2016 Schoenstatt Scotland

His first arrival in the world is in a manger; the cattle are there chewing their hay and all around is profound silence, insufficiency, meekness and innocence

Angel voices are discerned in the sky, pronouncing peace; a peace which the new baby has brought forth. His first worshippers are Mary and Joseph and after these, numerous humble shepherds having travelled downwards from the hills, led by angel voices. Some time afterwards comes a caravan of distinguished individuals guided from afar by a star, offering treasurable gifts, full of mysterious meaning. Everything that night at Bethlehem communicated a language that

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Advent Calendar 2016 At the hour appointed by the laws of human nature he has assumed the Word of God, now made man, and issues from the holy shrine, the immaculate womb of Mary

Day 1

24th December

2016 Schoenstatt Scotland

the entire world could comprehend. Pondering this mystery, every knee should bend in adoration before the crib. Everyone will look into the eyes of the divine infant which gaze into the distance, almost as if he could see one by one all the peoples of the earth, one after the other. In this season of Advent we have been preparing our souls to receive Christ worthily. And now he is born. He is amongst us in total identification, revealing the Father, the way of the kingdom, and opening the way for salvation and healing of all humanity. This babe you see before you is the Saviour. This child is the Son of God. Jospeh’s son in the Lord of history. And so the mystery of God’s purpose can be laid bare. The Christmas season is one for rejoicing for it’s the time of the miracle of God’s presence with us and within us. It is God’s new way in the world. It works not from the outside in, but from the inside out. God doesn’t merely visit us in our world, God becomes a human. His way is not from outside and above, but from with us, and as one of us.

We are healed by this new Adam’s renewing presence. It is a complete renewal of humanity, a second chance! The Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary beg, that you, like we, become like the shepherds of the Christmas story, seeking, finding and reverencing the babe who is the King, having prepared a place for him in our hearts and lives.

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The Schoenstatt Sister of Mary, hope that you have enjoyed receiving the Advent Calendar and we take this opportunity of wishing you and yours, a most happy and Holy Christmas, and every blessing from the Shrine, here at Schoenstatt Scotland.

Be Joyful and rest in my presence with and within you.