Lena {JOYfilledfamily}

New Traditions

December 23, 2022 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Advent Leave a Comment

Today, two of the boys woke up early with Dad to assist at Holy Mass and prepare the church for Christmas. They’ve yet to sleep in since we stopped lessons.

Last week they set up the Nativity at the State Capital. It is planned to stay up until Epiphany.

I’m loving the new traditions that we’ve taken on — all at the lead of my husband.

The little boys and I began to clean the house while the big girls took a well deserved outing.

Our oldest son picked out a tree from the free-lot and all were eager to get it up.

We continued to clean like all other times — mixed with bouts of rough housing.

The silence is almost never to my desire. Yet, I count it all a joy and trust that we are right where we ought to be.

We’re willing & ready to offer these last hours to go deeper into our Journey to Bethlehem, preparing for the Christ Child.

Tomorrow will bring more silence and the fast & abstinence is sure to be felt more than ever. 🙏🏼

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Remember Thy apostles and Thy martyrs; remember Thy saints who have founded Churches, and honoured them by their virtues and miracles; remember Thy bride the Church, and support her during her earthly pilgrimage, until the number of Thy elect is filled up.

She longs to possess Thee in the eternal light of the vision; but Thou hast given her a heart with such mother’s love, that she will not leave her children as long as there is one to save, nor cease to save until that day come when there shall no more be a militant Church, but the one sole triumphant Church, inebriated with the enjoyment of the sight and embraces of her God.

But that last day has not yet come, O Jesus! there is yet time for Thee to descend from heaven and visit Thy vineyard.

Restore to the branches of the tree the leaves which have fallen in the storm of iniquity.

Let this tree of Thy predilection bud forth new branches; and the old ones, which have separated from it, and have seemed to force Thy justice to cast them in the fire, let them be once more grafted on the parent trunk, so torn by their rupture from her.

Come, O Jesus, for the sake of Thy Church; she is dearer to Thee than was the Jerusalem of old. #domprospergueranger

The Last Week of Advent

December 23, 2022 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Advent, Fourth Week of Advent, Uncategorized Leave a Comment

I’ve learned that this is how it has been culturally celebrated amongst many Mexican families. We were not one of those families growing up. We got together with all the relatives at my grandmother’s house and feasted on all the food & presents. Some would “attend” Midnight Mass together.

It looked nothing like how we do it now — we don’t even put gifts under our tree during Advent. The focus is never on the material gifts for us, only preparing our hearts to give to the Christ Child.

The Merry Christmas Beggar’s is now a favorite of my boys who get to listen to it at bedtime with Dad. It works outs since we do we away with technology & TV aside from a few occasional holy options.

A new tradition that has seemed to takeover the Nutcracker play, setting up a nativity at our State Capitol.

This year’s tree is slightly taller than our 12 foot artificial tree. We’re hoping that there are no allergy issues. But we’ll probably not keep it up for the entire Christmas season (40 days until the Purification of The BVM/Candlemas – Feb 2) to be on the safe side.

Ember Days of Advent

December 14, 2022 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Advent, Advent Ember Day Leave a Comment

Holy Mother Church reigns us back in after celebrating glorious feastdays this Advent.

We fast and abstain on the Ember Days of Advent.

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The intentions, which the Church has in the fast of the Ember days, are the same as those of the Synagogue; namely, to consecrate to God by penance the four seasons of the year.

St. Leo…tells us that a special fast was fixed for this time of the year, because the fruits of the earth had then all been gathered in, and that it behoved Christians to testify their gratitude to God by a sacrifice of abstinence, thus rendering themselves more worthy to approach to God, the more they were detached from the love of created things.

‘For fasting,’ adds the holy doctor, ‘has ever been the nourishment of virtue.

Abstinence is the source of chaste thoughts, of wise resolutions, and of salutary counsel.

By voluntary mortifications, the flesh dies to its concupiscences, and the spirit is renewed in virtue. But since fasting alone is not sufficient whereby to secure the soul’s salvation, let us add to it works of mercy towards the poor.

