By Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalene, O.C.D

O my Savior, Word of God, how can I doubt that You are coming upon earth to save and sanctify me? Why do I not go to You with complete, loving confidence, when You have spared nothing to show me Your infinitely merciful love? Your Incarnation, Your infant tears, Your humble, hidden life, Your apostolate, Your miracles, Your sorrowful Passion and death, all Your precious Blood poured out, shall they not be enough to make me believe in Your love, to open my heart in the most complete confidence?

“I repeat with all confidence the humble prayer of the publican. Most of all do I imitate the behavior of Magdalen, which delighted Your heart….for her amazing — rather I should say her loving —audacity which delighted your heart…

I am certain that if I had on my conscience every imaginable crime, I should lose nothing of my confidence, but would throw myself, my heart broken with sorrow, into Your arms, for I remember Your love for the prodigal son who returns to You”
(T.C.J. St, 12).

With this confidence, O my Jesus, I will resume my way and begin again my poor efforts.

During this Advent You invite me to greater recollection, to greater interior and exterior silence, so that I may be able to hear Your voice and prepare for Your coming.

Help me, then, to quiet my continual chatter about useless things,the discordant voices of nature, self-love, sensitiveness, the distracting prattle of my fantasies, imaginations, thoughts and useless preoccupations.

I acknowledge that often my mind and heart are like a raging sea in which the waves thunder continually; and yet, if You wish, a sign from You will be enough to make calm return and all will be silent.

Yes, You teach me that interior silence exacts detachment from self and from creatures, exacts interior and exterior mortification. For love of You I will mortify my curiosity, curiosity of my eyes, ears, thoughts, and imagination. I also
want to silence my passions and, therefore, I resolve to be more generous in the practice of corporal mortification.

O eternal Word, my Savior, draw all my powers to Yourself; fasten my interior gaze upon Yourself, so that I shall no longer seek or hear anything or anyone but You alone, eternal Word of my eternal God!

Sacred Art Sacrocubism “Come Unto Christ”

Jorge Cocco Santangelo’s distinctive sacrocubist art style brings new dimension and insight to the life of Jesus Christ. Termed “sacrocubism” because of its fusion of simplified modernist form and sacred subjects, Cocco’s style essentializes Biblical narratives with vibrant colors and forms that invite viewers into new dialogues with familiar stories. For Cocco, this style was the culmination of his search for an artistic approach that could capture the profound depth and layered meanings of Christ’s life and teachings.

 As Cocco explained, “Most people listening to the parables and miracles do not [understand] more than the surface of the event at first . . . [because] the miracles, life, and plan of God are sometimes hard to comprehend in full, and in some ways, they seem surreal to us. … in reality, Jesus Christ was teaching much greater things. . . . Cubism allows me to play with the composition in such a way that it can express a much deeper level.”

 A native of Argentina, Jorge Cocco’s artworks have long earned international attention. As both an artist and teacher, Cocco has lived in Argentina, Spain, Mexico, and the United States. He currently maintains a studio in the Dallas area.

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