Introduction:
In 16th century Milan, when plague struck the city, privileged leaders fled to their private estates and left the common people in destitution and disease. While the city’s leaders fled, their bishop Charles Borromeo hastened to minister to his flock, lead them in prayer, and encourage reasonable health measures be taken. Saint Charles Borromeo’s heroic virtue echoes through the ages and speaks to us today in our own contemporary situation. Specifically, Borromeo’s pastoral message speaks to our society today in his brief reflection included in the Liturgy of the Hours Advent Office of Readings. These readings serves to reorient the Church to God through the timely celebration of Advent. Borromeo emphasizes the import of Advent for recognizing the gift of Christ revealed in our time while eagerly anticipated and longed for throughout salvation history. He further encourages a renewed discernment to prepare for Christ in our own hearts with the arrival of the Christmas season. The sermon is paired with a scriptural excerpt from the book of the prophet Isaiah 1: 21-27; 2: 1-5, and can be prayerfully reflected upon in conjunction with the sermon.
From a pastoral letter by Saint Charles Borromeo, bishop (Acta Ecclesiae Mediolanensis, t. 2, Lugduni, 1683, 916-917)
Beloved, now is the acceptable time spoken of by the Spirit, the day of salvation, peace and reconciliation: the great season of Advent. This is the time eagerly awaited by the patriarchs and prophets, the time that holy Simeon rejoiced at last to see. This is the season that the Church has always celebrated with special solemnity. We too should always observe it with faith and love, offering praise and thanksgiving to the Father for the mercy and love he has shown us in this mystery. In his infinite love for us, though we were sinners, he sent his only Son to free us from the tyranny of Satan, to summon us to heaven, to welcome us into its innermost recesses, to show us truth itself, to train us in right conduct, to plant within us the seeds of virtue, to enrich us with the treasures of his grace, and to make us children of God and heirs of eternal life.
Each year, as the Church recalls this mystery, she urges us to renew the memory of the great love God has shown us. This holy season teaches us that Christ’s coming was not only for the benefit of his contemporaries; his power has still to be communicated to us all. We shall share his power, if, through holy faith and the sacraments, we willingly accept the grace Christ earned for us, and live by that grace and in obedience to Christ.
The Church asks us to understand that Christ, who came once in the flesh, is prepared to come again. When we remove all obstacles to his presence he will come, at any hour and moment, to dwell spiritually in our hearts, bringing with him the riches of his grace.
In her concern for our salvation, our loving mother the Church uses this holy season to teach us through hymns, canticles and other forms of expression, of voice or ritual, used by the Holy Spirit. She shows us how grateful we should be for so great a blessing, and how to gain its benefit: our hearts should be as much prepared for the coming of Christ as if he were still to come into this world. The same lesson is given us for our imitation by the words and example of the holy men of the Old Testament.
