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This Advent, the Norbertine Canons Regular of St. Michael's Abbey invite you to prepare for the birth of Our Lord by drawing nearer to His Mother.
We begin our Advent preparation with two short reflections on the importance of this holy season, both as a time of penance and as an opportunity to grow in devotion to Mary, whose instrumental role as Mother of God is central to Our Lord's Nativity.
We continue our Advent preparation with a very special series on Our Lady of Guadalupe. This groundbreaking Abbot's Circle production traces the incredible story of Our Lady of Guadalupe—the evangelical mission of Spain, the miraculous apparitions in Mexico, and the powerful devotion that continues today across North America—and sets the narrative in its rich theological, cultural, anthropological, and historical contexts.
Join Fr. Ambrose as he speaks with experts from around the world, who offer startling and beautiful insights into this story of faith, conversion, and love. Along the way, Fr. Ambrose will lead us through a Novena to Our Lady, guiding both our hearts and minds into ever greater love for Our Lady and her Son, Jesus Christ.
We'll conclude this series with a true fiesta at the Abbey (including a live stream broadcast of Vespers) on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, December 12. You can learn more about the full schedule here.
We conclude Advent with a reprise of our popular series on the O Antiphons: eight days of Marian prayers based on the themes of these traditional Catholic sung pleas to God.
The O Antiphons are the highlight of vespers during the eight evenings before Christmas, during which they are chanted to the solemn ringing of church bells. These beautiful prayers invoke the most ancient titles of Our Lord (inspired by messianic titles taken from the book of Isaiah). They help convey the urgency and "holy impatience" of the Advent season by imploring Our Lord to come to save us on Christmas day.
Over these eight holy days of prayer and preparation, different members from our community will help explain the meaning of each O Antiphon, as well as offer suggestions on how these timeless prayers can help sharpen our spiritual focus as we approach the Nativity of Our Lord.
Am I not here, I who am your Mother?
SERIES BEGINS DECEMBER 3
O Emmanuel, our King and Giver of Law: come to save us, Lord our God!
SERIES BEGINS DECEMBER 14
The Abbot's Circle is a first-of-its-kind virtual monastery—an evolving, curated library that offers an inside look at the artistic, cultural, intellectual, and spiritual work that the Norbertines of St. Michael’s Abbey carry out each day for the praise and honor of God.
Hidden in the stillness of southern California’s desert mountains, St. Michael’s Abbey goes about a timeless and supernatural mission: the common worship of God. This is a place for all to encounter the unfathomable beauty of God and to enter into the mystery of His unrelenting love.
Against a culture in ever desperate need for beauty, St. Michael’s Abbey stands as a refuge for reverent liturgy, inspiring art, and captivating sacred music and chant. Through our work, we are laying the foundation for the sanctification of our society and a renewal in our Church.
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