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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251216
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251217
DTSTAMP:20260404T090548
CREATED:20251213T202823Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251213T202823Z
UID:14379-1765843200-1765929599@laycisterciansofgethsemani.org
SUMMARY:Vigils Reading
DESCRIPTION:CONFIDENCE IN GOD’S POWER \nBy Fr Romano Guardini \n◊◊◊ \nElizabeth calls the Virgin Blessed because she had faith – for everything \nwould happen as the Lord had told her; through the power of the Holy Spirit she \nwould become the Mother of the Redeemer\, and in this find the fulfillment of \nher life and salvation. To be assured of this was not always easy. When the \nGospel speaks of Mary and her son\, one perceives a great love\, but also a \nremoteness. \nThe answer of the twelve-year-old boy in the temple; the answer Jesus \ngave at the wedding feast of Cana; his words to the bystanders\, when Mary\, at \nthe door\, asks for him; what he said to the woman who exalted his Mother; and \nhis last testament in which he committed her to the care of the disciple – in each \nof these\, something is revealed that removes him from her\, and we always sense \nthe possibility that she might have become perplexed about God’s guidance. But \neach time her confidence increased and she placed all into his hands. Mary lived \ncompletely through her confidence in God’s power\, a power that is capable of \nconsummating all\, even in darkness and opposition. \nHope is confidence in God’s power to accomplish all things. He has \npromised that we shall become new persons\, and that his creation shall be a \n“new heaven and a new earth”. This is gainsaid by the impression made on us by \nworldly things; by the course our life is taking; by the opinions of people around \nus; by our own daily insufficiency and sin – by everything. Hope is the \n“nevertheless” of faith. In spite of all contradiction\, the new life is within us\, and \nGod will complete it if we trust in him despite all opposition. But that is difficult\, \nsometimes impossible. So we must ask again that the Lord “may strengthen our \nhope.”
URL:https://laycisterciansofgethsemani.org/event/vigils-reading-374/
CATEGORIES:Vigils Readings
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251217
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251218
DTSTAMP:20260404T090548
CREATED:20251213T202935Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251213T202935Z
UID:14381-1765929600-1766015999@laycisterciansofgethsemani.org
SUMMARY:Vigils Reading
DESCRIPTION:THE HOLINESS OF THE CHURCH \nFrom the Second Vatican Council’s document “Lumen Gentium” \n◊◊◊ \nThe Church\, whose mystery is set forth by this sacred Council\, is held\, as a \nmatter of faith\, to be unfailingly holy. This is because Christ\, the Son of God\, \nwho with the Father and the Spirit is hailed as “alone holy\,” loved the Church as \nhis Bride\, giving himself up for her so as to sanctify her; he joined her to himself \nas his body and endowed her with the gift of the Holy Spirit for the glory of God. \nTherefore all in the Church\, whether they belong to the hierarchy or are \ncared for by it\, are called to holiness\, according to the apostle’s saying: “For this \nis the will of God\, your sanctification”. This holiness of the Church is constantly \nshown forth in the fruits of grace which the Spirit produces in the faithful and so \nit must be; it is expressed in many ways by the individuals who\, each in his or \nher own state of life\, tend to the perfection of love\, thus sanctifying others; it \nappears in a certain way of its own in the practice of the counsels which have \nbeen usually called “evangelical.” This practice of the counsels prompted by the \nHoly Spirit\, undertaken by many Christians whether privately or in a form or \nstate sanctioned by the Church\, gives and should give a striking witness and \nexample of that holiness. \nThe Lord Jesus\, divine teacher and model of all perfection\, preached \nholiness of life (of which he is the author and maker) to each and every one of his \ndisciples without distinction: “You\, therefore\, must be perfect\, as your heavenly \nFather is perfect”. For he sent the Holy Spirit to all to move them interiorly to \nlove God with their whole heart\, with their whole soul\, with their whole \nunderstanding\, and with their whole strength\, and to love one another as Christ \nlove them. \nThe followers of Christ\, called by grace\, and justified in the Lord Jesus\, \nhave been made sons and daughters of God in the baptism of faith and partakers \nof the divine nature\, and so are truly sanctified. They must therefore hold on to \nand perfect in their lives that sanctification which they have received from God. \nThey are told by the apostle to live “as is fitting among saints”\, and to put on “as \nGod’s chosen ones\, holy and beloved\, compassion\, kindness\, lowliness\, \nmeekness\, and patience”\, to have the fruits of the Spirit for their sanctification. \nBut since we all offend in many ways\, we constantly need God’s mercy and must \npray everyday: “And forgive us our debts.” \nIt is therefore quite clear that all Christians in any state or walk of life are \ncalled to the fullness of Christian life and to the perfection of love\, and by this \nholiness a more human manner of life is fostered also in earthly society.
URL:https://laycisterciansofgethsemani.org/event/vigils-reading-375/
CATEGORIES:Vigils Readings
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251218
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251219
DTSTAMP:20260404T090548
CREATED:20251213T203106Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251213T203106Z
UID:14383-1766016000-1766102399@laycisterciansofgethsemani.org
SUMMARY:Vigils Reading
DESCRIPTION:THE GIFT OF FAITH \nBy Catherine de Hueck Doherty \n◊◊◊ \nWhat is faith? Some say they have lost it. Some hunger for the first taste. \nSome are indifferent to whether they have it or not. Others fight against it\, hate \nit\, and want to destroy it in others. What is faith? A Catholic can easily answer \nfrom early catechetical instructions in childhood. Faith is a free gift from God\, \ngiven to a person at Baptism. A Catholic will say too that no one can really \nacquire faith by his own efforts. He will repeat over and over again that it is \nindeed a free gift from God. \nYes\, faith is a free\, loving gift of God to us. Faith is the cradle of love and of \nhope. But this gift given to us at Baptism can grow\, must grow\, must be \nincarnated into our lives\, must become part of us\, must become\, like breathing\, \nan utterly integral part of us. \nHow can it become all these things? By prayer. God never refuses a prayer \nfor the deepening and growth in faith. Prayer is the food that will make faith \ngrow\, strengthen it\, root it with deep and lasting roots into human hearts. Faith \ngrows by living it out. Faith is a pilgrimage toward the Absolute. Faith gives \nevery Christian sandals and a pilgrim’s staff and bids him to arise and go in \nsearch of him whom every Christian longs for – God. \nFaith appears to be blind sometimes but in reality it sees very deeply. It \nalone can walk in utter darkness. It alone can fold the wings of the intellect when \nnecessary and open them when it needs to. Chasms\, abysses\, steep mountains \npresent no problem or difficulty to faith. On the contrary\, all of life – pains\, \nsorrows\, joys symbolized by these chasms – becomes its food and its \nnourishment. Faith grows until it leaves all darkness behind and walks like a \nchild bathed in the light of God’s love. \nNo one can keep or hide faith for himself alone. It will escape and extend \nitself to others. Faith never walks alone\, but always walks with love and hope. \nFaith can be transmitted by words\, but it is best communicated by actions. Faith \ncries out to be lived\, to be incarnated\, incarnated in love. For love is a Person\, \nlove is God\, and faith is his gift to us. The hands of faith are filled with gifts for \nthose who embrace her. Gifts of peace\, love\, joy and strength. Gifts of courage \nand laughter. Faith is a child who smiles at theologians and at human wisdom. \n  \nTHE GOSPEL WITHOUT COMPROMISE \, Catherine de Hueck Doherty (Ave Maria Press IN 1976) pp. 127-128.11 invites them to come and play with God. \n 
URL:https://laycisterciansofgethsemani.org/event/vigils-reading-376/
CATEGORIES:Vigils Readings
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251219
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251220
DTSTAMP:20260404T090548
CREATED:20251213T203211Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251213T203211Z
UID:14385-1766102400-1766188799@laycisterciansofgethsemani.org
SUMMARY:Vigils Reading
DESCRIPTION:PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD \nFrom a homily by Origen \n◊◊◊ \nWe read in the Old Testament\, in the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one \ncrying in the wilderness…” For the Lord wishes to find in you a way prepared \nbefore him\, where he may enter in\, and have there a right-of-way. Prepare for \nhim this path\, of which it is written: “Make straight his path.” \nThe Voice cries: “Prepare the way of the Lord.” First the voice strikes \nupon the year\, then after the voice\, indeed together with the voice\, the word \npenetrates the mind. In this way was Christ announced by John. Let us then \nhear what the Voice announces concerning the Word. “Prepare\,” it says\, “the \nway of the Lord.” Which way shall we prepare for the Lord? A way on the earth? \nCan the Word of God travel such road? Or rather must we not prepare the way \nwithin us\, setting up in our hearts a straight and true way? \nThis is the way through which the Word of God enters\, and comes to rest \nwithin the bounds of the human body. And great indeed is the heart of man\, \nwide and spacious as if it were a world in itself. Do you wish to know how great \nand how profound it is? Behold what a sweep of divine knowledge it can \nembrace: “For he has given me true knowledge of the things that are: to know \nthe disposition of the whole world\, and the virtues of the elements\, the \nbeginnings and the endings and midst of the times\, the alterations of their \ncourses\, and the changes of the seasons\, revolutions of the year\, and the \ndispositions of the stars\, the natures of living creatures\, and the reasonings of \nmen.” \nSee then that the heart of man\, which can contain so much\, is no small \nthing. And see also that its greatness is not in bodily quantity\, but in the power \nby which it can receive such knowledge of the truth. Let me recall to you a \nsimple example from our daily life\, so that you may see how great is this power. \nLet us consider this: through whatever cities we may have passed\, we have still \nwithin our minds the style and the shape of their squares and houses and walls \nand buildings\, stored in our memory. We keep within us\, as in the picture\, the \nroads we have traveled. The sea we have voyaged over we can recall in moments \nof quiet recollection. No small thing\, as I have said\, is the heart of man. \nIf it then can contain so much\, and is not something small and narrow\, \nthen let a way for the Lord be prepared in it\, and let his path be made straight\, so \nthat the Word of God and his Wisdom may enter there. Prepare this way by a \nworthy manner of living\, and with good works make straight the path\, so that \nwithout hindrance the word of God may tread this way to you\, and give you \nunderstanding\, both of his coming and of his mysteries\, to whom be glory and \nempire forever and ever.