Let us make that which we retrench from indulgence, serve unto the exercise of virtue. Let the abstinence of him that fasts, become the meal of the poor man.’

Let us, the children of the Church, practise what is in our power of these admonitions; and since the actual discipline of Advent is so very mild, let us be so much the more fervent in fulfilling the precept of the fast of the Ember days.

By these few exercises which are now required of us, let us keep up within ourselves the zeal of our forefathers for this holy season of Advent.

We must never forget that although the interior preparation is what is absolutely essential for our profiting by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, yet this preparation could scarcely be real unless it manifested itself by the exterior practices of religion and penance.

The fast of the Ember days has another object besides that of consecrating the four seasons of the year to God by an act of penance: it has also in view the ordination of the ministers of the Church, which takes place on the Saturday…

#theliturgicalyear #domgasparlefebvre #jffemberdays

Star Boy for St. Lucy’s Feast

December 13, 2022 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: 12 December Saints, St. Lucy Leave a Comment

He’s ready to be celebrate today’s feast of St. Lucy as Star Boy — serving all his siblings and leading the way.

I wasn’t sure it would happen today since I didn’t stick to my plans as I hoped and I didn’t even have supplies for the hat. But he was set on filling his big brother’s role from previous years, the girls have generously given up their role on today’s feastday.

With all the special touches and treats to provide an Advent break of sorts, we do not neglect to meditate further on the life of this powerful saint.

Below is practical consideration from #frweninger 1876:

Impress deeply into your heart three memorable sayings of Saint Lucy.

The first regards almsgiving before death. This is much more agreeable to the Almighty, and much more useful to you than to give after your death. May you choose what is most agreeable to God and most useful to yourself.

The second is the answer which she gave to Paschasius: “You obey the command of the Emperor, and I, the command of God. You fear a mortal man, and I fear the immortal God; Him I must obey.” May you act according to these words. Keep the commandments of the Lord, for He can truly be more useful to you, and harm you more than all mortal men.

The third is comprised in the following words: “Those whose life is chaste, are a temple of the Holy Ghost.” For whom then are the unchaste a dwelling? Surely, for no one else than the spirit of hell. Should not this thought alone awaken in you the greatest horror for the vice of unchastity, and an especial love for the virtue of purity?

Besides these three maxims, consider how miraculously Saint Lucy was strengthened and protected by the power of God, in such a manner that no force could move her from where she stood.

Endeavor, at least, to be immovable in your intention, to live more piously, and to shun sin, especially that sin to which you are most addicted.

In order not to become guilty of it again, you ought to stand as immovable as a rock in the sea.

Let prayer and trust in God be your help, as they were Saint Lucy’s.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast and immovable,” says Saint Paul. (1 Corinthians 15)

Rorate Mass {A New Season}

December 10, 2022 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Advent, Rorate Leave a Comment

There is no exercise which is more pleasing to God, or more meritorious, or which has greater influence in infusing solid piety into the soul, than the assisting at the holy sacrifice of the Mass. If this be true at all the various seasons of the Christian year, it is so, in a very special manner, during the holy time of Advent. The faithful, therefore, should make every effort in order to enjoy this precious blessing, even on those days when they are not obliged to it by the precept of the Church. #domprospergueranger

The Rorate Mass is a special votive mass for Our Lady during Advent, traditionally celebrated by candlelight in the early morning. As the Mass ends the sky is just starting to glow with the new day and we journey from darkness to light and the coming of the Word Made Flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mother is upon us.

The beauty and austerity of the morning can not be put into words. The senses are drawn in more than ever before.

This year, it is my time — no need to stay behind with littles or reserve my energy for pregnancy. I do not squander the opportunity. We rise at 3:30am to prepare to assist at Holy Mass. We must arrive early to get a seat. The extra hour and a half with our Lord is a sweet Advent consolation for me.

We long for the darkness that we will be surrounded with in the Church, the world, and that which is placed before us for this Holy Mass. We impress the necessity for us to trust in the maternal love of Our Lady for all our needs as we prepare for Holy Mass.