"Advent of the Heart" Program with PDFs

Advent Starts Sunday, November 30th

the Beginning of the Traditional Cycle of Christmas:

The Mystery of the Incarnation, and a New Liturgical Year!

If you have been following “In Search of the Authentic Life” for some time, you know I am a big fan of the martyr Fr. Alfred Delp and the book ADVENT OF THE HEART, which is essentially an Advent program and compilation of his brilliant writings. There are many posts about Fr. Delp on this blog, you can do a search to the right>>>

Last year, as I was trying to get a prayer group going at my church, using this book, I created 5 PDFs and presented them here. I will post them again below (6 pages total). These can be used for prayer groups, family prayer or distribution.  If you are involved in an existing ministry, consider adding this to your Advent meetings.  It does not have to take a lot of time.  My prayer group never materialized and now I am trying again.  I may add supplemental content.  If so, it will be posted as I complete it.

These printouts are meant to be used in conjunction with the book. They condense each section into a few of the “best” quotes and provide discussion points. It makes it very easy to get started, rather than being overwhelmed by the whole book.

Why have I done this project? Why am I so taken with Delp’s writings? First of all, because they are genius and should be much better known.  Secondly, Delp’s insights are quite relevant for our own times.  He was living under the tyranny of the Nazis, we are living under the tyranny of the global elites who seek to destroy Christendom and usher in their New World Order of total surveillance.  Clearly, a great chastisement is coming and it is not for no reason.  If man refuses to submit to God’s laws, he will be forced to submit to the laws of other men…men who do not have his best interest in mind, but their own interests.  Fr. Delp’s writings are a gift to our times and can help us navigate through them.  They can help us to stay grounded in the midst of the chaos around us, like he did.  And we know…

“In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph!”

What else can you add to this Advent meditation program?  You can be as creative as you wish.  Prayers and discussions about a holy Advent observance, celebration of Christmas, the Christmas liturgical season…even singing Christmas songs. 

Please let us know if you decide to participate and share your experiences, which we may post on the blog.

Advent of the Heart 1st Week PDF

Advent of the Heart 2nd Week PDF

Advent of the Heart 3rd Week PDF

Advent of the Heart 4th Week #1 PDF

Advent of the Heart 4th Week #2 PDF

3rd Week of Advent from "Advent of the Heart" with PDF

Sorry a bit late on this, I’ve been researching the world situation much of my time…mysterious drones, looming world war and an incoming new US administration, it all interrelates in a deeply concerning way.

ADVENT OF THE HEART

+   Third Week of Advent   +

Fr. Alfred Delp, German Martyr

Let us view these writings through the lens of our own times.  All quotes below pertain to Gaudete Sunday, when we are called to be glad…

Opening of the Tridentine Mass (the Mass Fr. Delp would have celebrated):

“Gaudete in Domino Semper!”

“Rejoice in the lord always: again I say, rejoice.  Let your modesty be known to all men: for the Lord is nigh.  Be nothing solicitous: but in every thing by prayer let your petitions be made known to God.  Lord, Thou hast blessed Thy land: Thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob.”

Fr. Delp’s homily, Munich, 1941:

“Someone facing the Ultimate will not be apathetic, not just accept everything simply because it is, and because it does not change, and because it goes on and on, and because it is happening everywhere…every overstepping of boundaries, every boundary violation and every usurping of power leads the whole thing to disaster.  Look at how these great leaders were shattered and how their work was shattered: Alexander, Caesar Augustus, Napoleon…It came when they were not content with the laurel wreath of greatness, but wanted to take the diadem of the Messiah.”

Fr. Delp’s homily, Munich, 1942:

“…we read this wonderful Epistle:

Brethren, rejoice in the Lord…and the peace of God that passes all understanding preserve your hearts and thoughts in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

Are these not images of the promise, and longing, and great questions of Advent?  Are they not images of what should be fulfilled when the veils fall, when the Lord reigns over the land?  Do we not seek a life in which joy would have a place once again?”

From Tegel Prison, Berlin, 1944:

“The great deception begins, the time of noise and crowds, organized feeding-frenzies, and massive festivities.  Until suddenly the earth quakes and the subterranean thunder, which one wanted to drown out with screaming, because one failed to understand it, breaks forth fully and mightily and fills the day with its call to judgment…Only one thing will help, and that is to hear the call of John the Baptist…The view for connections and content will be reopened to life, and the earth will be fruitfully flooded again by the streams of mission, confirmation, and mastery.  These are the streams that still carry the ship of life and lead it onward.  This is the first meaning of Gaudete in Domino.  Separated from the Lord, the whole thing atrophies!  We must keep telling people this.  It is the most important announcement of these days.  And we must know it and visibly live it as examples.”

*** PDF Printable Third Week Advent ***