From a pastoral letter by St. Borromeo, Bishop of Milan.
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 the Church has always celebrated with great 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 mercy, to enrich us with the treasures of grace, 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 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 of ritual. 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 the world. The same lesson is given to us for our imitation by the words and example of the holy men of the Old Testament.
The Three Comings of Christ
From a sermon by St. Bernard, Abbott of Clairvaux
We know that there are three comings of the Lord. The third lies between the other two. It is invisible, while the other two are visible. In the first coming, He was seen on earth, dwelling among men; He Himself testifies that they saw him and many did not receive Him. In the final coming, all flesh will see the salvation of our God, and they will look on him whom they pierced. The intermediate coming is a hidden one; in which the Lord comes into our hearts. In the first coming our Lord came in our flesh and in our weakness; in this middle coming He comes in spirit and in power; in the final coming He will be seen in glory and majesty.
Because this second coming lies between the other two, it is like a road on which we travel from the first coming to the last coming. In the first, Christ was our redemption; in the last, He will appear as our life; in this middle coming, He is our rest and consolation.
In case someone should think that what we say about this middle coming is sheer invention, listen to what our Lord himself says: “If anyone loves me, he will be true to my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him”. There is another passage of scripture which reads: “He who fears the Lord will do good”, but something further has been said about the one who loves, that is, that he will keep God’s word. Where is God’s word to be kept? Obviously in the heart, as the prophet says: “I have hidden your words in my heart, so that I may not sin against you”.
Keep God’s word in this way. Let it enter into your very being; let it take possession of your desires and your whole way of life. Feed on goodness, and your soul will delight in its riches. Remember to eat your bread, or your heart will wither away. Fill your soul with richness and strength.
If you keep the word of God in this way, it will also keep you. The Son with the Father will come to you. The great Prophet who will build the New Jerusalem will come, the one who makes all things new. This coming will fulfill what was written: As we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, we shall also bear the likeness of the heavenly man. Just as Adam’s sin spread through all mankind and took hold of all, so Christ, who created and redeemed all, will glorify all, once he takes possession of all.