URL:https://laycisterciansofgethsemani.org/event/vigils-reading-377/
CATEGORIES:Vigils Readings
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251220
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251221
DTSTAMP:20260404T090548
CREATED:20251213T203310Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251213T203310Z
UID:14387-1766188800-1766275199@laycisterciansofgethsemani.org
SUMMARY:Vigils Reading
DESCRIPTION:TO SEEK GOD \nBy Fr Louis Bouyer \n◊◊◊ \nThe discovery of grace\, the discovery of love which loves us without \nlooking for any return\, which loves us although we are sinners\, which loves us in \nour sin\, but which alone will lead us\, by obscure ways known to God alone\, from \nsin to sanctity\, that is\, in the last analysis\, the great discovery. Then it is that God \nreveals Himself to us as One who speaks to us\, as One whose Word for the \nsecond time draws us out of nothingness to being\, as One whom we have not so \nmuch to seek as to discover seeking us. It is He\, the Shepherd who left the \nninety-nine sheep in safety to seek and save that which was lost. It is He\, the \nFather of the prodigal who goes along the road to welcome his son when he has \nscarcely started out to meet his father\, and takes him in his arms. \n“To seek God”\, to seek Him as a person\, as the Person par excellence\, and \nnot only as the “Thou” to whom all our love should be addressed\, but as the “I” \nwho has first approached us\, whose word of love\, addressed to the primeval \nchaos\, drew us forth from it in the first place\, and\, spoken to us in our sin\, draws \nus forth from it again: to be a monk is nothing else than this. To be a monk\, then\, \nis simply to be an integral Christian. And regarded in this light\, the Christian is \nsimply the person restored by the Word of the Gospel to the vocation which the \ncreative Word destined for each: to respond to the Word of Agape by the word of \nfaith\, in order eventually to meet God face to face. \nCommenting on the Canticle of Canticles\, Origen tells us that the Church\, \nunder the old dispensation\, only heard the Bridegroom’s voice\, whereas in the \nnew\, she is offered the sight of his countenance. And he adds that the \ndevelopment of the Christian life is made up solely of this transition. The monk \nis the one who does not limit him or herself to accepting it in some measure \npassively\, by yielding to grace slothfully and reluctantly. The monk is one who \nresponds with the whole heart to the call which comes from the very heart of \nGod. \nMonks are of the number of the violent who will not allow the divine \nKingdom to fall upon them as it were unawares\, but who take it by storm in \nadvance. For that the monks have staked their all\, they have burned their boats. \nTo the one who believes that life consists in what is possessed\, the monk seems \nto be consenting to\, even to be deliberately seeking\, a fatal renunciation. To the \none who knows that being is of greater value than having\, and that being which \nis of value is not that which passes but that which endures\, the monk will seem \nto be the only true humanist. For the human person is born only as subject to the \ndivine Word and will only be fully that person the day when\, freed from the \nnothingness which holds one prisoner\, fully surrendered to the Word which \ncalls\, the person will at last come to discover the Face which promised us being \nin promising us His own image.
URL:https://laycisterciansofgethsemani.org/event/vigils-reading-378/
CATEGORIES:Vigils Readings
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251221
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251222
DTSTAMP:20260404T090548
CREATED:20251221T003232Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251221T003232Z
UID:14402-1766275200-1766361599@laycisterciansofgethsemani.org
SUMMARY:Skema
DESCRIPTION:Biblical Readings for Office and Mass\n4th Week of Advent\n\n\nMass Readings: Sunday (A)\, Weekdays (II)\nDecember 21 – 27\, 2025\n\n\n\nSun\n21\nMon\n22\nTue\n23\nWed\n24\nThu\n25\nFri\n26\nSat\n27\n\n\nOffice\n4th Sunday of Advent\nAdvent Weekday\nAdvent Weekday\nAdvent Weekday\nNativity of the Lord\nSt Stephen\nSt John\n\n\nVigils\nIsa 42:10-25\nIsa 43:1-15\nIsa 43:16-28\nIsa 44:1-8\, 21-23\n*vigil and midnight mass\nActs 6:1-15\nWis 7:21-8:1\n\n\nLauds\nIsa 49:8-13\nIsa 49:14-21\nIsa 49:22-26\nIsa 63:15-19\nBaruch 3:36-4:4\n2 Chron 24:17-22\nProv 8:22-30\n\n\nMass\n10\n198\n199\n200\n16\n696\n697\n\n\n1st\nIsa 7:10-14\n1 Sam 1:24-28\nMal 3:1-4\, 23-24\n2 Sam 7:1-5\, 8b-12\, 14a\, 16\nIsa 52:7-10\nActs 6:8-10; 7:54-59\n1 John 1:1-4\n\n\n2nd\nRom 1:1-7\n\n\n\nHeb 1:1-6\n\n\n\n\nGospel\nMatt 1:18-24\nLuke 1:46-56\nLuke 1:57-66\nLuke 1:67-79\nJohn 1:1-18\nMatt 10:17-22\nJohn 20:1a\, 2-8\n\n\nVespers\n1 Cor 1:1-9\n1 Cor 4:1-5\nJas 5:7-11\n2 Pet 3:8-14\n1 John 4:7-16\nActs 7:51-8:2\nPhil 2:1-11
URL:https://laycisterciansofgethsemani.org/event/skema-137/
CATEGORIES:Vigils Readings
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251221
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251222
DTSTAMP:20260404T090548
CREATED:20251221T003443Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251221T003443Z
UID:14404-1766275200-1766361599@laycisterciansofgethsemani.org
SUMMARY:Vigils Reading - 4th Sunday of Advent
DESCRIPTION:GOD WITH US \nFrom a commentary by the Venerable Bede \n◊◊◊ \nMatthew the evangelist gives us an account of the way in which the eternal \nSon of God\, begotten before the world began\, appeared in time as the Son of \nMan. His description is brief but absolutely true. By tracing the ancestry of our \nLord and Savior Jesus Christ through the male line he brings it down from \nAbraham to Joseph\, the husband of Mary. It is indeed fitting in every respect \nthat when God decided to become incarnate for the sake of the whole human \nrace\, none but a virgin should be his mother\, and that\, since a virgin was \nprivileged to bring him into the world\, she should bear no other son but the son \nwho is God. \nBehold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son\, and he shall be called \nEmmanuel\, a name which means God with us. The name God-with-us\, given to \nour Savior by the prophet\, signifies that two natures are united in his one \nperson. Before time began he was God\, born of the Father\, but in the fullness of \ntime he became Emmanuel\, God with us\, in the womb of his mother\, because \nwhen the Word was made flesh and lived among us he deigned to unite our frail \nhuman nature to his own person. Without ceasing to be what he had always \nbeen\, he began in a wonderful fashion to be what we are\, assuming our nature in \nsuch a way that he did not lose his own. \nAnd so Mary gave birth to her firstborn son\, the child of her own flesh and \nblood. She brought forth the God who had been born of God before creation \nbegan\, and who\, in his created humanity\, rightfully surpassed the whole of \ncreation. And Scripture says she named him Jesus. \nJesus\, then\, is the name of the Virgin’s son. According to the angel’s \nexplanation\, it means one who is to save his people from their sins. In doing so \nhe will also deliver them from any defilement of mind and body they have \nincurred on account of their sins. \nBut the title “Christ” implies a priestly or royal dignity. In the Old \nTestament it was given to both priests and kings on account of the anointing \nwith chrism or holy oil which they received. They prefigured the true king and \nhigh priest who\, on coming into this world\, was anointed with the oil of gladness \nabove all his peers. From this anointing or chrismation he received the name of \nChrist\, and those who share in the anointing which he himself bestows\, that is \nthe grace of the Spirit\, are called Christians. \nMay Jesus Christ fulfill his saving task by saving us from our sins; may he \ndischarge his priestly office by reconciling us to God the Father\, and may he \nexercise his royal power by admitting us to his Father’s kingdom\, for he is our \nLord and God\, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever \nand ever.
