Advent with St. John Henry Newman
Reflections by Fr. Jason Smith, LC
Late one night I slipped into the chapel and turned on the light, thinking I was alone. But near the front knelt another Legionary—still and silent before the tabernacle. I quickly turned the light back off.
Without the fluorescent glare, the chapel was dim, lit only by the small sanctuary lamp. He didn’t move, didn’t even look up—just remained there, quietly keeping watch in Christ’s presence.
St. John Henry Newman said that awe is born not from visions, but from realizing who is present: “Blessed are they who have not seen, and yet have believed… If we thus act, we shall, through God’s grace, be gradually endued with the spirit of His holy fear.”
If we could see God, we would fall to our knees. It would be the natural response. Reverence is what faith looks like when it becomes second nature—when belief settles deep into the heart.
As Advent draws near its close , we remember that holiness is often hidden in the ordinary—like someone on their knees in the dark, keeping vigil before the Light of the World. Such hidden faith is the quiet life of the Church, the unseen prayer that sustains the world.
Let us join all those who keep vigil in faith as we pray: “Come, Lord Jesus.”
Reflect: Is there a part of your life that feels poor, hidden, ordinary, or even unseen? How is Advent inviting you to consider that Christ is present even there, especially there?
In this Advent series, Fr. Jason Smith draws from his personal experiences and St. John Henry Newman’s own Advent sermons, connecting themes like reverence, awe, and intimately encountering Christ in the simplicity and stillness of ordinary life. Pray with us on The Regnum Christi App, sign up to have each day’s reflection delivered to your inbox every morning, or follow the RC Spirituality Center on Instagram and Facebook.
Ordained in 2006, Fr. Jason has served as a Legionary priest throughout the US, primarily in New York and Michigan. His newest role has called him south, as the superior of the Houston community of the Legionaries of Christ.
