Featured Testimonial About Creighton University
By the Rev. Francis G. Deglman, SJ
The season of Advent is a season of joyous expectancy.
It is the preparation for the coming of the Christ-Child. As for 4,000 years the world looked in hope for the coming Redeemer, so Mother Church urges us during four weeks to prepare our hearts in faith and hope and love for a renewed increase in the fruits of the Redemption.
To achieve this in the souls of man, this period of Advent should be a real preparation, and not an anticipated Christmas season. Too frequently, because of commercial interests and material outlook, the meaning of Advent is shoved aside for rounds of enjoyments and entertainments, not in accord with a worthy longing for the Christ Child.
Were we to except a great visitor in our home, all attention would be given to preparing for him a hearty welcome. There would be house-cleaning and washing and baking and planning — not lounging about listlessly, nor feasting on the good things beforehand, nor enjoying the parties and festivities as though he had already come.
In like manner, there must be busy house-cleaning for His reception. Our souls must be purified by penance and self-denials. There must be beautifyings and decorations through a renewed striving for the virtues of humanity and charity. There must be plannings of entertaining Him on His arrival in His friends — our fellowmen, the poor especially. Serious Advent preparations mean abundant Christmas joy.
(Note: For more than 20 years, Fr. Deglman submitted a weekly column to the Creightonian called “Student Counselor Says.” The essay above was published on Dec. 5, 1947.)
