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Advent Today:   The Vanguard -- Our Current Newsletter The word Advent comes to us from the Latin meaning “to reach, arrive, to come.” The season of Advent marks the beginning of the Christian year; the first Sunday of Advent is the Christian New Year and falls on the Sunday nearest the feast of Saint Andrew {November 30th}. Advent covers the four Sundays preceding Christmas. More at: http://www.allsaintsanglican.net/faith/seasons/advent/. Excita, quæsumus, Domine, tuorum fidelium voluntates .... Stir up, O Lord, your faithful ...

A Complete Review  for the Months of: January February March April May June July August September October November December

Lesson appointed for the Sunday next before Advent:

Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will raise up a righteous Branch to David; As king he shall reign and govern wisely, he shall do what is just and right on the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, Israel shall dwell in security. This is the name they give him: The LORD our righteousness. Therefore, the days will come, says the LORD, when one shall no longer say, As the LORD lives, who brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; but rather, As the LORD lives, who led the house of Israel up from the land of the north and from all the lands to which they were banished; these descendants shall again live on their own land. Jeremiah 5-8 {Jerome's Latin rendering}

Advent 2008 -- Good News in Cuba: Cuban President Raul Castro attended the country's first religious Mass for Beatification on Saturday, November 29th. Cardinal Jose Saravia Martins, a representative of Pope Benedict XVI, read the Apostolic Letter which acknowledged the Beatification of Friar Jose Olallo Valdes (1820-1889), a champion of Christian charity of the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God. An orphan, Friar Olallo worked as surgeon and pharmacist serving the sick and the poor. The path to sainthood began in the The mass held at the Plaza de la Libertad or Plaza de la Caridad in the city of Camagüey, some 530 kilometers (329 miles) southeast of Havana. Herald Tribune The ceremony in Camaguey was broadcast on state television.

Earlier in the week, Japan's extraordinary but relatively unknown history of Christian persecution finally receiving official recognition with the Beatification of 188 martyrs (AP Story). The Rev. John Isao Hashimoto, one of the beatification ceremony's organizers, said the martyrs' history is a source of pride for Japanese. Although records show 4,000 or 5,000 Japanese were killed for refusing to give up their Christian faith, the true number could be 10 times that, Hashimoto said. Vatican sources have said that Pope Benedict XVI, who studied Cardinal Newman's writings as a theological student, was expected to announce Newman's Beatification in 2009, when the standard process is completed. Earlier this month, a casket containing Newman's remains, which include a lock of his hair and a piece of linen thought to be stained with his blood, was placed in the chapel of Saint Charles Borromeo at the English City of Birmingham Oratory. There they will remain while Beatification procedures are finalised in Rome (as reported in the London Times).

November 27, 2011: This feast day begins a new year (called Advent, in the Western Church), the liturgical Season before Christmas. In celebration of this new year, think of a selection form Händel's Messiah based on traditional liturgy -- Comfort Y^e, my People  It was Isaiah who was tasked to pass on the message of comfort to God's people. Think also of Psalm 23:4, “Thy rod and thy staff [they] comfort me.” This is a Coverdale translation, which has found its way into The Book of Common Prayer.

News almost completely unnoticed: Russian Orthodox Patriarch Aleksy II was the first church leader since the outset of the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution to be chosen without interference by the Soviet state. The communists had killed clergy and believers and destroyed churches, yet it permitted a church hierarchy to exist under tight control. The Soviet Constitution provided the right to be free of religion in a secular state, but where necessary would use faith to unite its people against a common enemy. Aleksy II, who became patriarch in June 1990, significantly deepened the role of the church in Russia's everyday life - erecting and restoring cathedrals, introducing Orthodox religious education in public schools. The Cathedral of Christ the Savior, within view of the Kremlin, was blown up on Stalin's orders in 1931, but rebuilt in the 1990s. During the war with Georgia in August 2008 over the breakaway region of South Ossetia, the Patriarch called for peace, reminding all Russians that Georgia was also a nation of Orthodox belief. Although only 10% of the population regularly attend services, 75% consider themselves to be Orthodox, including President Putin and Prime Minister Medvedev. The seat of the Moscow Patriarchate is Moscow's Danilov Monastery, though founded first in Kiev (Ukraine) in 988.

