Colloquy.
(1) With God the Father Who has chosen me to prepare the ways of His Son.
(2) With Him Who is coming.
(3) With God the Holy Ghost Who is co-operating with me.
(4) With Our Lady who is ready to let me do all my work by her side. (Ecclus. xxiv. 30).
(5) With St. John the Baptist who will obtain for me, if I ask him, the spirit of penance.
Resolution. To examine myself to-day as to the place penance is having in my Advent, and if it has none, to fix at least one daily penitential act.
Spiritual Bouquet. "He was in the deserts."
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST. (2)
His Mission.
"In those days cometh John the Baptist preaching in the desert of Judea.... preaching the baptism of penance unto remission of sins."
(St. Matt. iii. 1. and St. Mark i. 4).
1st. Prelude. John preaching and baptizing by the Jordan.
2nd. Prelude. Gratitude to the "Friend of the Bridegroom" for pointing Him out to the Bride.