That sense of joyful preparation combined with anticipation is the attitude we bring to Advent as we await the arrival of Christ the Lord.

As we look ahead to Advent, it almost feels as if nature is paving the way to that time, calling us to let the fading vibrancy of autumn go, and be open to the journey ahead. Change can be wonderful, but it can also be hard.

The shrug also helps us to remember that good people may disagree and still be good people, and that most of us are doing the best we can, by such light as we are given.

The Eucharist, as the source and summit of Christian life, has much to teach us about waiting.

The solution for competing solemnities is to transfer the liturgical celebration of the non-Sunday holy day to the first subsequent available date. Thus, in the year 2024, the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is celebrated in our liturgy on Monday, Dec. 9.

For those of us who have been united through baptism to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the last day of each of our lives does not fade away into eternal night but opens onto a new day, at the height of which we will rest in the glorious splendor of the perpetual light of God, every moment of our lives on this earth held in his eternal memory.

As one of the perpetual pilgrims who traveled with him for the entire two months, I got to experience the adventure of a lifetime.

What emerged from their words was the indomitable will of Ukrainians not to give in to circumstances, to resist and begin again to rebuild what was destroyed, thanks in part to the vital support of the Knights’ organization and Caritas Ukraine.

Salvation history can be told through the questions that appear in Scripture.

Like many, I was appalled at the dehumanizing words and lies spoken about migrants in the recent election, and the joy expressed about the threats to tear families apart by deporting hard working people hoping for citizenship. Words hurt.