THE SOLEMNITY
By Tom Dunham
In the brilliant white silence of a snowy winter landscape, we recently celebrated a joyful yet solemn Christmas cycle filled with the timeless Holy Scriptures known since our childhoods, leading up to the joy of Christmas Day in its deepest spiritual sense.
Our return to Queen of Angels Benedictine Monastery in
Freshly cut fir trees began to appear in carefully selected spots, both inside and outside the monastery, and bit by bit decorations began to multiply, heralding the approaching Feast of Christmas. Ornaments and lights on trees, the Advent Wreath and candles in the dining room, beeswax and terracotta crèche scene figures here and there on tables that we passed daily, all called for us to stop and gaze at their beauty.
Greenery and Oregon holly on stairwell banisters as well as in the window sills and on the lectern and altar in the Chapel, poinsettias, red, cream and variegated, delivered en masse by a local grower, a hundred-year old wax doll baby Jesus made by one of the Sisters from the past in a small wooden cradle, nestled under a soft blanket, located under a stairwell in an daily traveled hallway, all appearing bit by bit and day by day added to the crescendo of the sense of anticipation of the coming of Christ into our midst.
And finally, the appearance in a corner of the upstairs chapel, the beautifully fresh pine-bough covered, rustic crèche with the colorfully painted figures of Mary, Joseph and the Shepherds, the Star of Bethlehem suspended above, nearly completed the decoration process. The anticipation of family visits scheduled for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day added a sense of humanity to the preparations.
Under-girding all of the above mentioned scenes of growing excitement was the quiet, measured, four times daily prayers, where we chanted the Psalmody and listened to the timelessly familiar scriptures concerning the Angel’s annunciation to Zechariah in the Temple and to Elizabeth and Mary. Having sung the Benedictus and Magnificat
As a quiet accompaniment to decorations, add the daily sharing among the sisters about the upcoming Kris Kringle Gift Exchange Party and the evening of carol singing led by the young Benedictine monks coming down the hill from Mt. Angel Abbey for their annual Christmas visit. The artful last touch was the placement of the ceramic figures of the Three Magi in the window sills at the far end of the chapel, waiting to be advanced gradually and daily toward the crèche only finally to arrive on the Day of Epiphany.
For the first time in my life I truly experienced the deepest solemnity and spiritual truths…..the true meaning of Christmas. My heart was filled to bursting with the joy and truth of the faith which, after all these years drew me into the Incarnation as a living member of the Body of Christ. The reality of the Word made Flesh became a tangible part of my being as tears of thanksgiving flooded my eyes and the Angel voices filled the air around me.
Christ is Born, Halleluiah!
