It seems silly that in this season of Advent all I have been able to think of is the Easter Vigil. A vision of darkness lit by the tiniest of candles: I recall in my mind's eye the deacon in my home parish pacing back and forth as he preaches. I must have been about 15 years old, and now, a lifetime away from that moment, his words echo in my ears: God works in darkness.

"O God of Humor, enable us to laugh at your mischievous plans."

From A Nun's Life podcasts - When you follow the liturgical calendar, note the number of men, especially from the hierarchy, says Sr. Elizabeth Johnson, and consider adding to it, with local saints.

One recent Saturday afternoon I made a quick trip to a drugstore, squeezing it in between a couple projects I had planned for the afternoon. It was a November day, and the cold misty rain had a welcome freshness about it.

Adrian Dominican Sr. Nancyann Turner is the children's program manager at the Capuchin Soup Kitchen in Detroit, where her clients barely have enough to survive on, let alone buy expensive Christmas gifts — or in some cases, any gifts at all.

Despite the imposing proximity of the wall separating Bethlehem from Israel, the Caritas Baby Hospital is a point of light for thousands of patients each year. Within its airy corridors, the staff, including the Franciscan Elizabethan Sisters of Padua, annually cares for more than 40,000 children, newborn to age 14, from all over the West Bank and Gaza — and offers respite for their mothers.

"O God of Quiet, come! Whisper in our waiting hearts what you ask of us."

On the fourth Sunday of Advent, Benedictine Fr. Christopher Kirchnessnerr reminded us at Mass that it is "our responsibility to bring the excitement of our loving God into this hurting world!" This message was timely, especially since my mind had been pondering the devastations of the world.

Notes from the Field - The community of Dilla, Ethiopia, and its Mass celebrations at Mary Help of Christians Church, helped me understand what it truly means to celebrate the passion and death of the Lord.

"A puddle frozen shows the rhythm of life frozen in time."