URL:https://laycisterciansofgethsemani.org/event/vigils-reading-4th-sunday-of-advent-2/
CATEGORIES:Vigils Readings
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251222
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251223
DTSTAMP:20260404T090548
CREATED:20251221T003543Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251221T003543Z
UID:14406-1766361600-1766447999@laycisterciansofgethsemani.org
SUMMARY:Vigils Reading
DESCRIPTION:JUSTICE AND THE WORD \nFrom the treatise “The Educator” by St Clement of Alexandria \n◊◊◊ \nOn every occasion we ought to repeat that most excellent of maxims – the \ngood man by means of his temperateness and justice stores up treasure in \nheaven. He who sells his worldly goods and gives to the poor will find the \nimperishable treasure\, where there is neither moth nor robber. Such a man is \nfortunate indeed\, though he be insignificant and weak and obscure\, and he is \nrich with the greatest of all riches. \nOn the other hand\, if a person becomes wealthier than Midas and Cinyra\, \nbut is arrogant and unjust\, in the manner of the man who was luxuriously \nclothed in purple and fine linen\, and despised Lazarus\, he is miserable\, lives \nwretchedly\, and will never attain true life. \nIn fact\, wealth seems to me to be like a snake\, which will twist round the \nhand and bite\, unless one knows how to handle it without danger by the tip of \nthe tail. Likewise\, riches whether wriggling in an experienced or inexperienced \ngrip are dexterous at clinging and biting\, unless one rise above them and use \nthem skillfully – that is\, so as to crush the creature by the charm of the Word\, \nthus remaining unharmed. \nHowever\, the one who possesses what is worth most turns out to be the \ntruly rich person\, although perhaps not recognized as such. It is not jewels or \ngold or clothing or bodily perfection that is worth much. It is simply virtue. For \nit is the word given by the Educator to be put into practice. This is the Word who \nadjures luxury but calls for independence in service of self\, and praises frugality\, \noffspring of moderation. “Receive\,” he says\, “my instruction in preference to \nsilver\, and knowledge rather than choice gold. For Wisdom is better than corals\, \nand no choice possession can compare with her.” And again: “Acquire me rather \nthan gold\, and precious stones\, and silver; for my produce is better than choice \nsilver… \nFor “there are those who sow and reap more\,” of whom it is written: \n“Lavishly he gives to the poor; his generosity shall endure forever.” Hence\, it is \nnot the one who has and keeps who is rich\, but the one who has and gives away. \nAnd it is the giving away rather than the possession which makes a person \nhappy; and the fruit of the Spirit is generosity. Thus\, riches lie in the soul… \nTrue riches\, therefore\, are justice and the Word\, which is more valuable \nthan any treasure; they are not increased by cattle and fields but are given by \nGod. Such wealth cannot be taken away\, for the soul alone is its treasure. It \nconstitutes the supreme possession for anyone who has it\, rendering one truly \nblessed. For the one who is able to refrain from desiring what is above one’s \npower to obtain but then receives from God those most devout desires – such a \none possesses much\, for that person has God as an everlasting treasure!
URL:https://laycisterciansofgethsemani.org/event/vigils-reading-379/
CATEGORIES:Vigils Readings
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251223
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251224
DTSTAMP:20260404T090548
CREATED:20251221T003701Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251221T003701Z
UID:14408-1766448000-1766534399@laycisterciansofgethsemani.org
SUMMARY:Vigils Reading
DESCRIPTION:REPENT WITH YOUR WHOLE HEART \nFrom a homily written in the 2nd Century \n◊◊◊ \nLet us be sure that when the day of judgment comes\, our place will be \namong those who give thanks to God and have served him\, and not with the \nungodly who face condemnation. As for myself\, I am only a sinner\, not yet \nbeyond the reach of temptation; but even amidst all the devil’s machinations I \nstill strive to make progress and hope to attain at least some virtue\, for I fear the \njudgment that awaits me. \nMy brothers and sisters\, you have heard the word of God who is the very \nfountainhead truth. Therefore\, I now read you an appeal to heed what is \nwritten\, and thereby save both yourselves and your reader. The reward I ask is \nthat you repent with your whole heart\, to save yourselves and find life. if we do \nthis\, we shall set an example for all young people\, for whom the glory and \ngoodness of God is a challenge to be generous in his service. \nLet me say also that when we are given warning and corrected for doing \nsomething wrong\, we should not be so foolish as to take offense and be angry. \nThere are times when we are unconscious of the sins we commit because our \nhearts are fickle\, lacking in faith. Futile desires becloud our minds. We need to \npull ourselves up\, therefore\, because our very salvation is at stake. \nThose who keep God’s commandments will have reason to rejoice. For a \nshort time in this world they may have to suffer\, but they will rise again and their \nreward will endure for ever. No one who holds God in reverence should grieve \nover the hardships of this present time\, for a time of blessedness is waiting. For \nwe will live again in heaven in the company of all those who have gone before us; \nfor all eternity we will rejoice\, never to know sorrow again. \nSo do not be disturbed at the sight of the wicked possessing great wealth \nwhile the servants of God suffer want. We…must have faith. Competing as we \nare in the arena of the living God\, we are receiving the training in this present \nlife that will make us worthy to be crowned in the life to come. Honest people do \nnot become rich overnight; they have to wait for the reward of their labors. If \nGod gave virtue an immediate recompense\, we should straightway find \nourselves engaging in commerce\, instead of perfecting ourselves in his service. \nAlthough to all outward appearance we might be irreproachable\, we should not \nbe seeking God\, but our own advantage\, and bringing down on our sinful souls \nthat divine judgment that would soon make us feel the full weight of our chains. \nTo the one invisible God\, the Father of truth\, who sent forth the Savior\, \nthe author of immortality\, and through him revealed to us the truth and the \nheavenly life – to him be glory throughout all ages\, for ever and ever.
URL:https://laycisterciansofgethsemani.org/event/vigils-reading-380/
CATEGORIES:Vigils Readings
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251224
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251225
DTSTAMP:20260404T090548
CREATED:20251221T003813Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251221T003813Z
UID:14410-1766534400-1766620799@laycisterciansofgethsemani.org
SUMMARY:Vigils Reading
DESCRIPTION:GOD’S LOVING PATIENCE \nFrom “The Living God” by Fr Romano Guardini \n◊◊◊ \nGod is almighty and infinitely rich. His riches and His omnipotence are \nHis patience. How good it is that God’s patience is as great as His omnipotence! \nThat is why He is always able to forgive again\, always able to give us a fresh \nchance\, always able to begin His work again from the chaos of human freedom. \nLet us\, however\, come to the real point. We have been speaking about \n“the” world\, about men and women in general. But God’s patience is His \npatience with me. And I am to some extent able to judge what that means. I can \njudge because I know how difficult it is to be patient with myself… \nUnless we delude ourselves\, or have succeeded in reconciling ourselves to \nour own paltry and petty world\, we all know this kind of suffering even though it \nmay not have actually made us ill\, and…where is the border line between health \nand sickness? We all know the misery\, the bitter sterility\, when day after day \nand year after year passes and things never change. One tries for so long to \novercome this situation but it refuses to yield. One appears to have overcome it \nfor a time perhaps and then it suddenly returns. And sometimes it seems as \nthough after wearing oneself out trying to overcome it\, seven demons have \ntaken the place of the original one. \nIf God’s attitude to us is the same as our own attitude to ourselves\, then \nthe outlook is black indeed. If God takes as poor a view of me as I do myself\, if \nGod does not bear with my bungling\, my dishonesty\, my constant failures with \ngreater patience than I do myself\, then I am bound to give up in despair. But \nGod is love. And in Him my nature is truer than in myself. In me it is corrupt; in \nHim it is pure. In His most holy patience He holds in His love my nature which I \nmyself disfigure so terribly and squander so thoughtlessly. From this loving \npatience He sees and bears me. He has infinite confidence in me. He believes \nthat I am capable of making progress. \nWe sometimes feel that we must get away from ourselves\, that we must \nescape from the old into the new and the real\, that sometime or other there must \ncome what the Bible calls conversion\, a decisive turning to God. But it does not \ncome\, and meanwhile life wastes away. The older we get the faster it goes and \nthe more difficult we find it to believe that things can ever be any different. \nPerhaps the greatest thing about God’s patience is the infinite possibilities of \nlove and grace which He holds open to life as it hardens in its cowardice and \nruns on to its end. \nCan you take this in? This unspeakable\, impossible possibility of “hoping \nagainst all hope” which\, the more body and soul harden as life ebbs away\, must \ncome exclusively from the mind and spirit\, from the Holy Spirit of God? This is \nthe ultimate depth of God’s patience to which we can pray\, that He may keep \nopen for us the possibility of spiritual renewal when all other possibilities have \nceased.
URL:https://laycisterciansofgethsemani.org/event/vigils-reading-381/
CATEGORIES:Vigils Readings
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251225
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251226
DTSTAMP:20260404T090548
CREATED:20251221T003920Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251221T003920Z
UID:14412-1766620800-1766707199@laycisterciansofgethsemani.org
SUMMARY:Vigils Reading - Nativity of the Lord
DESCRIPTION:FROM THE CRIB TO THE CROSS \nBy St Edith Stein \n◊◊◊ \nGod has come to redeem us\, to unite us to Himself and to each other\, to \nconform our will to His. He knows our nature. He reckons with it\, and has \ntherefore given us every help necessary to reach our goal. \nThe divine Child has become a teacher and has told us what to do. In \norder to penetrate a whole human life with the divine life it is not enough to \nkneel once a year before the crib and let ourselves be captivated by the charm of \nthe holy night. To achieve this\, we must be in daily contact with God\, listening \nto the words he has spoken and which have been transmitted to us\, and obeying \nthem. We must\, above all\, pray as the Savior Himself has taught us so \ninsistently. “Ask and it shall be given you”. This is the certain promise of being \nheard. And if we pray every day with all our heart: “Lord\, they will be done” we \nmay well trust that we shall not fail to do God’s will even when we no longer have \nsubjective certainty. \nMore: Christ has not left us orphans. He has sent His Spirit\, who teaches \nus all truth. He has founded his Church which is guided by His Spirit\, and has \nordained in it His representatives by whose mouth His Spirit speaks to us in \nhuman words. In His Church He has united the faithful into one community \nand wants them to support each other. Thus we are not alone\, and if the \nconfidence in our own understanding and even in our own prayer fails us\, the \npower of obedience and intercession will assist us. \n“And the word was made flesh”. This became reality in the stable of \nBethlehem. But it has also been fulfilled in another form. “He who eats my flesh \nand drinks my blood has eternal life”. The Savior\, knowing that we are and \nremain men who have daily to struggle with our weaknesses\, aids our humanity \nin a manner truly divine. Just as our earthly body needs its daily bread\, so the \ndivine life in us must be constantly fed. “This is the living bread that came down \nfrom heaven”. If we make it truly our daily bread\, the mystery of Christmas\, the \nIncarnation of the Word\, will daily be re-enacted in us. And this\, it seems\, is the \nsurest way to remain in constant union with God\, and to grow every day more \nsecurely and more deeply into the mystical Body of Christ. \nThe Christian mysteries are an indivisible whole. If we become immersed \nin one\, we are led to all the others. Thus the way from Bethlehem leads \ninevitably to Golgotha\, from the crib to the Cross. When the blessed Virgin \nbrought the Child to the temple\, Simeon prophesied that her soul would be \npierced by a sword\, that this Child was set for the fall and the resurrection of \nmany\, for a sign that would be contradicted. His prophecy announced the \nPassion\, the fight between light and darkness that already showed itself before \nthe crib.
