8
DECEMBER 2025 - JANUARY 2026 | DENVER CATHOLIC
S
t. Ignatius Loyola helps us remember the
purpose of life. We are "created to praise,
reverence and serve God our Lord" (#23,
Spiritual Exercises). Everything flows from this
truth; everything should point us back to this
truth. Let's make it an ongoing prayer this Advent.
"Lord, at this office party, I want to praise you."
Be friendly to your annoying colleague.
"At this Christmas pageant, I want to praise
you."
Enjoy the goofy costumes and the awkward
middle schoolers.
At Walmart: praise him. Wait patiently in line;
trust that grandpa will like the hat. More impor-
tantly, he loves you.
God did the opposite. God became man for
us. The Lord of all creation became a tiny child,
born in a manger. He went further: he becomes
food for us at every Mass, transforming bread
and wine into his Body and Blood. He dwells
within us when we receive him at communion:
God with us.
Enter this Advent "free from anxieties."
Remember the reason for the season, "to praise,
reverence and serve God our Lord," who became
man for us.
Enjoy watching Elf with your relatives and
baking cookies with the kids.
Mary trusted and hoped in that first Advent.
St. Joseph did the best he could in an imperfect
situation, preparing a barn for the Son of God.
Jesus came into a chaotic, distracted and
self-absorbed world. He is the opposite. He was
held in the arms of Mother Mary and kissed with
her lips. We kiss him each time we receive the
Eucharist.
This Advent, Jesus does the opposite for us.
"O Come, O Come Emmanuel!"
We are
created
to praise,
reverence
and serve
God our
Lord."
ST. IGNATIUS
LOYOLA
303-688-4198 x122
reservations@sacredheartretreat.org
