Catherine McAuley is remembered by one of her first biographers as someone who had a great dislike of noise and display in the performance of religious duties. “She was often heard to say, ‘How quietly the great God does all his mighty works; darkness is spread over us and light breaks in again, and there is no noise of drawing curtains or closing shutters’.”

The season of Advent, which begins once more early next month, reminds us that this same great God is still at work in our world, keeping the promise of one who comes to save us, bringing new light into our darkened world to all who are ready to declare their need.