Monday Motivation: Advent's Intention

 "Advent is concerned with that very connection between memory and hope which is so necessary to man. Advent’s intention is to awaken the most profound and basic emotional memory within us, namely, the memory of the God who became a child. This is a healing memory; it brings hope. The purpose of the Church's year is continually to rehearse her great history of memories, to awaken the heart's memory so that it can discern the star of hope." - Pope Benedict XVI

St. Laurence O'Toole

St. Lorcán Ua Tuathail, or Laurence O'Toole, was born the youngest son of a king in County Kildare around 1128. At the age of 10, Laurence was sent as a hostage to another king in South Leinster. For two years he was imprisoned and given little food. During this time, Laurence began desiring to enter into religious life.

The abbot of the monastery in Glenalough helped restore relations between the two kings. Laurence was released, and he went to Glenalough. By the time he was 26, he become the abbot of the monastery. He desired to strengthen the bonds between Irish Catholicism and Rome, combining the best of the Gaelic and Frankish-European movements. He invited Augustinian canons from France to help reform Glenalough and wound up joining the Augustinian order himself.

In 1162, and the age of just 32, Laurence became bishop of Dublin. He was elected unanimously at the Synod of Clane. He continued his work of reform, repaired several church buildings, and promoted the use of Gregorian chant. He invited the Augustinians to the cathedral in order to assist in spiritual formation for the diocesan priests. He was also known for helping the poor, offering daily food and establishing orphanages in Dublin.

The King of Yesterday, Today, Forever

Today is the feast of Christ the King, the end of the liturgical year. As it falls the last Sunday before Advent every year, it feels like a deep-rooted tradition. But in terms of Church traditions, it’s actually not that old. It was established in 1925 and only moved to the last Sunday before Advent in 1970. Still, it is a wonderful feast to remind us to prioritize God over worldly powers and influences.

Pope Pius XI established the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe 100 years ago in response to growing secularism and ultra-nationalism. Pope Pius XI wanted to highlight that while worldly powers come and go, Christ is the everlasting ruler, and His teachings do not change. This was also meant to encourage people to live their faith openly and resist compartmentalizing it under the influence of secular culture.

In his encyclical Quas primas (“In the first”) establishing the solemnity, Pope Pius XI said,

“He must reign in our minds, which should assent with perfect submission and firm belief to revealed truths and to the doctrines of Christ.

He must reign in our wills, which should obey the laws and precepts of God.

He must reign in our hearts, which should spurn natural desires and love God above all things, and cleave to him alone.

He must reign in our bodies and in our members, which should serve as instruments for the interior sanctification of our souls, or to use the words of the Apostle Paul, ‘as instruments of justice unto God.’” 

Similar to this year, 1925 was a Jubilee Year. Pope Pius XI emphasized missionary activity, giving him the title “Pope of the Missions.” The world was changing – rapidly – and the pope knew that the Church had to address it.