URL:https://laycisterciansofgethsemani.org/event/vigils-reading-nativity-of-the-lord-4/
CATEGORIES:Vigils Readings
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251226
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251227
DTSTAMP:20260404T090548
CREATED:20251221T004050Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251221T004243Z
UID:14414-1766707200-1766793599@laycisterciansofgethsemani.org
SUMMARY:Vigils Reading - St Stephen
DESCRIPTION:THE GIFT OF LOVE \nFrom a sermon by St Fulgentius \n◊◊◊ \nYesterday we celebrated the birth in time of our eternal king; today we \ncelebrate the triumphant suffering of a soldier. For yesterday our king\, nobly \narrayed in flesh\, proceeding from the chaste womb of the Virgin Mary\, deigned \nto visit this world; today a soldier\, leaving the confines of the body\, made his \nway in triumph to heaven. \nOur king\, though he is the Most High\, for our sake came in humility; yet \nhe could not come empty-handed. It was indeed a generous gift that he brought \nfor us\, one by which he not only abundantly enriched us but gave us the strength \nto do battle and never be vanquished. What he brought was the gift of love\, \nwhich was to lead us to become sharers in the godhead. He brought it only to \nexpend it\, without in any way diminishing his own store; while turning the \npoverty of his followers into riches he remained himself\, as by a miracle\, fully \npossessed of his own inexhaustible treasury. \nLove then\, the same love that brought Christ down from heaven to earth\, \nraised Stephen from earth to heaven; the same love shown first in the king was \nreproduced in its splendor in the warrior. \nAnd so Stephen\, in order to earn his right to the crown his name signifies\, \narmed himself with love\, and by that same love won every battle. It was love of \nGod that made him yield not an inch\, love of his neighbor that led him to \nintercede for those who stoned him. It was through love that he was able to \nexpose those in error so that they might change their ways; through love that he \nprayed for those who stoned him so that they should not be punished. Trusting \nonly in love\, he overcame Saul’s cruel rage\, and the very man who had been his \npersecutor on earth he won as his companion in heaven. That same holy and \nuntiring love longed to win over by prayer those whom it could not convert by \npersuasion… \nLove is therefore the source and origin of every good\, an unrivaled \nprotection\, the road that leads to heaven. Those who walk in love can be neither \nlost nor afraid; love is the guide and protector\, and brings them to the end of \ntheir journey. For this reason\, beloved\, since Christ has set up a stairway of love \nby which every Christian can mount up to heaven\, keep a firm hold on love \nalone; love one another\, and by growing in love climb together up to heaven.
URL:https://laycisterciansofgethsemani.org/event/vigils-reading-382/
CATEGORIES:Vigils Readings
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251227
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251228
DTSTAMP:20260404T090548
CREATED:20251221T004202Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251224T131107Z
UID:14416-1766793600-1766879999@laycisterciansofgethsemani.org
SUMMARY:Vigils Reading - St John
DESCRIPTION:THE ROOT OF CHARITY \nFrom a sermon by St John Henry Newman \n◊◊◊ \nThe love of God is not the same thing as the love of our parents\, though \nparallel to it; but the love of mankind in general should be in the main the same \nhabit as the love of our friends\, only exercised towards different objects… What \nis meant by loving all people is\, to feel well disposed to all\, to be ready to assist \nthem\, and to act towards those who come in our way\, as if we loved them. We \ncannot love those about whom we know nothing; except indeed we view them in \nChrist\, as the objects of his Atonement\, that is\, rather in faith than in love. And \nlove\, besides\, is a habit\, and cannot be attained without actual practice\, which \non so large a scale is impossible. \nWe see then how absurd it is when writers (as is the manner of some who \nslight the Gospel) talk magnificently about loving the whole human race with a \ncomprehensive affection\, of being the friends of all\, and the like. Such vaunting \nprofessions\, what do they come to? That such men or women have certain \nbenevolent feelings towards the world\, — feelings and nothing more – nothing \nmore than unstable feelings\, the mere offspring of an indulged imagination\, \nwhich exist only when their minds are wrought upon\, and are sure to fail them \nin the hour of need. This is not to love people; it is but to talk about love. The \nreal love of another must depend on practice\, and therefore\, must begin by \nexercising itself on our friends around us; otherwise it will have no existence. \nBy trying to love our relations and friends\, by submitting to their wishes\, \nthough contrary to our own\, by bearing with their infirmities\, by overcoming \ntheir occasional waywardness by kindness\, by dwelling on their excellences\, and \ntrying to copy them\, thus it is that we form in our hearts that root of charity\, \nwhich\, though small at first\, may\, like the mustard seed\, at last even overshadow \nthe earth. The vain talkers about philanthropy…usually show the emptiness of \ntheir profession\, by being morose and cruel in the private relations of life\, which \nthey seem to account as subjects beneath their notice. \nFar different indeed\, far different…with the great Apostle\, whose memory \nwe are today celebrating\, utterly the reverse of this fictitious benevolence was \nhis elevated and enlightened sympathy for all men. We know he is celebrated for \nhis declarations about Christian love. “Beloved\, let us love one another\, for love \nis of God. If we love one another\, God dwells in us\, and his love is perfected in \nus…” \nNow did he begin with some vast effort at loving on a large scale? Nay\, he \nhad the unspeakable privilege of being the friend of Christ. Thus he was taught \nto love others; first his affection was concentrated then it was expanded. Next he \nhad the solemn and comfortable charge of tending our Lord’s Mother\, the \nBlessed Virgin\, after his departure. Do we not here discern the secret sources of \nhis special love of the brethren? Could he\, who first was favored with his Savior’s \naffection\, then trusted with a son’s office towards his Mother\, could he be other \nthan a memorial and pattern (as far as man or woman can be)\, of love\, deep\, \ncontemplative\, fervent\, unruffled\, unbounded?
URL:https://laycisterciansofgethsemani.org/event/vigils-reading-383/
CATEGORIES:Vigils Readings
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251228
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251229
DTSTAMP:20260404T090548
CREATED:20251228T132558Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251228T132558Z
UID:14425-1766880000-1766966399@laycisterciansofgethsemani.org
SUMMARY:Skema
DESCRIPTION:Biblical Readings for Office and Mass\nChristmas Season\n\n\nMass Readings: Sunday (A)\, Weekdays (II)\nDecember 28 / January 3\, 2025/6\n\n\n\nSun\n28\nMon\n29\nTue\n30\nWed\n31\nThu\n1\nFri\n2\nSat\n3\n\n\nOffice\nHoly Family\n5th Day in the Octave\n6th Day in the Octave\n7th Day in the Octave\nMary\, Mother of God\nSS Basil & Gregory\nChristmas Weekday\n\n\nVigils\nProv 31:10-31\nSong 1:1-11\nSong 1:12-2:7\nSong 2:8-3:11\nHeb 2:5-18\nSong 4:1-5:1\nSong 5:2-6:3\n\n\nLauds\nSir 26:1-4\, 13-16\nIsa 51:1-8\nIsa 52:8-12\nIsa 57:14-19\nEzek 43:27-44:4\nIsa 60:1-7\nIsa 60:10-14\n\n\nMass\n17\n202\n203\n204\n18\n205\n206\n\n\n1st\nSir 3:3-7\, 14-17a\n1 John 2:3-11\n1 John 2:12-17\n1 John 2:18-21\nNum 6:22-27\n1 John 2:22-28\n1 John 2:29-3:6\n\n\n2nd\nCol 3:12-21\n\n\n\nGal 4:4-7\n\n\n\n\nGospel\nMatt 2:13-15\, 19-23\nLuke 2:22-35\nLuke 2:36-40\nJohn 1:1-18\nLuke 2:16-21\nJohn 1:19-28\nJohn 1:29-34\n\n\nVespers\n1 Cor 13:1-8a\nCol 1:1-8\nCol 1:9-14\n2 John 4-9\nRev 11:19-12:6\nCol 1:15-20\nTim 1:6-14
URL:https://laycisterciansofgethsemani.org/event/skema-138/
CATEGORIES:Vigils Readings
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251228
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251229
DTSTAMP:20260404T090548
CREATED:20251228T132721Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251228T132721Z
UID:14427-1766880000-1766966399@laycisterciansofgethsemani.org
SUMMARY:Vigils Reading - Holy Family
DESCRIPTION:THE INCARNATE WORD \nFrom a commentary by St John Chrysostom \n◊◊◊ \nToday\, as a firstborn son\, Christ went down into Egypt to end the \nmourning its ancient bereavement had brought upon that land. Instead of \nplagues he brought joy\, instead of night and darkness he gave the light of \nsalvation. \nOf old the river’s water had been polluted by the untimely deaths of \nmurdered infants. Therefore he who long ago had stained the waters red went \ndown into Egypt and purified those waters by the power of the Holy Spirit\, \nmaking them the source of salvation. When the Egyptians were afflicted they \nraged against God and denied him. Therefore he went down into Egypt\, filled \ndevout souls with the knowledge of God and made the river more productive of \nmartyrs than it was of ears of grain. \nWhat more shall I say of this mystery? I see a carpenter and a manger\, an \ninfant and swaddling clothes\, a virgin giving birth without the necessities of life; \nnothing but poverty and complete destitution. Have you ever seen wealth in \nsuch penury? How could he who was rich have become\, for our sake\, so poor \nthat he had neither bed nor bedding but was laid in a manger? O immeasurable \nwealth concealed in poverty! He lies in a manger\, yet he rocks the whole world. \nHe is bound with swaddling bands\, yet he breaks the bonds of sin. Before he \ncould speak he taught the wise men and converted them. What else can I say? \nHere is the newborn babe\, wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. \nWith him are Mary\, virgin and mother\, and Joseph who was called his father. \nJoseph was only betrothed to Mary when the Holy Spirit overshadowed \nher; so he was at a loss as to what he should call the child. While he was in this \nperplexity a message from heaven came to him by the voice of an angel: Do not \nbe afraid\, Joseph. It is by the Holy Spirit that she has conceived this child. In \nher virginity the Holy Spirit overshadowed her. \nWhy was Christ born of a virgin\, and her virginity preserved inviolate? \nBecause of old the devil had deceived the virgin Eve\, Gabriel brought the Good \nNews to the Virgin Mary. Having fallen into the trap\, Eve spoke the word that \nled to death. Having received the good News\, Mary gave birth to the incarnate \nWord who has brought us eternal life.
