4th Sunday in Advent

Today we light the 4th and last candle on our Advent wreath as we celebrate the fourth Sunday of Advent.  Our preparation for Christmas is almost finished...THE BIRTH OF JESUS is now imminent. Very soon we will be celebrating the memory of that great event. Today’s Mass prepares us for the Christmas celebration. It is appropriate that the readings for this Sunday are so pregnant with hope and anticipation; they mirror and magnify the excitement that comes with true waiting, knowing we are on the cusp of experiencing God's unlimited love made manifest to us once again.
Today the Pope in his Sunday Angelus spoke of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to her cousin, Elisabeth – the episode narrated during the Gospel reading for the day. 
The Holy Father focused on hospitality as he said, " Wherever there are those who welcome one another, where there is careful attention, wherever there are people who make room for another,” he said, “there is God – and the joy that comes from Him."  
“Let us imitate Mary in the Christmas season, visiting to those who are experiencing difficulty, especially the sick, the imprisoned, the elderly and little children,” prayed Pope Benedict, “and let us also imitate Elisabeth, who received her guest as God, Himself.” The Pope concluded by asking the faithful to pray that all men might seek God earnestly, and find that it is God Himself who comes first to visit us.” 
 

Pope Benedict XVI on Gaudete Sunday

This third Sunday of Advent is called "Gaudete Sunday" -- "Rejoice," we are called to rejoice because the Lord is near. . . the "nearness" of God is not a question of space and time, but rather a question of love: Love is near! Christmas will come to remind us of this fundamental truth of our faith and, before the crèche, taste Christian joy, contemplating in the face of the newborn Jesus the God who drew near to us for love. As we renew our hope in Jesus and look forward to His coming, may we experience in our lives the deep joy of His salvation . . . who in His birth brings God's benediction to men.
Pope Benedict XVI

Wordless Wednesday ~ Photos of Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Malta 2010

Collages created from photos taken from TV transmission

If you click on the pictures, you can view enlarged images.

The Pope passed close to our homes today...and remains in our hearts

~ Pope Benedict XVI's Visit to Malta 2010 ~

A Pilgrim following in St Paul's footsteps

Early around nine this morning as the skies sprinkled light showers, I set out with camera in hand, wearing a rain jacket over summer wear as it was quite warm, and walked to our nearby village of Balzan. Crowds were beginning to gather along the streets where Pope Benedict XVI was due to pass through on his way to the Granaries Square in Floriana to celebrate Holy Mass.

In this first picture you can see people getting ready to welcome the Pope.

And here is the Police escorting the Popemobile as people were waving flags and taking pictures while trying to get a good glimpse of the Pope waving and smiling at everyone.

And this is the closest photo I could take before Pope Benedict XVI

passed by, so I quickly clicked and then waved...

it was a special moment!

Now I realise that I saw him from quite close, in fact I think it's the closest I ever got to being near any Pope.

This is the third one I've been fortunate enough to see in real life,

(... hmm am I giving away my age here LOL!)

I have memories of seeing Pope Paul VI when I visited

the Vatican, then again my husband and I had travelled

many miles to see Ven Pope John Paul II when we lived in Canada

and we saw him once more when we came back to the island

and he had passed right beneath

our balcony on his last visit to Malta.

This has been definitely a very memorable day for all

Maltese and Gozitans and we will cherish the memory

for a long time to come.

The Pope's Homily

~I will be posting more pictures soon~