Mary: our model of hope in this season of Advent

Advent focuses on the coming of the Lord, and this is at the heart of our faith.  Through the incarnation, God has revealed Himself to us.  He has come down to us, in our sinfulness, to save us, and there is salvation in no one and nothing else. 

By the virtue of hope, we trust that God will provide us with whatever means are necessary for our sanctification– the graces, trials and encouragement needed for our personal growth in holiness.  Whatever state of life we are in, whatever situation we find ourselves in, Jesus is leading us to Himself.  So, our Advent hope does not demand anything extraordinary in order to grow.  We only have to turn to Him, in the present moment, for guidance and strength.

Advent is very pertinent to the times in which we live, for we are in an age that trusts in itself and its own abilities.  In many ways, we have lost our hunger for God, and feed off of the world instead.  But the hope of Advent is that Jesus has come and will come again.  In this liturgical season, we invite Him into our hearts yet again, to renew our trust and confidence in Him as Savior. 

For us Pauline missionaries, Mary is our model of hope; her response to the Archangel Gabriel was to “Let it be done to me according to your word.”  She trusted in the Lord, offering herself totally to God and His plan for her life.  She shows us how to renew our hope in God by submitting to His plan in our lives and trusting in His word that His life may be born anew in us.  Mother Mary, pray for us!

The Pauline Family remembers Blessed James Alberione on his death anniversary

We, the members of the Pauline Family worldwide, will commemorate on November 26 the death anniversary of Blessed James Alberione, our founder, with thanksgiving masses and various Pauline celebrations. 

Blessed James, considered as one of the most creative apostles of the 20th century, was born in 1884 in Italy and was known to be pious from youth. He entered the seminary at the age of 16 and was ordained priest at the age of 23.

He became known as the communicator of the Gospel, tirelessly preaching the Word of God to all peoples in the spirit of St. Paul the apostle, using the modern means of communication. He also promoted the printing of popular editions of the Holy Bible and used periodicals, magazines, and books to help spread the teachings of Christ.

Pope Paul VI, who visited him in his last hours in 1971, described him as “humble, silent, tireless, always vigilant, and recollected in his thoughts which run from prayer to action.”

Blessed Alberione reminds us today, as he did before to all the members of the Pauline Family, of the importance of focusing our gaze on our sanctity of life. He said: "We need saints to go before us on these paths—paths that have never been trodden before and which in part are not even clearly marked out. These are not matters for superficial people, but for true apostles. Find the necessary light before the tabernacle, and the grace of perseverance through the universal mediation of the Virgin Mary."