A multitude of angels bursting with songs of praise! And shortly before, a solitary angel had appeared and announced the reason for so great a song of praise: "This day in the city of David, a savior has been born to you." Other than a few private visions by some of the prophets and St. John the Evangelist as recorded in the book of Revelation, there is no mention of a multitude of angels. God's messengers usually only came one at a time.

It seems somewhat strange that just a few simple shepherds witnessed this truly awesome spectacle of grace and beauty. Why not wake up the whole town of Bethlehem? Or how about the city of Jerusalem? Or better yet, the whole world for that matter? Why did God not allow His angels to make a worldwide spectacle to announce the coming of His Son? Why a multitude of angels for only a few shepherds? They were indeed a privileged audience and were scared to death! The solitary angel who appeared before the grand multitude of angels had to calm their fears. "You have nothing to fear! I come to proclaim good news to you, tidings of great joy to be shared by the whole people. This day in the city of David a savior has been born to you..."

Humans tend to think that bigger is better. I like to think big myself. During Advent when coming home in the dark from appointments in Boise, Sister M. Beverly and I delight in the sparkling Christmas decorations on various houses and businesses. On more than one occasion like this, I have thought or commented, "Wouldn't it be glorious if every house in the world could turn on Christmas lights and the whole earth would burst forth with a song of light, a visual greeting of light for the One who brought light into the world?"

But even with His magnificent plan to save the human race, God the Father chose only a select, poor group to receive the news of this overwhelming gift of mercy and love. "This day a savior has been born." The long-awaited, promised Messiah has come. Jesus, the Son of God, has come at last to save us. What joyful news! And a big assignment to the shepherds to make this "good news" known. They could not keep the news of this sacred sign to themselves, so they rushed off to the stable in Bethlehem and later told others of all they had seen and heard.

God does not need all the earth's lights turned on at Christmas time. He knows many of His children are too poor to beam lights and He is pleased with their hearts lighted with love and gratitude. Christmas is about salvation. The family celebrations together, exchange of gifts and exquisite decorations are a cherished part of our Christian tradition. But the Christmas message and reason for joy is not just the celebration of the birth of Jesus, important as that is. It is to recall and celebrate God's great and unimaginable gift to us, the salvation for all those who desire it, for those who know they need a savior.

With the many natural disasters in our country and throughout the world, there will be great mourning for so many people over the loss of loved ones, jobs, property and homes this Christmas. The human loss for millions is immense. But for those with faith, there can be the bittersweet joy of knowing God has come to save our immortal souls and the souls of those we love and grieve over.

Let us pray for one another during this holy season of Advent when we wait and long once more to hear those words: "This day in the city of David a savior has been born to you."

Thank you for coming to save us, Lord Jesus, and Happy Birthday!

Dear Friends,

Merry Christmas! As our Christmas gift to you, Father Robert Griffin, S.J. will offer Mass for you from Dec. 24, 2005 through Jan. 1, 2006. We pray for God's blessings on you, your family and community throughout the New Year. We ask the charity of your prayers for us as well. In the Peace of Jesus, Word Incarnate, and with love, Your Hermit Sisters at Marymount.

Father Robert Griffin, S.J. is currently chaplain for the Carmelite Sisters who staff Santa Teresita Hospital in Duarte, CA. We thank Father for spending his Christmas ministering to us. "Merry Christmas" from Sister M. Beverly, Father Bob and Sister Rebecca Mary. Photo taken Christmas, 2004 at Marymount Hermitage

COMMUNITY NEWS

Sister Rebecca Mary would like to publicly thank the many thoughtful persons who sent kind get well notes when she was so sick last summer. With medication she is able to eat fairly normally now and is feeling much better. We are grateful to so many who prayed for her healing. We remember each of you and all our generous friends and benefactors in our daily prayers and spiritual sacrifices.

As we prepare this newsletter for publication, the snow is coming and winter is here. We are ready for this season, thanks in large part to the work of the Knights of Columbus from Risen Christ Parish in Boise. Five men and two women formed a crew and labored all day on a Saturday in October winterizing hermitages and making needed repairs on the buildings. We look forward to their returning in the spring as part of our on-going maintenance needs and their continuing service project here.

Sister Rebecca Mary and I work each day on our individual cottage industries producing hand-made items for sale. We have appreciated the welcome from Boise area pastors and the support of parishioners at our sales there. We try to sell our gift items once a month and this is a major source of income for our community. We typically go to each parish once a year and we have been happy to make news friends in the process.

We are making spiritual preparation for Christmas through our autumn retreat at the Trappist Abbey in Lafayette, Oregon. This year we went later and as a result it rained (as in poured!) each day. We both felt that the rain helped us to be more interiorly quiet and made prolonged and deeper prayer possible. This grace is one for which we will long be grateful to God. We also appreciate the generous hospitality of Abbot Peter McCarthy and the monks of Our Lady of Guadalupe Abbey who host us every year.

The one gift we ask for from the Lord and would appreciate your prayers for is women who want to give their lives to the Lord and to the Church as Hermit Sisters of Mary. The other gift we beseech the Lord for is a permanent, resident hermit chaplain. We ask you to pray for these intentions for us. Thank you and God bless you!

ADVENT OR CHRISTMAS HERMITAGE RETREAT

Consider reserving a hermitage for a solitary retreat during these holy seasons. Join the Hermit Sisters for Lauds and Vespers (and daily Mass, if we have a visiting priest).

Print off a Retreat Application form or call (208) 256-4354.

Come see us and experience God's presence in a special way!

"Glory to God in high heaven,
and peace on earth
to those on whom his favor rests."

Luke 2:14

MARYMOUNT HERMITAGE NEWSLETTER is published by Marymount Hermitage, Inc., a non-profit, tax-exempt corporation in the State of Idaho. The Hermit Sisters of Mary are a canonically approved Catholic community of women hermits following the Rule of St. Benedict. The newsletter is normally published three times a year and is free. The newsletter is sent to our relatives, friends and benefactors so that we might share the spirituality and material progress of Marymount Hermitage. Please pray that we may be faithful to our way of life in prayer and penance, solitude and silence. Any donations to Marymount Hermitage are sincerely appreciated and are tax-deductible.