Peter Celano - Christmas with the Holy Fathers

PERMISSIONS AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

S ELECTIONS FROM THE WRITINGS of the Holy Fathers that predate World War II are taken from a variety of sources. Most of the selections from the sermons of Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, as well as other modern Holy Fathers, are taken from the Vatican's Web site, and all are used by permission. They are copyright 2008 by Libreria Editrice Vaticana. The selections from Pope Paul VI's Reflections at Nazareth are taken from The Pope Speaks, Vol. 9, no. 3, 1964.

ABOUT PARACLETE PRESS

Who We Are

Paraclete Press is a publisher of books, recordings, and DVDs on Christian spirituality. Our publishing represents a full expression of Christian belief and practicefrom Catholic to Evangelical, from Protestant to Orthodox.

We are the publishing arm of the Community of Jesus, an ecumenical monastic community in the Benedictine tradition. As such, we are uniquely positioned in the marketplace without connection to a large corporation and with informal relationships to many branches and denominations of faith.

What We Are Doing
Books

Paraclete publishes books that show the richness and depth of what it means to be Christian. Although Benedictine spirituality is at the heart of all that we do, we publish books that reflect the Christian experience across many cultures, time periods, and houses of worship. We publish books that nourish the vibrant life of the church and its peoplebooks about spiritual practice, formation, history, ideas, and customs.

We have several different series, including the best-selling Paraclete Essentials and Paraclete Giants series of classic texts in contemporary English; Voices from the Monasterymen and women monastics writing about living a spiritual life today; award-winning poetry; best-selling gift books for children on the occasions of baptism and first communion; and the Active Prayer Series that brings creativity and liveliness to any life of prayer.

Recordings

From Gregorian chant to contemporary American choral works, our music recordings celebrate sacred choral music through the centuries. Paraclete distributes the recordings of the internationally acclaimed choir Gloria Dei Cantores, praised for their rapt and fathomless spiritual intensity by American Record Guide, and the Glori Dei Cantores Schola, which specializes in the study and performance of Gregorian chant. Paraclete is also the exclusive North American distributor of the recordings of the Monastic Choir of St. Peter's Abbey in Solesmes, France, long considered to be a leading authority on Gregorian chant.

DVDs

Our videos offer spiritual help, healing, and biblical guidance for life issues: grief and loss, marriage, forgiveness, anger management, facing death, and spiritual formation.

Learn more about us at our website: www.paracletepress.com, or call us toll-free at 1-800-451-5006.

THE MEANING OF ADVENT

T HE NAME ADVENT comes from the Latin word advenire (to come to), and refers to the coming of Jesus Christ to earth. This is the time of year during which the people of God begin preparing for the celebration of the Feast of Christmas that is to come, the annual birth of our Savior who comes into our midst.

The mystery of the Advent season is captured in remembering the original coming of Christ, as well as the Second Coming that we await in the future. The Messiah, the chosen one, will arrive in humble circumstances, foretold by the prophets. As Gabriel said to Mary, Do not be afraid; you have won God's favour. Look! You are to conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David; he will rule over the House of Jacob for ever and his reign will have no end. (Luke 1:3033)

He lives among us; he is Emmanuel, God with us. And that babe from the manger will come again in bodily form, and his kingdom shall have no end.

According to the customs of the ancient Church, the observance of Advent once included fasting for a period of forty days, just as we do during Lent, today. But during the Middle Ages, Advent was changed to a four-week period. The first Sunday of Advent is always the Sunday closest to November 30, the Feast of St. Andrew, and the fourth Sunday of Advent is always the Sunday before December 25.

In the pages that follow, you will be able to join the Holy Fathers in the great expectation and then celebration of the birth of the Messiah. Then ponder, explore, and celebrate with the Church of ages past, as we strive to make the birth of Christ real and present in our lives, today.