The First Sunday Of Advent.

Abbot Prosper Guéranger, O.S.B.

1805-1875.

Printmaker: Claude-Ferdinand Gaillard (1834–1887).

Published 1878, or earlier.

Date: 7 May 2007 (original upload date).

Source: Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons.

Author: The original uploader was

Ikanreed at English Wikipedia

(Wikimedia Commons)

Text is from “The Liturgical Year”.
By: Abbot Guéranger, O.S.B.
Volume 1.
Advent.

This Sunday, the first of The Ecclesiastical Year, is called, in the chronicles and charts of The Middle Ages, “Ad te levavi” Sunday, from the first words of the Introit; or, “Aspiciens a longe”, from the first words of one of the Responsories of Matins.

The Station is at Saint Mary Major.

[Editor: The Stations marked in The Roman Missal for certain days in the year, were formerly Processions, in which the whole Clergy and people went to some given Church, and there Celebrated The Office and The Mass.

[This usage, which dates from the earliest period of The Roman Church, and of which Saint Gregory the Great was but the restorer, still exists, at least in a measure; for the Stations are still observed, though with less solemnity and concourse of people, on all the days specified in The Missal].

It is under the auspices of Mary — in the splendid Basilica which possesses The Crib of Bethlehem, and is therefore called, in ancient documents, “Saint Mary’s ad Præsepe” — that The Roman Church recommences, each year, The Sacred Cycle.

It would have been impossible to select a place more suitable than this for saluting the approach of The Divine Birth, which is to gladden Heaven and Earth, and manifest the sublime portent of a Virgin Mother.

Let us go in spirit to this august temple, and unite in the Prayers which are there being offered up: They are now the very ones we also use, and which we will now explain.

In The Night Office, The Church commences the reading of The Book of Isaias, who, of all the Prophets, has the most distinctly and explicitly foretold mention of The Messias; and she continues this same Book [Editor: Of Isaias] until Christmas Day, inclusive.

Let us strive to enter into the teaching of the holy Prophet, and let the eye of our Faith affectionately recognise the promised Saviour in the descriptions, sometimes consoling and sometimes terrifying, under which Isaias depicts Him.

The first words of The Church, in the still Midnight, are these:

Regem venturum Dominum, venite, adoremus.

Come, let us adore The King, Our Lord, Who is to come.

There follows the reading of The Book of the Prophet Isaias.

The words of the holy Prophet, or, rather, of God, Who speaks to us by the Prophet, should make a deep impression on The Children of The Church, at this opening of the holy period of Advent.

Who could hear without trembling this voice of Our Lord, Who is despised and unknown even at the very time when He is coming to visit His people ?

Lest men should be terrified at the splendour of His majesty, He divested Himself of it; and far from acknowledging the Divine Power of Him Who thus humbled Himself out of love to them, these men have refused even to know Him; and the Crib where He lay after His birth, had, at first, but two dumb animals to honour or notice it.

The whole World is in expectation of its Redeemer; come, dear Jesus, show Thyself to it by granting it salvation.

The Church, Thy bride, is now commencing another year, and her first word is to Thee, a word which she speaks in the anxious solicitude of a mother for the safety of her children; she cries out to Thee, saying: “Come !” No, we will go no farther in our journey through the desert of this life without Thee, O Jesus !

Time is passing quickly away from us; our day is perhaps far spent, and the shades of our life’s night are fast coming on; arise, O Divine Sun of Justice. Come ! Guide our steps and save us from eternal death.