URL:https://laycisterciansofgethsemani.org/event/vigils-reading-holy-family-2/
CATEGORIES:Vigils Readings
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251229
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251230
DTSTAMP:20260404T090548
CREATED:20251228T132836Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251228T132836Z
UID:14429-1766966400-1767052799@laycisterciansofgethsemani.org
SUMMARY:Vigils Reading - 5th day in the Octave
DESCRIPTION:THE APPLE OF HIS EYE \nFrom a treatise by St John Eudes \n◊◊◊ \nOur loving Savior\, in various places in the Scriptures\, assures us that he is \never watchful over us\, that we are and always will be in his most compassionate \ncare. How he carries us in his heart he is not content with telling us once or \ntwice\, but in one place [in Isaiah] he even repeats it five times in succession: \nHearken to me\, O house of Jacob\, all the remnant of the house of Israel\, who \nhave been borne by me from your birth\, carried from the womb; even to your \nold age I am He\, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made\, and I will \nbear; I will carry and will save. \nElsewhere [in Scripture] he tells us the same thing in many ways. \nAlthough\, he says\, it may sometimes happen that a mother can forget her child\, \nyet he will never forget us\, and he has engraved us on his hands to have us ever \nbefore him. Whoever touches one of us\, he says\, touches the apple of his eye. \nAgain\, we should not be anxious about how we are going to get enough to eat or \nwear\, because he well knows our needs and takes care of them. He has even \ncounted the very hairs of our heads\, and not one shall perish. He also tells us \nthat as he loves his Father so his Father loves us\, and that his own love for us is \nthe same as his Father’s love for him. He wishes us to be where he is — that is\, he \nwishes us to dwell with him in his Father’s heart… \nLet us beware of being dependent on the power or favor of our friends\, or \non our own possessions\, on our minds\, knowledge\, strength\, good desires and \nresolutions\, prayers\, or even on the faith we believe we have in God\, or on \nhuman means of any sort\, or on anything in creation\, but rely entirely on the \nmercy of God… What we have to do is to give up all tendency to rely on our own \nmeans\, and put our trust in the absolute goodness of our Lord. Therefore we \nmust take as much care\, and work as hard\, as if we expected no help from God\, \nand at the same time regard this work of ours as nothing\, and put all our hope in \nGod’s mercy. \nThis is what the Holy Spirit exhorts us to do\, speaking through the mouth \nof the King and Prophet David: Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him\, and \nhe will act. And elsewhere: Cast your burden on the Lord\, and he will sustain \nyou. And in the words of Peter\, the leader of the Apostles\, the Spirit advises us to \ncast all our anxieties on God\, for he cares about us. Our Lord spoke the same \ncomfort to Saint Catherine of Siena: “My daughter\, forget yourself and think of \nme\, and I shall never cease to think of you.”
URL:https://laycisterciansofgethsemani.org/event/vigils-reading-5th-day-in-the-octave/
CATEGORIES:Vigils Readings
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251230
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251231
DTSTAMP:20260404T090548
CREATED:20251228T133001Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251228T133001Z
UID:14431-1767052800-1767139199@laycisterciansofgethsemani.org
SUMMARY:Vigils Reading - 6th Day in the Octave
DESCRIPTION:THE SANCTIFICATION OF HUMANITY \nFrom “Faith and Theology” by Fr Marie-Dominique Chenu \n◊◊◊ \nI am afraid that sometimes we think of the Gospel as being operative only \non a pious plane far removed from earthly conditions\, on the assumption that \nthe evangelical message would be uncomfortable in the midst of mundane \nthings. And so we hesitate to use the leaven in life’s ordinary bread lest its purity \nbe contaminated. \nIf that is our attitude then we do not really believe in the Gospel at all. We \ndo not believe that it is for our humanity that God became flesh! We do not \nbelieve that the divine life can be lived by a person of flesh and bone… But this is \na basic misunderstanding of the plan of Christ\, for Christ saves humanity\, not by \nplacing us in a heaven apart\, but by becoming one of us. In other words\, \nsalvation is not to be found in the denial of human nature\, since God himself \ntook on human nature in order to save humankind. \nThe plan according to which divine life was given to us through the \nincarnation can be stated in this way: God\, in becoming a man\, submitted to all \nthe earthly conditions of human existence; if any of those conditions had been \nomitted\, if any exceptions had been made\, God would not have fully assumed \nhuman nature. The sanctification of humanity follows the same law. It is not an \nexterior sanctification accomplished by pious intentions; it is a profound \npermeation of the depth of our being and of our deepest aspirations by a sap \nwhich flows through the channel of our cares\, our labors\, our institutions. This \nis the incarnation. And if anyone wants an example of grace functioning at the \nhuman level let us consider human love — the encounter of spirit and flesh. \nHere\, at least\, one would expect the divine life to remain reserved and detached \nin its own pure isolation. But look what Christ has done! He made marriage a \nsacrament\, so that its functioning and its needs belong to the divine life. \nIn divine as in human life we have no use for a love that excludes the \nburden of the body and what it involves\, for such would be a false love without \nroots in earth and consequently without fruit in heaven. When God wills that \nfraternal love should find a place in our ordinary daily life he also wills that the \nmaterial bases of that life be included in the concerns of love — though\, in fact\, \nwe have made these material bases the sources of conflict and war. For even God \nmust respect the laws of love.
URL:https://laycisterciansofgethsemani.org/event/vigils-reading-6th-day-in-the-octave/
CATEGORIES:Vigils Readings
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251231
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260101
DTSTAMP:20260404T090548
CREATED:20251228T133117Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251228T133117Z
UID:14433-1767139200-1767225599@laycisterciansofgethsemani.org
SUMMARY:Vigils Reading - 7th Day in the Octave
DESCRIPTION:O SOUL OF MY SOUL \nBy St Elizabeth Ann Seton \n◊◊◊ \nHow often have I felt my soul awakened by your Light and warmed by the \nfire of your Love – then I approach you – I find you – but Alas instantly after\, I \nlose you; often I think myself received – then fear I am rejected – and in this \ncontinual change of interior dispositions I walk in darkness and often go astray \n– I desire and know not how to desire\, I love\, and know not how to love\, nor how \nto find what I love. \nThus my soul loses itself without ceasing to hope in you – It knows by its \nown experience that it desires much\, and is unable to do anything – you see its \ntrouble O lord – and in that happy moment when fatigued with so many \nvicissitudes it falls at last into entire diffidence of itself then you open its eyes \nand it sees the true way to Peace and Life – it knows you were nearer than it \nimagined – you instruct it all at once without Voice or Words\, it thinks only of \nwhat possesses it\, abandoning all things else it then possesses you – It sees \nwithout knowing what it sees\, it hears\, and is ignorant of what it hears\, it knows \nonly Who he is to whom it is attentive\, it contents itself with loving HIM\, it loves \nHim continually more and more – Words cannot express\, nor the mind \ncomprehend what it receives from you O MY GOD even in this place of \nBanishment. \nHow happy is that moment O divine Jesus! How pure is that Light\, how \nineffable is that communion of your Blessings! You know O Lord how precious \nthat gift is\, and your Creature that receives it knows also – Ah! if it were faithful\, \nif it never departed from you – if it knew how to preserve the Grace it had \nreceived\, how happy would it be! And yet this is but a drop of that infinite Ocean \nof Blessings which you are one day to communicate to it. \n\nO Soul of my Soul – what is my Soul and What Good can it have without \npossessing you – Life of my Life! What is my Life when I live not in you – Is it \npossible that my Heart is capable of possessing you – of enjoying you all alone – \nof extending and dilating itself in you – can your creature thus be elevated above \nitself to repose in your Breast\, and after that depart from you? Bury itself in the \nEarth? Ah Lord I know not what I ought to say to You: but hear the voice of your \nlove and of my misery; live always in me\, and let me live perpetually in You and \nfor You as I live only by You. \nEnlighten me\, O Divine Light! Conduct me\, O supreme Truth! Raise me \nagain\, O uncreated Life! Separate me from every thing that displeases you. \nSuffer me to remain at your Feet!
