Advent with St. Oscar Romero 2019
18 Nov 2019
***UPDATE***
If you are looking for the 2020 Advent with St. Óscar Romero Devotional, click here to go to my new website, where you can enter your email address to receive the download link!
**************
Last year during Advent I happened to be reading a book about St. Oscar Romero, the great Salvadoran bishop and martyr. The book included a few excerpts from his Advent homilies in the years just before he was killed, and I was deeply moved by them. As Advent approached this year, I began to think about making an intentional practice of reading those homilies during this holy season. When I discovered that the readings we will hear at Sunday mass this year are the very same ones he preached on in 1977, I knew it was something I wanted to commit to, and something I wanted to make available to all of you as well. The Archbishop Romero Trust very generously granted me permission to excerpt the homilies from their website, and I encourage you to visit it! The full texts of the homilies are available there, in Spanish and in English, and you can also listen to audio recordings of Romero delivering his homilies as radio addresses to his people. What a gift!
The Advent devotional covers the four Sundays of Advent and the Feast of Christmas. Each homily is covered in two sections, with excerpts and a few reflections and suggestions for meditative prayer. In this busy season, this devotional isn’t intended to be another obligation for your to-do list, but rather a place of deep rest and peace. You can turn to each homily on whatever two days you like, or read through both sections at once. On some pages there is a bit of blank space for journaling, but it certainly isn’t required. I believe there are as many different ways of praying as there are human beings; please feel free to be yourself.
There is a box just below this paragraph where you can enter your email address, and you will receive an email with a link to download the PDF of the Advent devotional. Feel free to print it if you like, or just use it on your screen. The devotional is free. My greatest hope is simply to share the wisdom and beauty of this great saint with you.
I’m praying that you will have a rich and beautiful Advent. St. Oscar Romero, pray for us!
Nov 19, 2019 @ 11:28:49
Im about to download this right now. Can’t wait to read your excellent work which makes a lovely addition to the canon of Advent reading! Son proud of you!
Nov 19, 2019 @ 14:10:33
I’m so thrilled to be reading this and to be seeing things in new ways, thanks to the meditations and questions you have shared.
Nov 20, 2019 @ 06:51:07
This is so cool! Always in awe of your spirit and creativity.
Nov 30, 2019 @ 07:10:51
I’m very touched by your experience with Saint Oscar Romero, as a 30 years old Salvadoran I’m very grateful for those who appreciate the time, the words and the things He did while pass through this life. Makes me very happy that people know my country not by the economic issues but by a Saint. Thanks for sharing your meditations and let us review Sain Oscar’s homilies. Blessings!
Dec 12, 2020 @ 08:47:48
HI! Is it possible to still get the 2019 devotional? I’ve been reading the 2020 devotional and have found that it helps me to center myself during this most unusual Advent season. My church book study group is reading the 2019 version. I attend the virtual meetings each Sunday, but have been wondering why I am not finding the specific quotes they mention in discussion. Well…first I have to be reading the correct version. Thank you so much for sharing this and for your devotion to spreading positive, prayerful thoughts of light during a time when many focus on the negative. Advent Blessings to you and your family. Amy Jensen (St. Cloud MN)