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Come, Lord Jesus: Meditations on the Art of Waiting
These Advent reflections by the abbess of a Poor Clare monastery, an accomplished spiritual writer, focus our attention on the coming of Jesus into our lives. There is a double movement to this coming; both our active preparation to be ready for him and our patient waiting for the Lord to arrive in his own good time. There is also an art to this simultaneous preparation and waiting, and no one knows better than the beloved Mother Mary Francis how to encourage us in our attempts to master this art.
Meditating on passages from Scripture about the coming of the Messiah into the world and our hearts, Mother challenges us to persevere in overcoming our faults and keeping our eyes on the Lord who has called us to himself-for it is he, through the gifts of his grace, who will complete in us the work of sanctification which he has begun.
Though written for Advent, the wisdom of Mother Mary Francis collected by her sisters is profitable at any time because a Christian life is one of constant growth into the very likeness of God.
"But it is a wonderful thing that we are not happy with ourselves, because the most terrible thing would be that we are at peace with our faults, absorbed in ourselves, blaming our faults on other people...the tenderness, the sweetness of Advent is wedded to that great mystery which begins with the Now is the time. Now is the hour. Wake up and be made perfect in holiness." - Mother Mary Francis, P.C.C.
Meditating on passages from Scripture about the coming of the Messiah into the world and our hearts, Mother challenges us to persevere in overcoming our faults and keeping our eyes on the Lord who has called us to himself-for it is he, through the gifts of his grace, who will complete in us the work of sanctification which he has begun.
Though written for Advent, the wisdom of Mother Mary Francis collected by her sisters is profitable at any time because a Christian life is one of constant growth into the very likeness of God.
"But it is a wonderful thing that we are not happy with ourselves, because the most terrible thing would be that we are at peace with our faults, absorbed in ourselves, blaming our faults on other people...the tenderness, the sweetness of Advent is wedded to that great mystery which begins with the Now is the time. Now is the hour. Wake up and be made perfect in holiness." - Mother Mary Francis, P.C.C.
225 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 27, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
November 11, 2024
This is the greatest, most profound book I have ever read. I recommend this to any and everyone.
It walks through each day of Advent, but simply applies to all seasons of life as we are all beings waiting for something.
The way the author writes guides you through prayer, loves you, but also challenges you to fix the posture of your heart on the Lord.
“This is placing our life at the service of his plan. There is a sense in which all Scripture was revealed in our Lady. All of our Lord's teaching about love, about humility, about throwing your life away if you want to keep it, about lowering yourself if you would be exalted, was fulfilled in her. Doubtless she would have said to others, "Look at him." I wonder if perhaps we will find out in eternity how many times he said, "Look at her." Should he not be able to say of his followers, "Look at them. My Scripture, my Word, is being fulfilled in them." In the Divine Office, at the Holy Eucharist, I am a "word" of the Lord. How is it spoken? Is it spoken with intention, with devotedness, with focusedness, with energy, with enthusiasm? We should make the Word more clear, not only when we read i, but much more when we live it, when we perform it.”
We constantly anticipate the wrong things so we rush to the end and don’t walk through the path with open heart and mind overflowing with love. God always has something wonderful in mind, so live in the joy of anticipation.
This book will meet you where you are!
It walks through each day of Advent, but simply applies to all seasons of life as we are all beings waiting for something.
The way the author writes guides you through prayer, loves you, but also challenges you to fix the posture of your heart on the Lord.
“This is placing our life at the service of his plan. There is a sense in which all Scripture was revealed in our Lady. All of our Lord's teaching about love, about humility, about throwing your life away if you want to keep it, about lowering yourself if you would be exalted, was fulfilled in her. Doubtless she would have said to others, "Look at him." I wonder if perhaps we will find out in eternity how many times he said, "Look at her." Should he not be able to say of his followers, "Look at them. My Scripture, my Word, is being fulfilled in them." In the Divine Office, at the Holy Eucharist, I am a "word" of the Lord. How is it spoken? Is it spoken with intention, with devotedness, with focusedness, with energy, with enthusiasm? We should make the Word more clear, not only when we read i, but much more when we live it, when we perform it.”
We constantly anticipate the wrong things so we rush to the end and don’t walk through the path with open heart and mind overflowing with love. God always has something wonderful in mind, so live in the joy of anticipation.
This book will meet you where you are!
January 4, 2023
My fifth time reading this during the season of Advent, and it never fails to hit home. A balm for the soul in all seasons of life, Mother Mary Francis is joyful, encouraging, truthful, and begging the reader to be ever close to the Lord.
December 25, 2024
“This feast should make us feel very close to [Mary], as we ask her to help us understand what it means to have a cleaned heart. This is at the very heart of our own Franciscan charism: the spirit of conversion, that we are always asking to be forgiven, not in a craven way but in a determined way, always wanting to be cleaned.
It is a joyful thing to come humbly before God and say, ‘I want to come with a clean heart because I have been so often cleaned by you.’ Every time we confess our faults, every time that we face the truth without the depression born of pride, we are cleaned, and we can come with a clean heart to him.
For us to come with a clean heart to God, as the Church asks us to pray, means that I come as one cleansed. And if I have had to be cleansed several million times, that can be transliterated very accurately as saying I have been loved by God several million times, because he has never said, "I've had enough. I cleaned you the last time." But every time he wants to clean us so that we can come to him with a clean heart.