URL:https://laycisterciansofgethsemani.org/event/vigils-reading-7th-day-in-the-octave/
CATEGORIES:Vigils Readings
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UID:14435-1767225600-1767311999@laycisterciansofgethsemani.org
SUMMARY:Vigils Reading - Mary \, Mother of God
DESCRIPTION:THE PERFECT CHRISTIAN \nFrom the book “Mary\, Mother of the Lord” by Fr Karl Rahner \n◊◊◊ \nWhat is perfect Christianity? Perfect Christianity must consist in \nreceiving this gift of the eternal God\, God himself\, in grace-given freedom\, with \nbody and soul and all the powers of the whole being\, with all one is and has\, all \none does and suffers\, so that this receiving of God takes up our entire nature and \nour whole life-history into the eternal life of God. Perfect Christianity must \nmean that our public and our private acts\, what appears publicly before the \nworld in its history\, and what takes place in the inner depths of conscience\, \nperfectly coincide and correspond. \nWhat occurs there in the depths of Christian life becomes visible\, and \nconversely\, what is visible and manifest\, truly mirrors what is taking place in the \ndepths of the soul\, in God’s presence. Christianity in its perfection must also \nmean that this Christian’s perfect Christianity unconditionally serves the \nsalvation of others\, and is only really perfect if it is actually devoted to all\, from \nthe beginning to the end of time. \nIf that is what perfect Christianity is\, then we can and must say that Mary \nis the actual realization of it\, the perfect Christian. If Christianity in its perfect \nform is the pure acceptance of the salvation of the eternal triune God that has \nappeared in Jesus Christ\, Mary is the perfect Christian\, the Christian human \nbeing exemplified as such\, because in the faith of her spirit and in her blessed \nwomb\, with body and soul\, then\, and all the powers of her being\, she received \nthe eternal Word of the Father. If perfect Christianity is the perfect \ncorrespondence between outward mission in the history of salvation and \npersonal life\, it is perfectly realized in Mary. She received visibly and tangibly \nthe Incarnate Word of the eternal Father\, and so she is the most significant and \nrepresentative figure among the merely human beings in the externally visible \nhistory of redemption. And at the same time she accepted fully and realized in \nher personal life her unique office in the economy of redemption\, with an \nabsolutely unconditional total consent in faith. \nIf Christianity is the radiating influence of one’s own grace in unselfish \nservice for the salvation of others\, Mary is the most perfect instance of what it \nmeans to be a Christian\, for it was the salvation of us all\, Jesus Christ our Lord\, \nwhom she conceived by the consent of her faith and in the physical reality of her \ndivine motherhood.
URL:https://laycisterciansofgethsemani.org/event/vigils-reading-mary-mother-of-god-4/
CATEGORIES:Vigils Readings
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UID:14437-1767312000-1767398399@laycisterciansofgethsemani.org
SUMMARY:Vigils Reading - SS Basil & Gregory
DESCRIPTION:ST BASIL AND ST GREGORY \nFrom a treatise by St John Henry Newman \n◊◊◊ \nThe instruments raised up by Almighty God for the accomplishment of \nHis purposes are of two kinds\, equally gifted with faith and piety\, but from \nnatural temper and talent\, education\, or other circumstances\, differing in the \nmeans by which they promote their sacred cause. \nThe first of these are men of acute and ready mind\, with accurate \nknowledge of human nature\, and large plans\, and persuasive and attractive \nbearing\, genial\, sociable\, and popular\, endued with prudence\, patience\, \ninstinctive tact and decision in conducting matters\, as well as boldness and \nzeal… \nThere is an instrument in the hand of Providence\, of less elaborate and \nsplendid workmanship\, less rich in its political endowments\, so to call them\, yet \nnot less beautiful in its texture\, nor less precious in its material… Such\, perhaps\, \nwas Basil\, who issued from the solitudes of Pontus to rule like a king\, and \nminister like the lowest in the kingdom; yet to meet little but disappointment\, \nand to quit life prematurely in pain and sorrow. \nSuch was his friend\, the accomplished Gregory\, however different in \nother respects from him\, who left his father’s roof for an heretical city\, raised a \nchurch there\, and was driven back into retirement by his own people\, as soon as \nhis triumph over the false creed was secured… \nNo comparison is\, of course\, attempted here between the religious \nexcellence of the two descriptions of men; each of them serves God according to \n\nthe peculiar gifts given to him. If we might continue our instances by way of \ncomparison\, we should say that St Paul reminds us of the former\, and Jeremiah \nof the latter.
URL:https://laycisterciansofgethsemani.org/event/vigils-reading-ss-basil-gregory-3/
CATEGORIES:Vigils Readings
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DTSTAMP:20260404T090548
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UID:14439-1767398400-1767484799@laycisterciansofgethsemani.org
SUMMARY:Vigils Reading - Christmas Weekday
DESCRIPTION:TO SEEK AND DISCOVER \nFrom the book “Jesus Christ” by Fr Réné Voillaume \n◊◊◊ \nJesus appears in the world without giving any warning of his coming and \nwithout making known to any neighbor who he is. Had he come into the world \nin his house at Nazareth\, all his relatives would have made an event of his birth \nwith the neighbors and the other inhabitants of the town. He would have been \nheralded and celebrated. He would thus have allowed himself to behave well \nenough like a true little Nazarene\, but he would have been confiscated\, as it \nwere\, by his earthly family and his earthly country. \nQuite to the contrary\, he elects to be born away from home\, on a journey\, \namid an anonymous crowd; in this way\, he would really belong to everybody\, \nand could come quietly and discreetly\, with no tumult and excitement. God\, if \nhe had so wished\, could naturally have made all sorts of efforts to spread the \nnews abroad. And if any proof were needed of this\, one could point to his having \nmobilized the angels but contented himself with bringing a few poor shepherds \nto the manger. It is also clear from this that he could easily have brought the \nwhole of Jerusalem and all the just among the Israelites with pure and upright \nhearts\, worshipers of God and living in expectancy of the Messiah. And there \nwere in fact many of them\, all true friends of his\, in the country of Judea and \nGalilee! \nBut it is obvious that God did not wish to impose his Son: people must \ncome to him by seeking and discovering him. Even the shepherds and the Wise \nMen\, though warned personally\, had to search for him with the help of a sign \nwhich\, rather than leading them easily and directly to the manger\, was little \nmore than a suggestion to send them on their way. The shepherds must have \ngone to many houses and stables before they found the right babe wrapped in \nswaddling clothes. \nAs for the Magi\, they had to show some initiative in order to discover\, by \nthe normal means at their disposal\, the birthplace of the young king of Israel. \nJesus was infinitely discreet; he simply waited\, and such a way of appearing \ncould have made us somewhat impatient\, had it not been proved for centuries \nback that people have found in this very discretion a true sign of God. \nThat sign of weakness\, which draws people in spite of themselves\, makes \nthem surrender and acknowledge themselves outdone\, without Jesus ever \nhaving forced himself upon them in any way other than a certain presence — a \npresence that waits\, and invites\, and demonstrates God’s heaven in a humble \nmanner which gives hope and humility\, peace and love — just how\, one does not \nreally know! God is a master who knows how to go about speaking to us with the \nuse of the things of the earth — these various beings\, both animate and \ninanimate — and the events of human history.
URL:https://laycisterciansofgethsemani.org/event/vigils-reading-christmas-weekday-4/
CATEGORIES:Vigils Readings
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DTSTAMP:20260404T090548
CREATED:20260104T145534Z
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UID:14456-1767484800-1767571199@laycisterciansofgethsemani.org
SUMMARY:Skema
DESCRIPTION:Biblical Readings for Office and Mass\nEpiphany Week\n\n\nMass Readings: Sunday (A)\, Weekdays (II)\nJanuary 4 – 10\, 2026\n\n\n\nSun\n4\nMon\n5\nTue\n6\nWed\n7\nThu\n8\nFri\n9\nSat\n10\n\n\nOffice\nEpiphany of the Lord\nSt John Neumann\nWeekday after Epiphany\nWeekday after Epiphany\nWeekday after Epiphany\nWeekday after Epiphany\nSt William of Bourges\n\n\nVigils\nIsa 60:1-22\nIsa 54:1-17\nIsa 55:1-13\nIsa 56:1-8\nIsa 59:7-21\nBaruch 4:5-29\nBaruch 4:30-5:9\n\n\nLauds\nIsa 49:13-23\nIsa 63:7-9\nIsa 63:15-19\nIsa 64:4-11\nIsa 65:17-25\nIsa 66:10-14\nIsa 66:18-23\n\n\nMass\n20\n212\n213\n214\n215\n216\n217\n\n\n1st\nIsa 60:1-6\n1 John 3:22-4:6\n1 John 4:7-10\n1 John 4:11-18\n1 John 4:19-5:4\n1 John 5:5-13\n1 John 5:14-21\n\n\n2nd\nEph 3:2-3a\, 5-6\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nGospel\nMatt 2:1-12\nMatt 4:12-17\, 23-25\nMark 6:34-44\nMark 6:45-52\nLuke 4:14-22a\nLuke 5:12-16\nJohn 3:22-30\n\n\nVespers\nRev 21:22-27\nCol 2:16-23\nCol 3:1-11\nCol 3:12-17\nCol 3:19-4:1\nCol 4:2-6\nCol 2:8-15
URL:https://laycisterciansofgethsemani.org/event/skema-139/
CATEGORIES:Vigils Readings
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UID:14458-1767484800-1767571199@laycisterciansofgethsemani.org
SUMMARY:Vigils Reading - Epiphany of the Lord
DESCRIPTION:KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUE LIGHT \nFrom a commentary by St Leo the Great \n◊◊◊ \nDearly beloved\, the day on which Christ first showed himself to the \nGentiles as the Savior of the world should be held in holy reverence among us. \nWe should experience in our hearts the same joy as the three wise men felt when \nthe sign of the new star led them into the presence of the king of heaven and \nearth\, and they gazed in adoration upon the one in whose promised coming they \nhad put their faith. \nAlthough that day belongs to the past\, the power of the mystery which was \nthen revealed has not passed away; we are not left with a mere report of bygone \nevents\, to be received in faith and remembered with veneration. God’s bounty \ntowards us has been multiplied\, so that even in our own times we daily \nexperience the grace which belonged to those first beginnings. \nThe Gospel story specifically recalls the days when\, without any previous \nteaching from the prophets or instruction in the law\, three men came from the \nfar east in search of God; but we see the same thing taking place even more \nclearly and extensively in the enlightenment of all those whom God calls at the \npresent time. We see the fulfillment of that prophecy of Isaiah which says: The \nLord has bared his holy arm in the sight of all nations\, and the whole world \nhas seen the salvation that comes from the Lord our God. And again: Those \nwho have not been told about him shall see\, and those who have not heard \nshall understand. \nWhen we see the people being led out of the abyss of error and called to \nknowledge of the true light\, people who\, far from professing faith in Jesus \nChrist\, have hitherto devoted themselves to worldly wisdom\, we can have no \ndoubt that the splendor of divine grace is at work. Whenever a shaft of light \nnewly pierces darkened hearts\, its source is the radiance of that same star\, \nwhich impresses the souls it touches by the miracle of its appearance and leads \nthem forward to worship God. \nIf on the other hand we earnestly ask ourselves whether the same \nthreefold oblation is made by all who come to Christ in faith\, shall we not \ndiscover a corresponding gift offering in the hearts in the hearts of true \nbelievers? To acknowledge Christ’s universal sovereignty is in fact to bring out \ngold from the treasury of one’s soul; to believe God’s only Son has made himself \ntruly one with human nature is to offer myrrh\, and to declare that he is in no way \ninferior to the Father in majesty is to worship him with frankincense.