Alesky was born Aleksei Mikhailovich Rudiger in Tallinn, Estonia on Feb. 23, 1929 to a father of Baltic German descent and a Russian mother. His childhood there passed in the brief period of Estonian independence before World War II. The small Baltic republic had become home to a large community of Russian émigrés and a Russian Orthodox spiritual center; then, the tanks came. Later, Soviets under Stalin took over. from International Herald Tribune Patriarch Aleksy II died just outside Moscow proper on December 5, 2008, at his suburban residence (ironically, a gift of Germany to Stalin during World War II).

The next to occupy the Patriarchal See of Moscow will be chosen by a local Synod, or gathering of Orthodox bishops. In 1990, one was convened about a month after the death of Aleksy's predecessor, Patriarch Pimen. Speculation about the new successor has begun. http://www.rferl.org/content/Kremlin_Aleksy_Successor/1356788.html The number of functioning Orthodox churches has grown from 6,800 in 1987, when Mikhail Gorbachev first signaled a loosening of the restrictions on religion, to 27,950 today. There were 19 monasteries then, 735 now. Charitable work by the church - prison ministries, halfway houses, nursing services, orphanages, free meals and the like - has blossomed and spread, while Church attendance has lessened. http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/12/05/opinion/edschmemann.php

December 04, 2011 -- 2nd Week in Advent: Bible Sunday as it is sometimes called, examines the link between Advent and the Word of God exhibited in the Scriptures, an unmistakable link. The Collect calls on us to study the Scriptures, to hear them, read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them. The revelation of God, through His words in Scripture, reflects the full Revelation of God through His Word which became flesh {John 14:9-28]; the Holy City of God coming down so that He may dwell among His people. Blessed Lord, who caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which You have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. http://www.sarahlaughed.net/lectionary/

Third Sunday in Advent (December 11, 2011): Today begins the second half of the season of Advent; The Lord is already near. Come, let us adore Him!. It is often said of the Second Sunday in Advent that it is about the true meaning of Jerusalem (although this analogy is not apparent necessarily from the 1928 Prayerbook readings for that day); today on the 3rd Sunday we are clearly urged to prepare the way for entry. From all sides the prophets alert the city to make itself ready for the arrival of the King of Peace; today His messenger announces -- He is almost there (at the city gates). Justice goes before Him, and salvation follows in His footsteps [cf. Psalm 81]. “It is no accident that the angel [Gabriel] makes his appearance within the holiest portion of the Temple at Jerusalem, for this announces the imminent coming (parousia) of the true Priest and prepares the heavenly sacrifice at which the angels will minister [St. Ambrose, Expositio Evangelii Sec. Lucam, in loc.).” It was Gabriel who proclaimed to the prophet the time of the Messiah's adventus (see Daniel 8:15-26, 9:20-27). It is Isaiah {35:5} who says: “Then will the eyes of the blind be open, the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame will leap like a deer and the tongues of those who cannot speak will sing for joy!” But first, Prepare the way -- the message is repeated.

In addition, the historic Church has called this day Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is the Latin word for Rejoice, and the historic liturgy calls us to rejoice over the coming birth. A Sunday of Lent is termed Lætare Sunday. The word Lætare is another Latin term for Rejoice, and here the Church is calling her people, in the middle of penance, to rejoice over the conquering of sin accomplished in the Paschal Mystery. The two terms themselves beg the question: Why two terms? In other words, from where do the phrases Gaudete Sunday and Laetare Sunday come? The answer is found in the Gregorian Propers. The first line of the Introit for the Third Sunday of Advent is Gaudete in Domino semper; iterum dico, gaudete or "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice !" The Introit (from Latin: introitus or "entrance") is part of the opening of the liturgical celebration of the Eucharist for many Christian denominations. In its most complete version, it consists of an antiphon, psalm verse and Gloria Patri that is spoken or sung at the beginning of the celebration. It is part of the Proper of the liturgy; that is, the part that changes over the liturgical year.

