Family in Feast and Feria

I came across a wonderful old Catholic art lesson book a few years ago. I'm not able to implement all the ideas this year, but I really loved the thoroughly Catholic approach to the Jesse Tree. Sister calls it the Advent Tree, and incorporates more of our liturgy within the plan.

I have uploaded the chapter in a .pdf file here if anyone is interested.

This passage from A Right to be Merry has always inspired me during Advent. I love the naming of the Advent candles in the wreath, marking the journey through time with prominent figures of our Advent Liturgy: Isaiah, St. John the Baptist, St. Joseph, and the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In Advent, we gather each Sunday evening in the community room under the big green wreath that swings above our heads on long purple ribbons. There are four tall candles set in the wreath, and each week Mother Abbess lights one more, first sprinkling the wreath and us with holy water and then reciting the day's collect, full of the Church's immense yearning for the coming of the little Redeemer. "Come! Come! Come!" And we stand under the wreath where the Isaias-candle burns, and the St. John Baptist-candle, and the St. Joseph-candle joined at last by the Mary-candle; and we sing: "Veni, veni, Emmanuel." The monastery is on tiptoe with expectation, and the colored ropes and bells and stars that happy-faced nuns will soon be draping and pinning all over the monastery take their meaning from these prayers and these Office chants.

The last days of Advent, we stand in our choir stalls and sing the glorious O's of the waiting Church. The youngest postulant, looking terribly important and heavy with her responsibility, goes to the tower to ring the great Maria-bell (Miguel, the smaller bell, will join Maria on Christmas Eve), while the nuns chant: "O Wisdom...O Key...O King...Come!"

from A Right to be Merry by Mother Mary Francis, P.C.C., Copyright 1973 from Franciscan Herald Press, p. 90.

Except for the third Sunday of Advent which has the St. Joseph candle, the readings from the Advent Sunday Masses reflect these named candles. These are key figures of the Advent liturgy. And for those who don't have time to do a Jesse tree this is a small way to bring in the Old and New Testament into our Advent prayers.

I have a lengthy Post on the O Antiphons at O Night Divine.

Buried in the post is a link to Musica Sacra's online O Antiphon demonstration. This is the first, O Sapienta, with more to come. It's beautiful -- don't miss it!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...and Kathryn at one of my favorite blogs, The Bookworm, is hosting the Loveliness of Preparation Fair. Brew a cup of tea (or coffee) and enjoy the hospitality of these moms sharing how they are preparing for Christ's birth.

Yesterday, December 14, was the feast of St. John of the Cross. A day late, but you have to read San Juan de la Cruz by Kathryn Theresa. Just beautiful!

Just a little trivia on St. John of the Cross. Years ago our family used to visit the Carmelites at Marylake Monastery in Arkansas. We had an All Saints' Party one Halloween at the monastery. One of the priests said he was St. John of the Cross -- he had his Carmelite habit, carried a black cross, and then knelt down. He joked that St. John should be our family patron, as he was under 5 feet tall, and we don't have any tall people in our family! Even this statue attests to his short height. But see -- you don't need to be tall to reach the heights of heaven!

Kathryn at The Bookworm is hosting the Loveliness of Preparation Fair. If you looked around my house, you'd see I'm in no way ready for Christmas. This has been an Advent of errands, interruptions, and appointments that sap time away from home. Plus a week on the couch due to a minor foot injury at the beginning of Advent and I'm way behind. Everything is in process, or halfway done. I have Christmas cards, stamps, addresses, waiting for the pictures. The Christmas tree only has lights. The presents aren't wrapped, and some aren't even bought. I'm not despairing or lamenting. I recognize it as a work in progress, and chipping away slowly.

I'm enjoying seeing our Advent saints and feasts filling up our house giving visible signs that Christmas is nearing. First it was the Advent Wreath and Advent Calendars, then St. Barbara's candle. St. Nicholas added ornaments and statues and cookies, and our Juan Diego and Our Lady of Guadalupe candles are on display. And our Mary Candle is on the mantle since the feast of the Immaculate Conception. Tonight it was the Lucia Crown and Swedish Candle Chimes.

