Pope John Paul II - Advent and Christmas Wisdom from Pope John Paul II: Daily Scripture and Prayers Together with Pope John Paul II’s Own Words

from

Daily Scripture and Prayers
Together With
Pope John Paul IIs Own Words

Compiled by John V. Kruse, PhD

Imprimi Potest:
Thomas D. Picton, C.Ss.R.
Provincial, Denver Province
The Redemptorists

Published by Liguori Publications
Liguori, Missouri
www.liguori.org

Compilation, Prayer, and Action Copyright 2006 by John V. Kruse

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

John Paul II, 19202005.
Advent and Christmas wisdom from Pope John Paul II : daily scripture and prayers together with Pope John Paul IIs own words / compiled by John V. Kruse.1st ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 978-0-7648-1510-2
1. AdventPrayer-books and devotionsEnglish. 2. ChristmasPrayer-books and devotionsEnglish. 3. Catholic ChurchPrayer-books and devotionsEnglish. I. Kruse, John V. II. Title.
BX2170.A4J64 2006
242.33dc22 2006018685

Scripture citations are taken from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

Quotes from Pope John Paul II are copyrighted by Libreria Editrice Vaticana.

The English translation of the Confiteor from The Roman Missal 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. (ICEL); excerpts from the English translation of TheLiturgy of the Hours 1974, ICEL. All rights reserved.

The English translation of the Canticle of Simeon by the International Consultation on English Texts.

Printed in the United States of America
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T ODAY THE SEASON OF A DVENT BEGINS , the journey of spiritual renewal in preparation for Christmas. The voices of the prophets who proclaim the Messiah ring out in the liturgy asking for conversion of heart and for prayer. John the Baptist, the last of these and the greatest, cries out: Prepare the way of the Lord! (Luke 3:4), because he will come to visit his people in peace.

Come Christ, Prince of Peace! Preparing for his birth means reawakening the hope of peace in ourselves and throughout the world. Build peace in hearts first of all, by laying down the weapons of rancor, revenge, and every form of selfishness.

P OPE J OHN P AUL II, A NGELUS, N OVEMBER 30, 2003

F ROM EARLY IN HIS PONTIFICATE , it became clear that Pope John Paul II desired to lead the Church into the third millennium. During the millennial celebration, he sought to instill a fuller appreciation of the significance of the Incarnation, a cause of great hope and rejoicing for all of humankind. He called all the faithful to a deeper and renewed relationship with Christ. In addition, he sought to make the jubilee year one of healing, forgiveness, and reconciliation in the world. As expressed in his apostolic letter, Novo millennio ineunte, a central theme for the jubilee celebration of the new millennium was Hebrews 13:8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. In fact, the Latin Christusheri, hodie, semper, or Christ yesterday, today, forever, appeared on the official logo for the millennial jubilee. This threefold theme of the advent of the new millennium summarizes our encounter with Christ in every Advent season. We remember Christs Incarnation over two thousand years ago. We yearn for and welcome Christs presence in our lives today. We look forward to the future coming of Christ in glory. Through his prophetic words and inspiring example, Pope John Paul II courageously led the Church into the third millennium. May he similarly guide us in our encounter with Christ this Advent and Christmas.

Adventthat period of great anticipatory joyis a time of preparation for the celebration of Jesus arrival in Bethlehem as a helpless infant. In the Western liturgy, Advent begins four Sundays prior to December 25the Sunday closest to November 30, which is the feast of Saint Andrew, Jesus first disciple. The annual commemoration of Jesus birth begins the Christmas cycle of the liturgical yeara cycle that runs from Christmas Eve to the Sunday after the feast of the Epiphany. In keeping with the unfolding of the message of the liturgical year, this book is designed to be used during the entire period from the First Sunday of Advent to the end of the Christmas cycle. The four weeks of Advent are often thought of as symbolizing the four different ways that Jesus comes into the world: (1) at his birth as a helpless infant at Bethlehem; (2) at his arrival in the hearts of believers; (3) at his death; and (4) at his arrival on Judgment Day.

Because Christmas falls on a different day of the week each year, the fourth week of Advent is never really finished; it is abruptly, joyously, and solemnly abrogated by the annual coming again of Jesus at Christmas. Christs Second Coming will also one day abruptly interrupt our sojourn here on earth.

Since the calendar dictates the number of days in Advent, this book includes Scripture and meditation readings for a full twenty-eight days. These twenty-eight daily readings make up , these may be read by doubling up days, if so desired, or by reading two entries on weekends. Alternately, one may just skip these entries that do not fit within the Advent time frame for that particular year.

of this book proposes two optional formats for using each daily entry as part of a longer liturgical observance similar to Night Prayer combined with a version of the Office of Readings. These options are for those who may wish to use this book as part of a more-developed individual or group observance. The purpose of these readings is to enrich the Advent/Christmas/Epiphany season of the liturgical year and set up a means by which individuals, families, or groups may observe the true meaning of the season.

D earest Brothers and Sisters[:] With todays first Sunday of Advent, a new liturgical year begins. The Church takes up her journey again, and invites us to reflect more intensely on the mystery of Christ, a mystery that is always new and that time cannot exhaust. Christ is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. Thanks to him, the history of humanity proceeds as a pilgrimage toward the fulfillment of the Kingdom which he inaugurated with his Incarnation and victory over sin and death.