Advent Statio ...by Sr. Julian

Statio. It’s a different kind of word; almost seems incomplete, like it should be station or stationary or something. Statio is a Latin word (pronounced "staht-see-oh) meaning station or position. One early use was a Roman stopping place where travelers could find shelter and change horses. Over time it has become known as a pause or transition. In some monasteries the custom of statio is a silent gathering before entering the chapel for prayer, arriving early in order to transition. A holy pause, a time of preparation.

Statio at St. Scholastica Priory, Petersham, MA

 I look at Advent like this: a silent pause, a transition to a new season. A liminal space, but also what I would call a luminating space, where light can penetrate the veil of winter darkness.

Luminating with hope.

Advent is an opportunity for mindful pausing. As I see the leaves dance to the ground, I am reminded this can be a time of stripping. Pausing to let go of, pausing to take on, a time of dormant preparation for new life, a new Birth. When the trees become stripped bare, look to see how much light comes in! The light nourishes the growth of life to come.

Why pause? Why statio? As we know, the weeks before Christmas can be harried ones, as people find gifts for each other and prepare for celebratory meals and festivities with family and friends. Of course, we know that the greater preparation is for the Messiah to come, again, into our lives. The statio pause can be the time and space to sink deeper into the mystery of Christ’s coming.

Advent is a mysterious time. Subtle growth is occurring under the hibernation of the earth. What looks stark will become life-filled again. I think of Hildegard of Bingen’s ‘greening’ as when the cold ground will begin to warm and green again.

The mystery of Advent reminds me of our skies, arrayed with galaxies and planets and stars and more. Some we have come to know, and still there is so much that we don’t know. What is to come during Advent is unknown, until we arrive at the crèche of Jesus’ birth. What will we experience in the darkness? What will come to light? What will we come to know and understand?

Embrace Advent statio and find out.