But there is one part of our preparation that is done, and that is thanks to my husband. Well, even that needs one little touch, but it's minor. I had an informal poll at 4Real if anyone had Christmas tree platforms. Only a few people who responded knew what they were, but there were happy memories attached to those who knew of it. I'm beginning to think it's commonly found in areas that had railroading, or families who were big train people.

My husband grew up in Western Pennsylvania, in Altoona (big train area), and always had a Christmas tree platform. In fact, they had two platforms. One was on the floor (this one was used all-year round for his brother's Lionel train), and the other was raised off the ground. My mil still uses hers. It is about 4 x 6 feet, with a hole cut out in the middle for the tree and the light cords. It is covered in the green paper for train displays, with detachable legs to make it either on the ground or about 18 inches high, with the brick corrugated paper around to disguise the bottom. The top displays a village, a nativity, and a train.

Dh decided that this year we would make a platform part of our family tradition. For those with handyman husbands who already have a home workshop, this means nothing. But this was momentous for us. Dh had to purchase some power tools and this was his first real woodworking project. It's a beautiful job, and I'm really proud of him. And our son just loves it. And that's what it's about -- making happy family memories.











Our Thomas wooden railway has already made its arrival on the platform. Dh also built a little box to stand the tree higher, so that's what you see under the platform. I still have to add the faux brick corrugated paper (called Corobuff) around the edges to hide the bottom, but it's wonderful as it is right now. I'm happy to embrace my husband's family tradition for our home. I'm looking forward to struggling over the decision of what kind of train, shall we do a village, and if so what kind, shall we just set a manger with Jesus or a whole nativity scene or both--and what kind? Planning is so much fun!

ETA: Here are the final pictures. We decided against an elaborate train set for awhile, as our son is so young and hands-on. We thought it would be better to incorporate the Wooden Railway. We did buy the battery operated Christmas set, and it works so nicely with the rest of the trains, but I don't have to worry about ds touching and breaking things. And he's enjoying it so much, although I couldn't catch a smile on the film, there have been plenty!

Catching up on my blog reading and posts. First, just an update about my test. Thanks for all your prayers. I'm feeling so much better since that incident. My chest pain has gone away, and all they found was a small sliding hiatal hernia. Not too bad! And since I'm feeling better, I'm just closing that door unless something happens again!

Yesterday, December 12, was the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. We have a large Hispanic population in our community, and we visited our church to view the beautiful temporary shrine that was erected for Our Lady. To see how many roses and candles and how much love the Mexicans have for their patroness is just very beautiful. My favorite part is to see the little ones dressed up as little Juan Diego, with a tilma and broad sombrero. Some even have little mustaches painted on their mouths....so cute! I need to find a place to track down a costume like that!

It's past the event, but don't forget to visit MaryM's fabulous compilation of Our Lady of Guadalupe ideas, and be sure to see her sons' Guadalupe works of art. Don't miss another one of Alice's wonderful teas for Our Lady of Guadalupe, with her shopping list.

So many wee babes in this Advent season! First it was Elizabeth, Michele, now just today Kim! And I'm so thrilled for Margaret's news! Congratulations to all of you (and all the other expecting moms), many prayers and blessings! It's so special to be sharing maternity time and motherhood the same season as Our Lady.

Today is the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary.

A simple way my family marked this feast was the Mary Candle (or here). And I am introducing the custom this year in our family.



Ebay is such a wonderful place to find family memory items -- I was able to track down a similar candle like we used. It's red, just like my mother's (I'd prefer white)...but I still love it! I found the candlestick holder yesterday at an antique store (inexpensive), but thought it looked so "Marian" I couldn't pass it up. Not sure if it's a perfect match, but the blue peeking from under the mantle is lovely.

The Candle symbolizes Jesus. Having the wax figure of Baby Jesus is tangible for small children.



