Sermons for Advent and the Christmas Season

E. Rozanne Elder is Professor of History and Director of the Centre for Cistercian and Monastic Studies at Western Michigan University.

• Table of ContentsIntroduction   viiEditorial Note  lxiTable of Abbreviations   lxiiiThe SermonsOn the Lord’s AdventSermon One: On the Six Aspects of Advent   3Sermon Two: On the Reading from Isaiah: The Lord said to Ahaz . . .   13Sermon Three: On the Seven Pillars   19Sermon Four: On the Twofold Coming and the Wings Covered with Silver   27Sermon Five: On the Intermediate Coming and the Threefold Renewal  33Sermon Six: On the Threefold Coming and the Resurrection of the Flesh   36Sermon Seven: On the Threefold Benefit   41On the Eve of the Lord’s BirthSermon One: On the Proclamation of the Lord’s Birth: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is born in Bethlehem of Judea   43Sermon Two: On the Chant: O Judah and Jerusalem   50Sermon Three: On the Chant: Today you shall know that the Lord will come   59Sermon Four: On the Medicine of the Spouse’s Left Hand and the Delights of His Right Hand   70Sermon Five: On the Chant: Make yourselves holy today and be prepared; tomorrow you shall see within you the majesty of God   80Sermon Six: On the Proclamation of His Birth   87 On the Lord’s BirthdaySermon One: On the Five Springs   99Sermon Two: On the Three Comminglings of Divine Power   107Sermon Three: On Christ’s Birth and Passion, On Mary’s Virginity and Fruitfulness   113Sermon Four: On the Lowliness and Humility of Christ’s Birth   120Sermon Five: On the Father of Mercies, Who Has Mercy on Our Many Miseries   124On the Feasts of Saint Stephen, Saint John, and the Holy Innocents   129On the Lord’s CircumcisionSermon One: On the Lord’s Circumcision, the Reason for Circumcision, and the Name ‘Jesus’   133Sermon Two: On the Medicine of Circumcision and Its Value   138Sermon Three: On Spiritual Circumcision   144On the Lord’s EpiphanySermon One: On the Three Appearances   154Sermon Two: On the First Appearance   164Sermon Three: On the Three Appearances, but Chiefly on the First   169On the Octave of Epiphany: On the Second Appearance   176On the First Sunday after the Octave of EpiphanySermon One: On the Gospel Reading, Which Includes the Miracle Performed at the Wedding; and, Before That, On What the Lord Said:You must be like those waiting for their Lord when he returns from the wedding    180Sermon Two: On Changing Water into Wine   185On the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul: How We Ought to Be Converted to His Example   194