URL:https://laycisterciansofgethsemani.org/event/vigils-reading-epiphany-of-the-lord-3/
CATEGORIES:Vigils Readings
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UID:14460-1767571200-1767657599@laycisterciansofgethsemani.org
SUMMARY:Vigils Reading - St John Neumann
DESCRIPTION:THE PROPOSAL TO \nGO TO AMERICA \nFrom the autobiography of St John Neumann \n◊◊◊ \nOn the feast of All Saints\, 1831\, I began the study of theology… I studied \nSacred Scripture\, Hebrew and Church History… At the end of the first year of \ntheology I was one of the few who were to receive Tonsure and the four Minor \nOrders. This actually took place on July 21\, 1832. \nIn the second year of theology we had the New Testament in Latin and \nGreek together with Exegesis and Canon Law. What appealed to me most were \nthe letters of the Apostle\, St Paul\, which the professor knew how to explain very \nwell. About this time I began to read the reports of the Leopoldine Society\, \nespecially the letters of Father Baraga and other missionaries among the \nGermans in North America. This is how there arose in one of my fellow \nstudents\, Adalbert Schmidt\, and in myself on the occasion of a walk along the \nMoldau River\, the determination to devote ourselves to North America as soon \nas we acquired some experience after ordination. \nTwo or three of our fellow students\, whom we invited to join us\, marvelled \nat our decision\, but they did not want to promise anything. Obviously\, it was not \ntheir vocation. From that moment on my resolution was so strong and lively \nthat I could no longer think of anything else. \nWe had talks on how to carry out our project. We thought it would be \nbetter for me to try to obtain from the bishop the recently vacated foundation \nscholarship at the University of Prague for a theologian from the seminary. We \ndid this in the hope of easily learning French and English there because we \nthought that the knowledge of these languages was much more important than \nis actually the case. The bishop granted my request\, but I found myself very \nmuch disappointed. I had hardly gone to the French classes at the Clementinum \nfor a few [days or weeks] when an order came from the archbishop that no \nseminarian was to attend these classes. As for English\, I could learn even less \nbecause that language was not taught at the University then. \nMeanwhile\, the bishop of Philadelphia\, Fr. Francis Patrick Kenrick \nempowered Dr. Raess\, the rector of the Strassburg seminary to accept young \npriests or\, even better\, theologians for his diocese. The latter wrote to a very \nsaintly priest\, who was Vicar of the Budweis Cathedral\, about the possibility of \ngetting some of them from Bohemia. Through a special disposition of divine \nprovidence this turned out to be the one (Father Hermann) who happened to be \nthe confessor of my friend Adalbert Schmidt and knew about our proposal to go \nto America. \nAside from three or four or our fellow students and him\, no one knew \nabout this. He was very happy to discover in us the first two that he found ready \nto go to America. The request to Dr. Raess and our decision seemed to be signs \nthat his plan would be feasible. Since the bishop\, who was over eighty\, was sick\, \nand since\, for four or five months\, there was no prospect that he would hold an \nordination\, he was all in favor of the two of us being ready to take off as soon as \npossible.
URL:https://laycisterciansofgethsemani.org/event/vigils-reading-st-john-neumann-3/
CATEGORIES:Vigils Readings
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DTSTAMP:20260404T090548
CREATED:20260104T145919Z
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UID:14462-1767657600-1767743999@laycisterciansofgethsemani.org
SUMMARY:Vigils Reading
DESCRIPTION:THE FESTIVAL \nOF THE WHOLE UNIVERSE \nFrom a homily by St Basil the Great \n◊◊◊ \nThe star came to rest over the place where the Child lay. When they saw it\, \nthe Wise Men were filled with great joy. Let us also welcome that joy of theirs \ninto our own hearts\, for it is the same as the glad tidings which the angels \nproclaimed to the shepherds. Let us worship the Lord with the Wise Men\, \nglorify him with the shepherds\, and join in the angels’ chorus\, singing: This day \nis born to us a Savior who is Christ the Lord. The Lord is our God\, and he has \nshone upon us. For fear of terrifying the weak he would not dazzle our eyes by \nappearing in the form of God\, but he came to us as a servant\, in order to set free \nwhat was held in bondage. \nWho could be so dull of heart\, so ungrateful as not to rejoice\, be glad and \nexult with all here present? This is the festival of the whole universe\, for it pours \nout on earth the blessings of heaven\, sending the archangels to Zechariah and to \nMary\, and assembling the angelic choirs for their song: Glory to God in the \nhighest\, and on earth peace\, good will among all. \nThe stars traverse the skies; the Wise Men journey from pagan lands\, \nwhile the earth receives its Redeemer in the cave. There must be no one without \nsome gift to offer\, no one unmindful of the gratitude he owes. Let us celebrate \nthe world’s salvation\, the day Christ was born in our humanity\, for today Adam’s \nsentence is reversed. \nNo longer can it be said\, You are earth\, and to the earth you shall return \n; rather\, “You are now united to heaven\, and to heaven you shall be admitted”. \nNow we no longer hear\, In sorrow you shall bring forth your children\, since \nhappy is she who bore Emmanuel\, and happy is the breast which has nursed \nhim. For to us a child is born\, to us a son is given\, and sovereignty shall be \nupon his shoulder. \nCome then\, and join those who gladly welcomed the Lord from heaven. \nThink of the shepherds now clothed with wisdom\, the priests blessed with the \ngift of prophecy\, and the women\, Mary and Elizabeth\, filled with happiness\, the \none rejoicing at Gabriel’s message\, the other at John’s leaping in her womb. \nThink of Anna proclaiming the good news and Simeon holding the child in his \narms. Adoring the mighty God in the tiny infant\, they did not despise what they \nsaw but praised his divine majesty. Like light shining through clear glass\, the \npower of the Godhead shone in radiance through that human body for those \nwhose inner gaze was pure. \nMay the Lord grant us also to be counted among them\, so that beholding \nhis radiance with unveiled face\, we may be transformed from glory to glory by \nthe grace and loving kindness of our Lord Jesus Christ\, to whom be honor and \npower for ever and ever. Amen.
URL:https://laycisterciansofgethsemani.org/event/vigils-reading-384/
CATEGORIES:Vigils Readings
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DTSTAMP:20260404T090548
CREATED:20260104T150023Z
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UID:14464-1767744000-1767830399@laycisterciansofgethsemani.org
SUMMARY:Vigils Reading
DESCRIPTION:RISE UP\, BE ENLIGHTENED \nFrom a sermon by St Aelred of Rievaulx \n◊◊◊ \nRise up\, be enlightened\, Jerusalem\, for your light has come. This is the \nJerusalem which the Lord Jesus\, who is the true and highest peace\, is building \nup out of living stones\, the Jerusalem that aspires to the vision of him and \nbelieves with utter certainty that it shall find its happiness in that vision. It is the \nholy Church. It is each and every holy gathering\, each and every holy soul. Rise \nup\, he said\, be enlightened\, Jerusalem. \nRightly was it told: Rise up\, for it was lying prostrate. Rightly is it told\, Be \nenlightened\, for it was blind. It was lying prostrate\, blind\, in darkness\, in error\, \nin sin. Therefore it was told: Rise up\, because he who would raise it up had \nalready stooped down. It is told: Be enlightened\, because he who would \nenlighten it was already present. What else does that new star proclaim from the \nheavens but Rise up\, be enlightened? The sign of the Lord’s birth has appeared \nin the heavens so that we may rise from the love of earthly things to heaven. And \nthis sign takes the form of a star so that we may know that by his birth we shall \nbe enlightened… \nThe three kings of whom we have spoken came to Jerusalem and asked: \nWhere is he who is born King of the Jews? As soon as Herod heard those words \nhe was dismayed. Why\, if not because he was earth and darkness covered the \nearth? He was afraid of losing his earthly kingdom. Because all he sought was an \nearthly kingdom\, he thought that the newborn king would seek only an earthly \nkingdom… \nBut now lying prostrate in carnal desires and in the darkness of iniquities \nis a matter for great agitation\, for the true light that enlightens every one \ncoming into the world\, Christ Jesus\, has now come. We cannot have further \nexcuse for our sins\, for Christ\, who takes away the sins of the world and justifies \nthe wicked\, now speaks to us openly. Someone who follows me does not walk in \ndarkness but will have the light of life. \nAnd what is the way by which he walks and which leads to him? Let him \ntell you himself: Anyone who chooses to come after me must deny himself\, take \nup his cross and follow me. The apostle also points out the way that leads to \nChrist; it is\, he says\, through many tribulations that we must enter the \nkingdom of heaven. Again\, the Lord tells us in the Gospel: Blessed are the poor \nin spirit\, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. \nThis is the way by which Jesus walked and by which we shall come to him: \nthe renunciation of our own will\, the imitation of Christ’s passion\, the hardships \nof the present life\, and voluntary poverty. This is the way which sacred Scripture \nshows us\, which\, as we said\, appeared to the three kings.
