In previous collects, we have prayed that God stir up His mighty power. Today, we have something a bit different: we ask that God stir up our hearts. This implies that our hearts are, because of sin, pretty static, sad, and lethargic. They need to be awakened by grace to glory, and need to be stirred up by the Holy Spirit to love God and neighbor. Otherwise they will stay cold and hard, and never be a ready place for the Lord.

In particular, as this collect says, our hearts need to be stirred up to prepare God's paths into this world. I find this phrasing interesting. For we know that there is only one path to God: Jesus Christ, the way, the truth, and the life. Nobody comes to God except through Him. On the other hand, God comes to us in many ways through Christ. Whether through creation or prayer, joys or sorrows, friends or foes, weals or woes, God has many ways to speak to us in His Son, but we can easily miss His voice and Word if we have not "made ready the paths."

Advent serves as a time to do so: to make ready to welcome Christ in any way He may come, big or small, and to hear His Word whenever and wherever He may speak. This may mean some massive overhaul in our lives or some simple course correction, but either way it requires constant conversion of stirred up hearts, that we might serve Him "with minds made pure." God is speaking this Advent season. Are you listening?

Reflection Questions

• What is hindering you from preparing paths for God? What keeps you back from being ready for Him and hearing His voice?
• What has God been telling you so far this Advent season? Have you been listening? Are you ready to answer or hesitant?

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.