I quickly made this mantle for the candle from scraps and glue, so it's not perfect. The white mantle symbolizes Mary and her womb, pure and stainless, without sin, from the moment when she was conceived in St. Anne's womb. The candle will remain covered until Christmas.

After attending a St. Nicholas festival on Sunday, meeting St. Nicholas, winning a Playmobil Nativity in the raffle, playing all sorts of games....ds was ready for the next St. Nicholas tradition, rolling, cutting and baking cookies! Because ds has food allergies to wheat, eggs, and milk, he hasn't had any experience in cookie baking. He had a wonderful time with his allergy safe foods...I definitely need to get some playclay that he can roll and cut.





The regular cookies turned out delicious, and even though the baked allergy free versions were a flop, we had a wonderful time.

On St. Nicholas Eve ds was too excited to sleep. He was wondering how St. Nicholas would arrive.

"I think he drives a white car....No, I know! He drives a red car because he wears red!"

To his delight, St. Nicholas left cookies and candy in the shoes! We went to Mass for St. Nick's feast day and joined some of his cousins (and my sisters and mother) for breakfast. What a delight to hear the little ones comparing notes as to what St. Nicholas left in their shoes. Ah, to be young again.

A little reading and playtime with cousins rounded out the feast of the patron of children.

I mentioned before that I'm reading Love Does Such Things for Advent. I have had this book on my bookshelf for years. I bought my mother a copy, and she just loves it -- she's actually reading it again for Advent. But I haven't read it until now. And I can't believe I waited so long!

I'll give you a taste from the Foreword and I know you'll be hooked just like me:

"Joy," said Chesterton, "is the secret of the Christian." But not enough Christians know their own secret; and those of us who do know it, have kept it too long and too well. That is why our world is so sad. It does not know -- for we have not told it -- that all joy lies in the one word "Christmas." But that word must be heard from the lips of God, and understood in the language of God when He says to each human being: "A Merry Christmas to you!"

Oh yes, God says that. And He says it to you. What is more, He means it! If you have not heard Him you cannot possibly know what "merry" means, nor what "Christmas" is. For it is utterly impossible for anyone to have a truly merry Christmas until he has heard God greeting him -- and has returned His greeting....

Of course God has a language all of His own, but there is no one who cannot understand it. You must not strain to catch some sound: God speaks by silences. "While all things were in quiet silence, and the night was in the midst of her course, Thy Omnipotent Word, O Lord, came down from Thy royal throne." Humans greet you with words; but God, with His Only Word, and while humans may favor you with gifts that are personal, God gives you a Gift who is a Person! Humans, at times, speak to you with animation and sincere affection, but God, at all times, speaks to you with a Love that became Incarnate, and in a Passion that was all incarnadined. When God greets you at Christmas, he is not speaking of a day, but of a deed. Any human being can wish you -- and even aid you to enjoy -- a merry Christmas day. But it is God alone who can will it for you, and through a divine Person obtain what He wills: A Christmas that is truly merry because it is recognized to be not a day, not a season, but Salvation!

There is the secret of Christian joy. And it is told completely in the word "Christmas."

At Christmas God gives more than a greeting: He gives you a Gift, a Gospel, and a Goal. When an angel spoke to shepherds and gave them the good tidings that "There is born to you a Saviour," he was but interpreting the language of God for human beings and telling those watchers of the flocks that God was greeting them. But what those men who "went over to Bethlehem and saw those things which had come to pass" could not understand then, you and I can realize fully now; namely, that on the lips of God and in the language of God "Christmas" is a compound word that tells of the Person and a Passion, that speaks of His eternal Word and that Word's ineffable work: that human-divine tragedy which was His and our triumph -- the Mass! You and I are in a position to know how true those lines are with which Saul of Tarsus opened his Epistle to the Hebrews: "God spoke of old to our ancestors through the prophets; at the present time,...he has spoken to us through his Son..." (Hebr. 1:1)....