In the Gospel reading for the fourth (and last) Sunday in Advent we read how John the Baptist was asked who are you [John 1:19]. John replies that he is not the Messiah {verse 20}, not the “prophet” {see (Deut. xviii. 15.)} and not Elijah {Verse 21}; but rather is the voice of one crying out -- prepare ye the way of the Lord {Verse 23}, as prophesied by Isaiah (see again Chapter 40:1-5). For Christ is God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, as the Creed says {'28 Prayer Book -- used by the Anglican Church today, and a most direct heir to Cranmer's great work}. At His birth He did not begin to exist. He was before all time very God of very God; nor has He ceased to be God. He was, is and always shall be the Mighty God, Prince of Peace, Lord of Hosts. We must also acknowledge his true humanity, and we should never make him to be less of a man, just because he also was perfectly divine. As a man he is heir to all things, and those who are sons of God are joint heirs with Christ, eventhough as men we are not worthy so much as to unlace the footwear of Christ, as John says ... but we have received a great gift of acceptance, which we celebrate with Feast of the Nativity commonly called ... Christmas. The traditional Introit for week four begins: Lætare Ierusalem: et conventum facite omnes qui diligitis eamI or Rejoice Jerusalem; and gather round, all you who love her. http://causafinitaest.blogspot.com/2011/12/gaudete.html

... [T]he Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou ? And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, "I am not the Christ." And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, "I am not." Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? He said, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet [Isaiah]." http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=2350

December 16th-24th: Las Posadas (Spanish plural form for "the inns" or "shelters") is the traditional Mexican festival that re-enacts Joseph's search for room at the inn in Bethlehem. Each Christmas season, a processional, carrying a doll representing the Christ Child and images of Joseph and Mary riding a burro, walks through the community streets. The group will stop at a previously selected home and ask for lodging that night. People are invited in to read scriptures and sing Christmas carols called villancicos. The hosts furnish refreshments. This motif continues for eight nights in commemoration of the journey of Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem. On the last night, a Mass is celebrated at midnight of La Noche Buena. So goes the Mexican festival of lights that precedes Christmas (Feliz Navidad). http://www.nacnet.org/assunta/nacimnto.htm

 Isaiah 22:22: I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, 
and no one shall shut; he shall shut, and no one shall open.

Isaiah 9:6: For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; 
and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Revelation 3:7: “ And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of the holy one, 
the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.”

The relevant verse from “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” is:

O come, thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.

December 24, 1818: Church organist, Franz Grüber, composed a melody on guitar at Nicole Kirche (St. Nicholas Church) in Oberndorf, Austria, for a poem. That poem, Stille Nacht, written earlier by pastor Joseph Möhr, was sung for the very first time that evening. The song reached Royal Court Choir of Berlin some years later, where „Silent Night” had become the favorite of King Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia. He researched the origins of the carol and traced it first to Salzburg in 1854. Later the full story became known. see http://www.german-way.com/german/stille.html

December 25th -- Feast of the Nativity: Most people do not even know that the day of celebration of the Birth has fluctuated ! Christmas was once a moveable feastday (or movable feast), celebrated many different times during the year. The choice of December 25th was made by Pope Julius I in the fourth century AD because this coincided with the pagan rituals of the Winter Solstice (Return of the Sun). The intent was to replace the pagan celebration (cult of Sol Invictus) with the Christian one.

December 25, 336: This is the earliest known year that Jesus' nativity was celebrated on the 25th, as mentioned in the Philocalian Calendar of A.D. 354. By the 400s most of the other Eastern denominations like the Western, Roman Catholic, church had accepted December 25th. In 496 (December 25th) Clovis, the first French King (who was really of a german tribe called the Franks), baptised himself. In 800, Pope Leo III crowned Charles the Great (Charlemagne), Holy Roman Emperor. In 1046, Pope Clemens VI, crowned German King Henry III Holy Roman Emperor, perhaps the most powerful in this line of the German Kings. In 1066, William the Conqueror was crowned king of England at Westminster by Aldred, Archbishop of York. In 1223, Saint Francis of Assisi assembled one of the first Nativity scenes, in Greccio, Italy; the ACLU promptly sued. In 1582, Zealand/Brabant adopted the Gregorian calendar. In 1758, Christmas day was celebrated with a recorded sighting of Halley's Comet by Johann Georg Palitzsch. Not to be outdone, on this date late in the evening in 1776, George Washington crossed the Delaware River with troops and surprised and defeated 1,400 Hessians under British employ. Yankee Clara Barton, the founder of the American Red Cross (1882), was born in North Oxford, Massachusetts in 1821. In 1865, General Evangeline Cory Booth, (Salvation Army, 1904-34), first stepped into the picture.