Advent Prayer: My Soul in Stillness Waits

On Monday, December 9, Aquinas presented the second installment of this year’s Lecture Series, titled “Lord, Teach Us to Pray!” with three distinct sections. Sr. Gabriella Yi, OP, spoke on “Waiting with Mary, Bearer of the Fire,” followed by Dr. Katherine Haynes on “The Cry of the Poor: Praying from the Heart,” and the evening concluded in Adoration with Lessons and Carols.

Sister Gabriella Yi, O.P. presented a talk entitled “Waiting with Mary, Bearer of the Fire” in which she shared excerpts from a prayer to Our Lady by St. Catherine of Siena. She began with the image of Mary as bearer of the fire of Christ’s divinity hidden under the ashes of her humanity which led to a prayer for her spiritual children to be bearers of the fire of divine charity. The presentation concluded with a reflection on the recently restored Cathedral of Notre Dame as an image of the restoration project God began through the Immaculate Conception of Mary and continues by grace in each of our souls as we wait in stillness with her for the coming of her Son this Christmas.

Katherine Haynes, PhD, presented on the importance of extemporaneous prayer that develops closer relationship with our neighbors and God, and disposes us to be docile to God at work in us. Meditating on the parable of the Importunate Neighbor at Night in Luke 11, Dr. Haynes encouraged everyone to set aside their timidity to practice praying with and for each other, with the serviceability of a trauma unit orderly in what Pope Francis calls the “Field Hospital” of today’s Church. Her handout included a poem and a series of 14 open-ended questions to use as meditation prompts on each of the days remaining in Advent.

The evening concluded in Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament with Lessons and Carols. Mrs. Jacque Trailov read from Isaiah 9. Father Mark Chrismer offered a meditation, and carols were sung by Sister Cecilia Marie, O.P.  Mr. Giovanni Greer assisted as Altar Server. About 50 attended, including several guests from cities across Middle Tennessee. 

The next event in the series, “Jubilee Graces: Pilgrims of Hope” is scheduled for Monday, February 10, 2025, featuring lectures by Sr. Mary Rachel Capets, O.P., and Sr. Anne Catherine Burleigh, O.P.