Welcome to Mount Saint Mary's Abbey
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Welcome to Mount Saint Mary's Abbey - Liturgical Seasons |
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Written by Web Master
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Page 3 of 3 Liturgical Seasons
Seasons are part of our life. We have seasons of being…birth, infancy, childhood, adulthood. We have annual seasons brought about by orbital and rotational changes, more pronounced in some cultures than in others, but still present even if it be in wind, rain or sunshine. We partake of seasons in our spiritual lives as well as physical, in our minds and in our hearts, and all these seasons are interwoven in the liturgical seasons of our Church.
New Year begins with the first Sunday of Advent, the beginning of a time of joyful wonder and expectant waiting, accompanied by the light of the wreath’s first candle. It is a time of light, the Light in the womb of honored Mary, a time of preparation, anticipation and hope. It heralds the coming of the Lord, the season of readiness. Interwoven into this gentle excitement, is all the human readiness for Christmas. The season’s symbols are manifold, and excite the senses…pine trees and wreathes, hearth fires, glowing candles, purple, green and white tapers, angels, crèche creations, family heirlooms, stockings, snowfall, shepherds and songs of the soul. It is the season of yearning for God.
Christmas comes, the season of Child-with-us, the season of blessing, peace and wonder. It is the season of humanity’s finding God, a time of deep happiness within, the season of family love and affection, and the giving of heart to other. It is a hushed midnight hour, mild strains of Silent Night, a Holy Family under the star canopy of Bethlehem, warmth in a cold stable. The season is crowned by the song of martyrs, the honoring of The Family, the celebration of God’s Mother and the coming of kings.
And then we rest in Ordinary time for a time, a time initiated by Baptism, replete with manifold saints whom we honor. Yet this interval is short as we contemplate the beginning of our Lenten journey. Ash Wednesday arrives and we begin this holy season with fasting and repentance. Purple returns as do the admonitions of St. John the Baptist. It is the season of self-examination, sacrifice, almsgiving and atonement. It is a listening season, a Word of God hearing time. Jesus speaks to hearts and souls, and our conscience is enlivened. As days progress we slowly walk the way to Jerusalem knowing that there we will encounter Christ’s Calvary. Gaudete’s reprieve meets us but it passes quickly and we resume the path we must take. Passion Sunday greets us with palms and recollects us with suffering, death and burial. We enter into the most sacred week with the wish that we might worthily accompany Our Lord, help Him carry His Cross, and offer gratitude for all that He has done for us. This season of sorrow, thanksgiving and selfless love is with us, the season of sacrifice, Eucharist, and another waiting. Three days we experience Passover, the Paschal mystery, our Redemption. And in the darkness, the Light of faith rises in our eyes and in our hearts. Easter comes. Lilies’scent and candles’ warmth assures us of purity and rebirth in the springtime of our Church. Waters of Life flow into our own resurrection and we promise again to embrace the grace of Baptism, rejecting the allure of evil. We become renewed in the Lord, our salvation, and for eight days rejoice in the gift and glory of God in Christ Jesus. It is Mercy time. Eastertide acclaims the Church’s life and brings us through another forty days to the moment when Jesus takes His rightful place. He is seated at the right hand of the Father and the Holy Spirit readies to descend on earth. The Church is born in the Fire of Love, then Ordinary Time returns, filled with hope and the green of verdant, plentiful life. Interspersed are noteworthy Days of profound mystery and significance. We honor Love in the Trinity, the Body and Blood of Christ, and in His tender Heart. The Communion of Saints is reinforced. Our Lady’s life is honored and we are given time to rest in and ponder the Gospel. Angels go before us, souls are remembered, Jesus is King…and then? New Year’s Eve, and another cycle in the continuum of God’s divine plenitude.
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Last Updated on Sunday, 29 August 2010 13:20 |
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