Letters from Leo — the American Pope & US Politics

Letters from Leo — the American Pope & US Politics

December 3rd Advent Reflection: This Season Is All About Desire

Desire often gets a bad name in religious circles. But even in the visceral desires of life, such as sexual desire or material wants, we can see the hand of God working.

Christopher Hale's avatar
Christopher Hale
Dec 03, 2025
∙ Paid

Dear friends —

Happy First Wednesday of Advent! Thanks to your support, Letters from Leo continues to be one of the fastest-growing publications in the world.

We couldn’t do this without you.

Starting this week, all paid subscribers will receive the Letters from Leo Advent Reflection Series — a daily companion to prepare for the coming of Christ at Christmas and reckon with what his arrival demands in a nation veering toward fascism.

It’s not too late to sign up by becoming a paid subscriber. Today’s edition is below.

To give you a sense of what you’ll experience, I’ve unlocked last Sunday’s reflection to all readers. (Note that the Sunday reflections will be longer.)

These run through Christmas Day.

If you believe in this mission, here’s how you can help us this holiday season:

  • Subscribe as a paid member to receive exclusive posts about the life and formation of Pope Leo and help sustain this newsletter.

  • Donate with a one-time gift to fuel this project’s mission.

  • Share this post (and Letters from Leo) with a friend who might enjoy it.

Whether you give $0, $1, or $1,000, your presence here matters — no matter your faith or your politics.

Thank you for reading. I’ll see you on the road.

Prefer A One-Time Gift? Donate Here

“On this mountain the Lord of hosts will provide for all peoples a feast of juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.” (Luke 10:21)

Today’s Readings

User's avatar

Continue reading this post for free, courtesy of Christopher Hale.

Or purchase a paid subscription.
© 2026 Christopher Hale · Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start your SubstackGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture