Five of the six sermons in this series were archived for several years, and never produced after they were first preached during Advent of 1996. The first presentation, which we have previously released, is regarding the season of Advent itself and what it really means: Preparation for the Lord’s coming at Christmas.
The real question is how do we prepare for the Lord’s coming. The preparation is spiritual and moral. It takes place one person at a time, and what is prepared is a fit dwelling place for the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. This fitting dwelling place for Jesus is a soul in a state of grace.
The next five presentations concern ways of accomplishing this preparation. Humility is the most fundamental and essential way the soul is prepared for the Lord’s coming. Humility is the acknowledgment of Truth; the truth of who God is and who the creature is. God is everything. We are very small, but God loves the littleness of His children.
By forming the conscience to the objective and eternal Truth who is Jesus, the soul is set free. In other words, only in truth is there true freedom. Thus liberated by Truth the human person becomes who he was created to be: the Body of Christ, the Church.
This preparation does not come without a fight. As the Church teaches, “The whole history of mankind is revealed as dour combat with the forces of evil.” We are called to be spiritual warriors in God’s army. Without a fight there can be no victory.
The fifth presentation is a slightly different version of Father’s personal testimony, one wherein he reveals how God confirmed his vocation through the voice of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen.
The end of the retreat is a sermon on the holy Eucharist. The coming of Jesus at Christmas, which we prepare for during the season of Advent, is truly, really, and substantially brought about in the Holy Eucharist, remembering that “Bethlehem” means “House of Bread.” The soul prepared for the coming of the Lord is prepared to receive Jesus in holy Communion, the “Bread of Life.” Such a soul when in a state of grace is a place ready for the coming of the Lord.
The titles of the Advent Retreat are:
1. Advent Means Preparation for the Lord's Coming
2. Humility Is Preparation for the Lord's Coming
3. Only in Truth Can We Be Free
4. Battle Cry!
5. "To Deliver Children in the Name of Truth"--A Testimony
6. The Holy Eucharist: The Lord's True Coming