URL:https://laycisterciansofgethsemani.org/event/vigils-reading-385/
CATEGORIES:Vigils Readings
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DTSTAMP:20260404T090548
CREATED:20260104T150126Z
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UID:14466-1767830400-1767916799@laycisterciansofgethsemani.org
SUMMARY:Vigils Reading
DESCRIPTION:THE FAITH OF THE MAGI \nFrom a sermon by Blessed Guerric of Igny \n◊◊◊ \nO with what joy does the faith of the Magi exult there as they look upon \nthe babe now reigning in that heavenly Jerusalem\, him whom they adored as a \ncrying babe in Bethlehem. Here he was seen in the inn of the poor; there he is \nseen in the palace of the angels; here in the swaddling clothes of infants\, there in \nthe splendor of the saints; here in his mother’s lap\, there on his Father’s throne. \nTruly the faith of the blessed Magi deserved to be rewarded with so \nblissful a sight. Their faith\, although it saw in him only what was weak and \ncontemptible\, could not however find in that a stumbling-block to prevent them \nfrom worshiping God in man and man in God. \nThese first-fruits of the nations\, then\, these beginnings of the new-born \nChurch\, aptly prefigure the stages by which faith progresses in individuals. For \njust as they began with the sight of the star\, advanced to the sight of the Child\, \narrived at the sight of God\, so in us faith is born by the preaching of heavenly \nluminaries\, it is strengthened by the sight of certain images which show us God \nincarnate\, through a confused reflection in a mirror\, and will be brought to its \nconsummation when the naked truth of things will be seen as present and we \nshall contemplate face to face what now is scarcely seen for a fleeting moment \nnow and then… Then faith itself will be transformed into knowledge\, hope into \npossession\, desire into enjoyment… \nTherefore the Lord said: “You are the light of the world”; and again: “Let \nyour light shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your \nFather who is in heaven”. So they shine by their word\, they shine by their \nexample\, and by these two rays of light they proclaim the rising of eternal Light. \nThey preach with their voices one who is in heaven and commend him also by \nthe resemblance of a heavenly life. \nLook up\, brethren\, into heaven\, for your true home is in heaven. Look up \nand direct the eyes of your mind at least on the brilliance of the stars\, if you are \nnot able yet to gaze upon the sun’s disk. Admire the splendor of the saints\, \nimitate their faith\, emulate their holiness. Those stars blaze like a flame and \nshow clearly that the Light of lights has risen. They lead to the cradle of the new \nKing\, to the bedchamber of the Virgin Mother\, faith’s inviolable mystery\, indeed \nthey lead to the temple of the King\, to the sanctuary of God the father\, faith’s \nreward that surpasses all understanding. \nIn the meantime however\, while we are not able to search out the wisdom \nof God which is hidden in mystery or to contemplate the majesty which is to be \nour reward\, let us be content to wonder at the brightness of the saints… Let us \nexercise ourselves in the works of light and He will show it to us now from time \nto time to encourage us in our work and afterwards will give it to us as a reward.
URL:https://laycisterciansofgethsemani.org/event/vigils-reading-386/
CATEGORIES:Vigils Readings
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260109
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260110
DTSTAMP:20260404T090548
CREATED:20260104T150249Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260104T150249Z
UID:14468-1767916800-1768003199@laycisterciansofgethsemani.org
SUMMARY:Vigils Reading
DESCRIPTION:A HIDDEN GOD \nBy Edward Leen \n◊◊◊ \nEverybody knows that the call of the Magi typifies the vocation of the \nGentiles to the Church of God. But to penetrate more deeply into this mystery \nand to read therein an experience common to a multitude of souls demand a \ndeeper understanding of God’s way of manifesting himself to his creatures\, and \na keener discernment of his action in human souls. \nGod is a hidden God\, and must be so for us. He manifests himself \nobscurely. God does not hide himself from us purposely or to make approach to \nhim more difficult. He desires revelation of himself to us\, and approach to him \non our part. God in his approach to us but tempters his brilliancy to \naccommodate it to our weak and diseased spiritual vision. He\, as it were\, takes \ncare not to hurt our soul’s sight. But he aims at revelation through dimmed \nradiance. The incarnation\, which is the utmost concealment of the Godhead \nthat there is\, or that can be — except that of the Eucharist alone — is the greatest \nrevelation of God. \nThat we are dull of perception is certainly not due to the mode in which \nGod reveals himself\, but must be traceable to our fault. It is the poor quality of \nour faith that is responsible for this dullness. We do not take God on his own \nconditions. We are always given to imposing ours on him. We have a tendency \nto decide for ourselves what shall be the sensible exterior vesture of God’s \nmessage. We clothe that message with a garment woven of our own ideas and \nimaginings\, and we reject the material selected by God himself for his \nrevelation. \nNot so the wise men. They took God on his own terms. We choose a \ncertain mode for his manifestation\, and they acknowledged him as God in the \nlowliness of the guise in which he appeared. They looked on a babe and they said \nGod. Their faith was superb. \nThat the three wise men were able to discern in the form of a helpless \nbabe\, lying in an earthly Mother’s frail arms\, under a miserable roof\, the king of \nkings\, the great redeemer of the human race that had been spoken of in \nprophecy for centuries before\, was a truly marvelous thing… \nThe wonderful faith of these men passes all belief. Their appearance in the \npages of Saint Matthew is like a sudden burst of glorious sunshine\, breaking in a \nflood of glory\, through a sky wrapped in a mantle of somber gray. And the star \nwent before them\, until it came and stood over where the child was; and seeing \nthe star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy… \nAs they saw the humble roof under which the child was\, and as they \nperceived the lowly simple conditions of his parents\, were they taken aback? \nHad they any misgivings? Were they harassed by any doubts?… It was the \nsupreme test to which they were put\, and their magnificent faith triumphed \nover all appearances. Their hearts responded loyally to the touch of grace\, for \nthey were unprejudiced and ready to concede to God whatever form he should \nchoose for his manifestation.
URL:https://laycisterciansofgethsemani.org/event/vigils-reading-387/
CATEGORIES:Vigils Readings
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260110
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260111
DTSTAMP:20260404T090548
CREATED:20260104T150409Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260104T150409Z
UID:14470-1768003200-1768089599@laycisterciansofgethsemani.org
SUMMARY:Vigils Reading - St William of Bourges
DESCRIPTION:ST WILLIAM OF BOURGES \nFrom Butler’s Lives of the Saints \n◊◊◊ \nGuillaume de Donjeon came from a distinguished family of Nevers on the \nriver Loire in central France. He was educated by his uncle Peter\, who was \narchdeacon of Soissons north-east of Paris. At an early age he was appointed canon \non Soissons and then of Paris. He felt the call to the solitary life\, however\, and \nretired to Grandmont Abbey. A dispute there disturbed his peace\, and he joined \nthe stricter Cistercian Order\, being clothed at the abbey of Pontigny. He was \nelected abbot of two smaller abbeys dependent on Pontigny\, first Fontaine-Jean \nthen Chalis\, near Senlis. \nWhen Henri de Sully\, archbishop of Bourges\, died\, a successor was sought \nfrom among the Cistercian Abbots. William was elected by a process of drawing \nthe first of three names from slips placed on the altar by Henri’s brother Eudes\, \nbishop of Paris\, a choice that confirmed the vote of the clergy. William would have \nrefused the appointment had he not received direct orders to take it up both from \nPope Innocent III and from his religious superior\, the Abbot of Citeaux. He proved \nto be a model bishop\, austere in private life\, wearing a hair shirt and abstaining \nfrom red meat\, and full of pastoral care for the spiritual and material welfare of the \npoor\, whom he saw as his first responsibility. He defended the rights of his church\, \nincluding its lands\, against threatened encroachment by the civil powers\, arguing \nhis case successfully even against the king. \nThe Albigensians were numerous in France at this time\, and he was active in \ncrusading against them\, making many converts. He was preparing a mission to \nthem when his final illness came upon him. He preached a last sermon to his \npeople\, which brought on a high fever and hastened his end. At his request he was \nlaid on a bed of ashes\, and he died with the first two words of the Nocturns on his \nlips\, just after midnight on January 10\, 1209. His body was interred in the \ncathedral of Bourges\, and many miracles were attributed to him. A shrine was \naccordingly built in 1217\, and he was canonized by Pope Honorius III the following \nyear.
URL:https://laycisterciansofgethsemani.org/event/vigils-reading-st-william-of-bourges-2/
CATEGORIES:Vigils Readings
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260110T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260110T120000
DTSTAMP:20260404T090548
CREATED:20260105T223909Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260105T223909Z
UID:14480-1768035600-1768046400@laycisterciansofgethsemani.org
SUMMARY:Chicago LCG 1/10/26 at 9:00 am CST
DESCRIPTION:You are welcome to attend our meeting by Soom at: \nhttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/86028356465 \nMeeting ID: 860 2835 6465 \nOne tap mobile \n+13126266799\,\,86028356465# US (Chicago) \n+13092053325\,\,86028356465# US
URL:https://laycisterciansofgethsemani.org/event/chicago-lcg-1-10-26-at-900-am-cst/
CATEGORIES:LCG Local Community Meetings,LCG open events
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