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When Saint Paul of the Cross received the first graces which led to the founding of the Passionist Congregation, a strong inspiration was to retire into solitude. In fact, when in 1720 he finally received the black habit of a penitent, he spent the next 40 days in solitude at the church of San Carlo in Castellazzo. It was during this precious time of prayer and solitude that he set on paper the Rule for the male branch of the Passionist Congregation. This same spirit of solitude so dear to our founder continues down to the present day, realized in different but complementary ways by the male and female branches of the Congregation. As the contemplative daughters of St. Paul of the Cross, we especially strive to embody a spirit of solitude by our vow of enclosure, through which we “commit [our]selves to follow Christ into solitude to pray with fervor to the Father from whom comes every perfect gift” (Constitutions #39).

When we consider the spirit of solitude, we often ponder Christ’s solitude during His agony in the garden, or the many times during His public ministry when He withdrew into solitude to speak to His Father. The outlines of this same solitude are sketched in the life of His Blessed Mother, and in this season of Advent, we may especially profit from meditating upon her example.

The angel Gabriel’s arrival to announce the mystery of the Incarnation found Mary in solitude - not a solitude closed in upon itself, but a solitude open to God. Alone, yet attentive to the Father, Mary was ready to receive His message from the angel and, ultimately, to receive His Word as God became man in her very womb. We see a different sort of solitude in the life of Mary if we turn to Matthew’s gospel, where he recounts Joseph’s initial reaction to the revelation of Mary’s pregnancy: “since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, [he] decided to divorce her quietly” (Mt 1:19). Another message from an angel changed Joseph’s mind, but it is not hard to imagine the sense of solitude that Mary would have felt during this time of tension with Joseph. Here, she experiences the suffering solitude of the courageous choice to hold fast to God and His precious secret at work in her.

Whether we find ourselves in the painful solitude of misunderstanding or isolation from those we love, or the joyful solitude of consoling prayer, Our Lady shows us the way forward. All solitude, accepted with an open spirit, can be a means to draw us closer to Christ whose very life burns in our hearts. As St. Paul of the Cross puts it, “if you wish to preserve or acquire the gift of prayer, keep yourself recollected,” that is, keep your heart in holy solitude, “by making, even in the midst of your occupations, frequent aspirations to God.”

How can we embrace a spirit of solitude during this season of Advent? Here are a few ideas:

• If you find yourself with a few minutes of solitude at work or at home, lift your heart to the Lord with a short prayer - “Come, Lord Jesus” is especially meaningful choice during Advent.

• Better yet, make some time for solitude during the day. A few minutes at the end of your lunch break, a few minutes before you get out of the car to go shopping…even these small windows dedicated to God can open us to receive more of His graces.

  Our Lady of the Annunciation, pray for us!