Happy New Year!

Last Sunday marked the beginning of the new Church liturgical season. Pope Francis delivered his homily in Vatican City, giving us his first message for Advent and the new Church liturgical season. “we need to recognize God’s closeness and to say to him: “Come close to us once more!”,” Pope Francis said in St. Peter’s Basilica  Nov. 29. Pope Francis urges us to invite Jesus in by praying a traditional Advent prayer – “Come, lord Jesus!”.  The Book of Revelation ends with this prayer (Rev 22:20).

Another theme of Advent that we would all be familiar with is ‘Stay Awake!’. Pope Francis explains that this can be hard because not even Jesus Apostles could stay awake in the Garden. But we can stay awake ‘through the vigilance of prayer’. We can begin our mornings and end our days with the little prayer, “Come, Lord Jesus!” and invite God to be close to us and gives us hope.

Blessing to you all during this Advent season.