And so, if God shows us our faults or they are lovingly pointed out to us, and we think we are being rubbed very hard and are feeling sorry for ourselves, it is only because God is so intent on cleaning us, so intent on cleansing us: this is a big spot, it needs some hard rubbing; this is a bad stain, it needs some bleach.
We grow in the love of being cleansed and in the ongoing understanding of what it means to come to God with a clean heart. It means that I have been cleaned by God, by humbly facing the truth, confessing my faults, wishing to go forward.”
It is a joyful thing to come humbly before God and say, ‘I want to come with a clean heart because I have been so often cleaned by you.’ Every time we confess our faults, every time that we face the truth without the depression born of pride, we are cleaned, and we can come with a clean heart to him.
For us to come with a clean heart to God, as the Church asks us to pray, means that I come as one cleansed. And if I have had to be cleansed several million times, that can be transliterated very accurately as saying I have been loved by God several million times, because he has never said, "I've had enough. I cleaned you the last time." But every time he wants to clean us so that we can come to him with a clean heart.
And so, if God shows us our faults or they are lovingly pointed out to us, and we think we are being rubbed very hard and are feeling sorry for ourselves, it is only because God is so intent on cleaning us, so intent on cleansing us: this is a big spot, it needs some hard rubbing; this is a bad stain, it needs some bleach.
We grow in the love of being cleansed and in the ongoing understanding of what it means to come to God with a clean heart. It means that I have been cleaned by God, by humbly facing the truth, confessing my faults, wishing to go forward.”
December 25, 2025
Absolutely wonderful. I heard about this book because my friend posted that she was reading it last advent on goodreads. The title hooked me immediately. Loved Mothers’ advent reflections. Met my expectations! I will re-read this one for a future advent💜
December 26, 2022
Five stars doesn't really begin to tell you how wonderful this book of Advent meditations is. It's phenomenal.
December 25, 2019
The best book of Advent mediations I have ever read. My favorite part of Advent!
December 24, 2022
This is the first advent book I felt was written for those who are more spiritually mature — and I loved it. So beautiful. It’s basically a compilation of conferences that Mother Mary Francis gave her community during Advent, and they’re based on the reading of the day usually. Seriously so beautiful. Would recommend to all who want something to draw them deeper into the heart of Advent. Just an excerpt to share from December 17th: “How do you wait for someone whom you really love? You do all kinds of things; you have all kinds of surprises awaiting the loved one… When we are waiting for the loved one to come down the road, our heart is pounding, our eyes are straining, our whole body is taut, leaning forward. Someone is coming! Someone whom I love is coming! And now, in Advent, the One whom we love above all is coming. The Church is giving us these precious days to focus the eye, to let the heart pound because He is coming. He will come.” COME ON!! I love it, so beautiful.
December 25, 2023
Listened to this book through FORMED.
An excellent series of meditations for Advent.
An excellent series of meditations for Advent.
December 25, 2025
A really nice read for the Advent season. It provides short meditations on how to best prepare our hearts for the coming of the Savior; Advent is not a season of passivity and slumber, but of alertness and readiness for the arrival of Jesus, the Son of God.
I always appreciate Mother Mary Francis’ poetic approach to writing and reflection, but I think I gave it more of an average rating because I was sort of comparing it to the other book of hers that I read (‘Anima Christi’) that pretty much blew my mind. All in all, I’m happy I chose this for my Advent read.
I always appreciate Mother Mary Francis’ poetic approach to writing and reflection, but I think I gave it more of an average rating because I was sort of comparing it to the other book of hers that I read (‘Anima Christi’) that pretty much blew my mind. All in all, I’m happy I chose this for my Advent read.
December 26, 2021
I started this book to help with interior life as I figured that if anyone could give practical pointers it would be the head of a convent of nuns writing to help her spiritual daughters to persevere in quiet contemplative life. I love how practical this book is not just for the religious life but also for every walk of life. I started in Ordinary liturgical time but ended up saving it for advent so that I could savor the meditations while waiting for Our lord’s coming. This is a great book for Advent meditations on the liturgy or just on the art of waiting. It’s easy to follow so highly recommend it to anyone any age.
I’ll probably pick it up each year as part of my regular advent program.
I’ll probably pick it up each year as part of my regular advent program.
December 25, 2025
BEST advent book i have ever read!!!! Just hit my heart so well every single time!! catch me reading this every single advent, i just know i will get something different out of it each time. What a gift!
December 24, 2024
Just wonderful. Such a gift to read, even later in the Advent season. So many beautiful and challenging things to ponder.
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December 30, 2024Enjoyed the audio version - looking forward to going through again next Advent with the physical book.
January 3, 2025
Best Advent devotional I've ever read, and it's not even close.
December 25, 2025
Loved it! There was something every day that struck me. Will definitely re-read in future advent seasons.
January 1, 2026
Mother Mary Francis is deeply insightful, while being approachable and humorous. She understands the human condition so well.
December 24, 2020
A wonderful book to read during Advent. Beautiful analogies to ponder.
December 24, 2018
The reflections were relatable but so beautiful, causing me to mull over them for days. Highly recommended.
December 24, 2019
Absolutely beautiful. I will read this again and again for many Advents to come. Mother Mary Francis is truly a saint. Her wisdom is profound and her spirituality is simple and profound.
December 31, 2024
Mother Mary Francis is such a gift
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews