In the first installment in a mini-series on the liturgical seasons, our fictional novice Sister Mary Rosaria reflects on the special atmosphere of longing during the Advent season. This post is part of our Vocation Letters series.
Ave + Maria
Dear Mom and Dad,
Prayerful greetings from Marbury on the very brink of Advent! Today is our day of preparation for this season of preparation: novices cutting greens for the Advent wreath, Sister Sacristan busy with the transformation of the sanctuary to a season of penance (freshly ironed, undecorated altar cloths!), Sister Chantress bringing out all the Latin chant books for the season with their hauntingly beautiful Advent tones.
This season captures so well the longing we should all feel for God. Traditionally there is a threefold coming of Christ for which we prepare during Advent: His historical coming as an Infant, His coming to us each individually in Holy Communion, and His coming in triumph on the last day. But all of these comings are objects of our longing. Marana tha — Come, Lord Jesus! “The Spirit and the Bride say, come! Let all who hear, come! And let him who is thirsty come, let him who desires take the water of life without price” (Revelation 22:17).
Advent is a time to intensify our desire, in union with Our Lady whose longing for the Savior drew down that Dew from Heaven. This is the Dew of which we sing in the Rorate Caeli: “Rorate caeli desuper et nubes pluant justum, Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the just one.” As Our Lady longed for Him and prepared for Him, so we too prepare our hearts to desire Him more ardently, to surrender ourselves to Him more completely, and to receive Him more fully.
In the monastery we have many different devotional practices to help us prepare our hearts, but one of my favorite is that of the 4000 Ave’s. The number 4000 is in honor of the traditional “4000 years” between the Creation and the Redemption, the time of longing for the coming of the Savior. Each day during the 40 days before Christmas, we pray 100 Hail Mary’s on our “Rose beads,” a little handheld Rosary with double-construction so you can pull the beads and keep your place. During my first Advent in the monastery, I found this devotion so helpful in getting the habit of praying Ave’s throughout the day and staying united with Our Lady in her longing for Christ.
We’re already in the midst of the Ave’s, but it is delightful to be on the brink of this season once again. May Our Lord grant to all people, especially those most suffering, a great thirst for Him that He may satisfy with Himself!
With prayers for many graces this Advent, in Our Lady,
Sister Mary Rosaria, O.P.
You May Also Like:
- Read more about our Advent practices in Advent in the Monastery.
- Listen to the special Ave Maria we sing after Mass each day during the 40 days before Christmas.
- Could this be your vocation? Take the opportunity to visit over Christmas break!