Advent IV

Going Jab for Jab
A Defense for Rejecting the Covid-19 Injections
By Rev. Stephen McKenna

SHORT EXPLANATION OF WHY WE REJECT THE THESIS OF GUÉRARD DES LAURIERS
By Rev. Vili Lehtoranta

zelusdomustuae
✠ The Bishop’s Corner ✠
I’m writing this on Friday, as I always do. This Ember Friday of Advent we’re praying for Kyle, Fr. McGuire’s father, who is dying. This is a sad watch, but a crucially important one, an Advent one. We pray Our Lord to come and take His servant into Heaven. “The coming of God, our thoughts must now employ.” “Come, Lord Jesus.”

Another divine coming employs our thoughts, Christ at Christmas. Our heart, our soul is Our Lord’s Bethlehem. Our hearts “overflow with the good word,” the eternal Word of God, made man. Thus the lights and trees and crèche in our homes, and more, much more, in church which is the Eucharistic Bethlehem year round.

Saturday was church decorating day, and I know it will be a success. Earlier this Advent, one sunny Saturday I looked out into the cloister to see boys—boys!—carefully transforming our fountain into a Christmas tree. High praise to them, and to all of the church helpers this year. Some kind soul organized the lights, which traditionally go on for Christmas Eve, and burn throughout the forty days until Candlemas.

You’re all busy in your homes and lives, of course. But your Christmas, Christian willingness to help here bears witness to a consoling truth about our church: This is your spiritual home, an essential part of your life. God makes His home with us, and invites us in, Emmanuel.

This year’s Christmas overflows with great things. In addition to our traditional offerings for the Eve and Midnight and day of Christmas and its novena of Masses, our seminarians will be preparing themselves for the last Sacred Order before priesthood, the diaconate. Preceded by the recollection of the canonical retreat of six days, the order of Levite will be bestowed, a precious heavenly gift, on Epiphany. Plan to be with us for the Pontifical Mass at 10 AM, followed by a dinner which honors the new deacons (who were the Church’s original “table waiters”) as well as all of you who work and wait and serve here at church all year long.

Speaking of long, our Advent is almost as long as it could be this year. Use these days to long for Jesus’ coming, to catch up with Christ in quiet prayer and Holy Mass. Most of all go with Mary, through whom the Messiah, the Promised One, came and comes.

Blessed Advent!
– Bishop Dolan