All of a sudden, our collect makes us feel like we are in Lent rather than Advent. It is invoking the mercy of God, which often happens as we approach the celebration of Good Friday and Easter Sunday, and yet today, after rejoicing with joy yesterday and being made ready for Christmas quite soon, we are praying, pleading, and begging God for mercy. Could it be because Christmas isn’t just about the warmth of family and a cute Nativity scene, but is in fact about hearts being transformed and sin being cast out by an encounter with the living God?

Scour the pages of the Bible and you will see that encountering God was not a simple, daily happening—it was terrifying. The people of Israel didn’t want to approach the mountain, for the thunder and lightning and earthquakes and trumpets that signaled God’s Presence were too overwhelming for them. Everyone who sees the Lord in the Old Testament frets that they will soon die. And while it is surely easier to approach Jesus as one of us, even as a babe in the manger, we cannot forget for His closeness that He is still God: even the disciples and apostles are struck with fear when Jesus calms storms and performs miracles. “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God!” (Heb. 10:31).

Hence, we are in need of mercy this day, lest God appear and we die from and in our sins. We are in need of mercy every day, for on our own, we have nothing to claim but our sinfulness. Interestingly, we ask God’s ear to be merciful today, for without such a merciful hearing, we have no hope of even our prayers being heard and answered, much less our sins forgiven. The Church is very humble in Her this prayer, recognizing the sinfulness of Her members, yet also knowing the truth of God’s justice and mercy. He delights to show us mercy, and today we hope to have such a merciful audience with the Most High!

Reflection Questions

• Am I seeking and giving mercy this Advent season?
• Do I have too “small” a view of Christmas? Do I recognize that it is an encounter with God Himself?

The Cristeros Rule of Life

As Cristeros, we dedicate ourselves to a a life of true devotion to Jesus through Mary, particularly in the form of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Our Lady of Guadalupe, Pray for Us.

We begin our days with a Morning Offering dedicating our day:

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day, in union with the holy sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, for the remission of my sins, for the intentions of my family and friends, and in particular for the intentions of the Holy Father. Amen.

At a high or low point during the day, we pray to the Holy Spirit, handing over our accomplishments or sufferings:

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of thy faithful, and enkindle in us the fire of thy love, send forth thy spirit and we shall be created, and though shall renew the face of the earth. Amen.

At some point each day, on our own or with our family or friends, we pray to our Mother Mary in the form of Guadalupe, giving all that we have and are to Jesus through Mary by reciting one of the following:

• A daily Rosary, focusing on the Fruits of the Mystery.
• The Hail Holy Queen

Every night before we go to sleep, by ourselves or with our wife, we pray a nightly examine using the ACTS formula:

• Adoration: We adore you and Christ and we bless You, because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.
• Contrition: Ask God for forgiveness for all the times you have sinned or fallen short that day,
• Thanksgiving: Thank God for all the gifts he has given you that day, including the grace for those moments you have acted virtuously and towards the Good.
• Supplication: We ask God for his blessings that night and the next day, either with particular requests or in general, and end with a prayer dedicating ourselves to Him through Our Lady of Guadalupe: All that we have and all that we are, we give to your hands Jesus, through the heart of Mary, your blessed mother. Amen. Our Lady of Gudalupe, Pray For us.