Memorial of Saint Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

Redeemer of the nations, come!
Ransom of earth, here make Thy home!
Bright Sun, oh dart Thy flame to earth,
For so shall God in Christ have birth!

Thou comest from Thy kingly throne,
O Son of God, the Virgin’s Son!
Thou Hero of a twofold race,
Dost walk in might earth’s darkest place.

Thou stoopest once to suffer here,
And risest o’er the starry sphere;
Hell’s gates at Thy descent were riven,
Thy ascent is to highest Heaven.

One with the Father! Prince of might!
O’er nature’s realm assert Thy right,
Our sickly bodies pine to know
Thy heavenly strength, Thy living glow.

How bright Thy lowly manger beams!
Down earth’s dark vale its glory streams,
The splendour of Thy natal night
Shines through all Time in deathless light.

Veni, Redemptor Gentium by St. Ambrose of Milan
English trans. by Catherine Winkworth, 1865

The angel softly entered the Virgin’s chamber, and allaying her fear, said, ‘Hail, queen of virgins; thou shalt conceive the Lord of heaven and earth and give virgin birth to mankind’s Saviour; thou art made the portal of heaven, the balm of our sins.’ 

‘How shall I conceive, who have known no man? How shall I break my mind’s steady vow?’ 

‘The grace of the Holy Spirit shall accomplish all; fear thou not, but rejoice and be sure that thy chaste purity will abide, through God’s power.’ 

The noble Virgin said in answer to him, ‘I am the lowly handmaiden of the all-powerful God. My will is thine, heavenly messenger and keeper of such secrets: What I hear, I long to see completed, I am ready to give birth, according to God’s plan.’ 

Ah, mother of our Lord, who restored peace to angels and man when thou conceivedst Christ, beseech thy Son, that he may show Himself merciful unto us and remove our sins. Thou providest help to enjoy the blessed life after this exile.

Text: 13th Century traditional
Tr. Christopher Brunelle

“‘And my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him’ [John 14.23]. My friends, consider the greatness of this solemn feast that commemorates God’s coming as a guest into our hearts! If some rich and influential friend were to come to your home, you would promptly put it all in order for fear something there might offend your friend’s eyes when he came in. Let all of us then who are preparing our inner homes for God cleanse them of anything our wrongdoing has brought into them.”

St. Gregory Dialogos
in Be Friends of God

Hark! a thrilling voice is sounding;
Christ is nigh, it seems to say,
Cast away the works of darkness,
O ye children of the day.

Wakened by the solemn warning
Let the earthbound soul arise;
Christ, her Sun, all ill dispelling,
Shines upon the morning skies.

Lo, the Lamb, so long expected,
Comes with pardon down from Heav’n;
Let us haste, with tears of sorrow,
One and all to be forgiven.

That when next He comes in glory,
And the world is wrapped in fear,
With His mercy He may shield us,
And with words of love draw near.

Honor, glory, might, and blessing
Be to God: the Father, Son
And the everlasting Spirit,
While eternal ages run.

Unknown author, 5th Century (Vox clara ecce intonat);
translated from Latin to English by Edward Caswall, 1849

Hosanna, now through Advent,
With loving hearts we sing,
For Jesus Christ is coming
To be His children’s king.

Hosanna! blessed Jesus,
Come in our hearts to dwell,
And let our lives and voices
Thy praise and glory tell.

For we who sing hosanna
Must like our Savior be,
In gentleness and meekness,
In love and purity.

Claudia F. Hernaman
Little Children’s Book, Philadelphia, 1885.

We preach not one advent only of Christ, but a second also, far more glorious than the former. For the former gave a view of His patience, but the latter brings with it the crown of a divine kingdom… In His former advent, He was wrapped in swaddling clothes in the manger; in His second, He covers Himself with light as with a garment. In His first coming, He endured the Cross, despising shame; in His second, He comes attended by a host of Angels, receiving glory.

…Our Lord Jesus Christ, then, comes from heaven; and He comes with glory at the end of this world, on the last day. For of this world, there is to be an end, and this created world is to be re-made anew.

Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lecture 15;

http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/310115.htm

We know that there are three comings of the Lord. The third lies between the other two. It is invisible, while the other two are visible… In the first coming he was seen on earth, dwelling among men; he himself testifies that they saw him and hated him. In the final coming all flesh will see the salvation of our God, and they will look on him whom they pierced… 

In case someone should think that what we say about this middle coming is sheer invention, listen to what our Lord himself says: If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him. There is another passage of Scripture which reads: He who fears God will do good, but something further has been said about the one who loves, that is, that he will keep God’s word. Where is God’s word to be kept? Obviously in the heart, as the prophet says: I have hidden your words in my heart, so that I may not sin against you.

Keep God’s word in this way. Let it enter into your very being, let it take possession of your desires and your whole way of life. Feed on goodness, and your soul will delight in its richness. Remember to eat your bread, or your heart will wither away. Fill your soul with richness and strength…

If you keep the word of God in this way, it will also keep you. The Son with the Father will come to you. The great Prophet who will build the new Jerusalem will come, the one who makes all things new. This coming will fulfill what is written: As we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, we shall also bear the likeness of the heavenly man. Just as Adam’s sin spread through all mankind and took hold of all, so Christ, who created and redeemed all, will glorify all, once he takes possession of all.

St. Bernard of Clairvaux
Sermo 5, In Adventu Domini, 1-3:
Opera Omnia, Edit. Cisterc. 4 {1966}, 188-190.

Many parishioners experience Advent as only four days a year on Sunday. We hope these reflections from the Church Triumphant will inspire you as you wait for the memorial of Christ’s coming as a babe in history, and for the imminent return of His second coming.

Posts will automatically come to this button every day at 5 AM CDT. The first post will begin on Sunday, December 1st. We are also including bonus content for the 12 days of Christmas. May God bless you abundantly during this season.