December 1

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Advent is a season of anticipation and as well a season of preparation. As anticipation it recalls the long sojourn of the Chosen People in the land of Egypt and their deliverance from bondage under their great leader and prophet, Moses. As anticipation it is also meant to remind us of the Second Coming of the Son of Man when the entire human family will reach the fulfilment of its deepest desires and attain, if faithful, the promises made to it in the New Covenant. As preparation Advent is meant to prepare us to celebrate in a fitting manner the mystery of God's entry into our human world, that wondrous and amazing event wherein God in the person of the Son comes among us as a little child born of a virgin mother. The voice of the prophets invites us to welcome Him without delay as did His mother Mary and to recognize Him in the crowd as did John the Baptist on the banks of the Jordan. So we make the season a time of prayer, fasting and purification that we may receive Him unreservedly and joyfully into our world and into our minds and hearts.

Emmanuel-God with us! May God be with us always!

Yours sincerely,

Michael Lapierre, S.J.

* Fr. Michael Lapierre, S.J., and the editor John Cheng are currently taking part in this monthly column. While the latter is writing in January, March, and May, etc., the former is doing so in February, April and June, etc. As usual, we take July and August as our summer holidays. The background hymn is a version of "Immaculate Mary". Thank you.

** By the way, we are happy to announce that Tony Ercolani will be helping the present website as the new assistant editor, effective at the beginning of 2004. Praise God!

*** On behalf of Grace Institute of the Holy Eucharist, we wish all our dear readers a truly Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!