the Lord is coming,
and in the morning you will see his glory.
~Invitatory Antiphon from the Liturgy of the Hours for December 24
Dearest Mary, Mystical Rose, the time of singing has come! The winter is past, the rain over and gone. You spread out your glorious and graceful branches, and, like a vine, you cause loveliness to bud. Your blossoms become glorious and abundant fruit as you give birth to your Beloved Son. We come to you to be filled with the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Let us see His face and hear His voice, for His voice is sweet and He is lovely indeed. With you, Virgin of Advent and Mother of God, we sing forever the goodness of the Lord! Amen! Alleluia!

Ave Maria! Dear family and friends, tidings of comfort and joy to you on this Christmas Eve! The above prayer is not mine -- it comes from the Holy Word of God, as you will see if you turn to Songs 2:11-14, Sirach 24:16-18, and Psalm 89. No, that's not quite true -- this prayer is mine because His Word dwells within me, for which I am humbly grateful. The beautiful Rose of Sharon is, of course, an image captured by my sister Ann Krumrein, who used to grow these on the front porch of the home she and her husband lived in when they resided in Lanham, MD years ago. It is one of three shots she took and put together for me in a beautiful triptych that now graces the wall above my prayer altar. Rejoicing with you in the blessed birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Alice Claire

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