Advent Archives

AR13 – St. Teresa of Avila and Trust – Advent Reflections with Deacon James Keating Ph.D.

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St. Teresa of Avila said the following: “Let nothing disturb you. Let nothing frighten you. All things are passing. God only has changed us. Patience gains all things, who as God, wants nothing. God alone suffices.” Here, St. Teresa is telling us, in bold and beautiful language, many of the things we cling to in this time will pass away. We are called to cling to one thing and one thing only: and that is that God alone suffices. God is the source of all that we need. God is the one who never forgets us. God is the one who gives us our deepest heart’s desire: and that is communion with Him. This Advent, let’s trust God. Let’s trust that He’s giving us all that we need, and that if we let Him love us to the depths of our heart, we will want for nothing, and that the result of such reception of love will be peace; a peace that no one can take away; a peace that no time can change. A peace that will never pass.

Deacon James Keating, Ph.D., the director of Theological Formation for the Institute for Priestly Formation, located at Creighton University, in Omaha, is making available to “Discerning Hearts” and all who listen, his series of programs entitled “The Heart of Hope.”

Check out Deacon Keating’s “Discerning Heart” page

A Christmas Novena – Mp3 audio, Video, and Text

Discerning Hearts – A Christmas Novena from Discerning Hearts on Vimeo.

For audio only:

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Divine Infant,
after the wonders of Your birth in Bethlehem,
You wished to extend Your infinite mercy to the whole world
by calling the Wise Men by heavenly inspiration to Your crib,
which was in this way changed into a royal throne.
You graciously received those holy men
who were obedient to the Divine call
and hastened to Your feet.
They recognized and worshipped You as Prince of Peace,
the Redeemer of mankind,
and the very Son of God.

Show us also Your goodness and almighty power.
Enlighten our minds,
strengthen our wills,
and inflame our hearts to know You,
to serve You,
and to love You in this life,
that we may merit to find our joy in You eternally in the life to come.

O Jesus, most powerful Child,
We implore You again to help us
with the intentions we hold in the depths of our hearts.

Divine Child, great omnipotent God,
I implore through Your most Holy Mother’s most powerful intercession,
and through the boundless mercy of Your omnipotence as God,
for a favorable answer to our prayer during this Novena.
Grant us the grace of possessing You eternally
with Mary and Joseph
and of adoring You with Your holy angels and saints. Amen.