Advent Plans 2018

November 24, 2018 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Advent Leave a Comment

The focus of Advent is preparation for the coming of the Lord — both in commemoration of His Nativity and His coming again at the end of time… The Christmas season does not begin until the first Mass at Christmas Eve, and doesn’t end liturgically until the Octave of the Epiphany on January 14. It goes on in the spiritual sense until Candlemas on February 2, when all celebrations of Christ’s Childhood give way to Septuagesima and Lent.

Advent:

Nov. 30 – St. Andrew Christmas Novena – First Friday
Dec. 1 – First Saturday – Immaculate Heart of Mary
Dec. 2 – 1st Sunday of Advent
Dec. 3 – St. Francis Xavier
Dec. 4 – St. Peter Chrysologus
Dec. 5 – Feria of Advent / Journey to Bethlehem
Dec. 6 – St. Nicholas / Jesus Christ the High Priest
Dec. 7 – St. Ambrose
Dec. 8 – Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Dec. 9 – 2nd Sunday of Advent
Dec. 10 – Feria of Advent
Dec. 11 – St. Damasus I
Dec. 12 – Feria of Advent / Our Lady of Guadalupe
Dec. 13 – St. Lucia
Dec. 14 – Feria of Advent
Dec. 15 – Feria of Adevent
- Rorate Caeli Mass in Honor of Our Lady (at Parish)
Dec. 16 – Gaudette Sunday
Dec. 16 – Ember Friday of Advent
Dec. 17 – 23 – O Anitphons
Dec. 17 – Greater Feria of Advent
Dec. 18 – Greater Feria of Advent
Dec. 19 – Ember Wednesday in Advent
Dec. 20 – Greater Feria of Advent
Dec. 21 – St. Thomas
Dec. 22 – Ember Saturday of Advent
Dec. 23 – Fourth Sunday of Advent
Dec. 24 – Vigil of the Nativity of Our Lord
Dec. 25 – The Nativity of Our Lord

——————-CHRISTMAS——————-

Dec. 26 – St. Stephen (Altar Guild)
Dec. 27 – St. John the Evangelist
Dec. 28 – Holy Innocents
Dec. 29 – 5th Day in the Octave of Christmas
Dec. 30 – Sunday in the Octave of Christmas
Dec. 31 – 7th Day in the Octave of Christmas

Rorate {Caeli} Mass

November 24, 2018 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Advent, Rorate Leave a Comment

Rorate, caeli, desuper, et nubes pluant justum, aperiatur terra, et germinet Salvatorem.” ~ Isaiah 45:8

“Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the just: let the earth be opened and bud forth a Saviour.”

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 Mass takes its title, Rorate Caeli, from the first words of the Introit, which are from Isaiah 45:8:

“Rorate, caeli, desuper, et nubes pluant justum, aperiatur terra, et germinet Salvatorem.”

“Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the just: let the earth be opened and bud forth a Saviour.”

The Rorate Mass is lit only by candlelight. Because it is a votive Mass in Mary’s honor, white vestments are worn instead of Advent violet. In the dimly lit setting, priests and faithful prepare to honor the Light of the world, Who is soon to be born, and offer praise to God for the gift of Our Lady. As the Mass proceeds and sunrise approaches, the church becomes progressively brighter, illumined by the sun as our Faith is illumined by Christ.

The readings and prayers of the Mass foretell the prophecy of the Virgin who would bear a Son called Emmanuel, and call on all to raise the gates of their hearts and their societies to let Christ the King enter; asking for the grace to receive eternal life by the merits of the Incarnation and saving Resurrection of Our Lord.

Here is a video of the Solemn Rorate Mass being celebrated at my parish from years past.

The piece is “Gabriel’s Message,” a traditional Basque Advent carol, sung by the Choir and Choristers of St. Stephen the First Martyr Parish on the album “The Little Road to Bethlehem.”

This video was created by a talented parishioner, Jennifer Rego.

St. Andrew Christmas Novena Printables

November 24, 2018 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: 11 November Saints, Advent, Christmas, Novena, St. Andrew 15 Comments

Praying the {St. Andrew} Christmas novena is a vital part of my family’s Advent plans as we observe a “mini Lent.”

This meditative prayer helps us increase our awareness of the real focus of Christmas and helps us prepare ourselves spiritually for His coming.

It is piously believed that whoever recites the below prayer fifteen times a day from the feast of St. Andrew (30th November) until Christmas will obtain what is asked.

St. Andrew Christmas Novena

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. In that hour, vouchsafe, O my God! to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen.

Imprimatur +MICHAEL AUGUSTINE, Archbishop of New York, February 6, 1897

This year we will be using a new Novena tool for my littles, Christmas Novena Lacing Cards. Actually, all my boys (11 years down) want one of their own to follow along.

They’re super simple to make and interactive to help keep them engaged. The traditional image displayed was selected for its beautiful classic imagery so that their hearts and mind can best help them meditate on the Nativity.

Print your Christmas Novena Lacing Cards
Cut
Color image (optional)
Laminate
Punch Holes over the 15 purple dots
Cut your ribbon/thread/tulle to the desired length (varies for the size of card)
Tape the ends of the ribbon to make it easier to lace and avoid fraying

Below are images & printables to use as reminders in your home, tech gadgets, and social media outlets. You are invited to use the images for your personal use and share freely.

This image can be used on INSTAGRAM.

Christmas Novena Printable with Border

Christmas Novena Printable without border

This image can be saved on your phone or iPad and set as your lock screen and wallpaper.

This image can be saved on your phone or iPad and set as your lock screen and wallpaper.This image can be used as a FaceBook cover photo or a blog header.

This image can be used as a FaceBook cover photo or a blog header.

I also have an updated (11.2019) formatted a page of printable holy cards for the Christmas Novena They can be used alone or used when making a Christmas Novena Chaplet.

Prayers for a blessed and fruitful Advent from my family to yours!

St. Andrew Christmas Novena Chaplet

November 24, 2018 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: 11 November Saints, Advent, Novena, St. Andrew 5 Comments

The Christmas Novena is a vital part of my family’s Advent plans and our St. Andrew Chaplet Beads have held up well for many years. We keep our primary set on our family Altar and Dad has his own to carry in his pocket. We generally pray this as a family during our family devotions but it’s nice to have it on hand as a reminder throughout the day.

These little gems are perfect if you’re desiring accountability for the Christmas Novena or just looking for a way to engage your children with this traditional Advent devotion.

The chaplets are easy to make. In fact, I’m sure most of us have the supplies on hand.

We attach a Novena Payer card (old version or new version) to our chaplet. The prayer card is small enough to fit into a pocket but big enough to read without a magnifying glass – no excuses! It can also be used without the chaplet/beads. I recommend that it be laminated to last throughout Advent and beyond.

~~~

SUPPLIES:

ribbon or thread
beads
scissors
optional:
- tape
- saint medal
- prayer card(old) prayer card (new) — (Print 2 sided)

DIRECTIONS:

- cut the ribbon to the desired length

tape the ends of the ribbon prior to lacing string

the beads on using the same techniques as St. Therese’s Sacrifice Beads. The instructions can be found here.

This is how the chaplets will look without the prayer card.

optional:
- print/cut prayer card(old ) prayer card (new)
- hole punch top of the card
- laminate
- lace the card with the remaining ribbon from the chaplet
- tie off the ribbon

May this meditative prayer help us increase our awareness of the real focus of Christmas and helps us prepare ourselves spiritually for His coming.

Christmas Novena Printables & Social Media Reminders

November 29, 2017 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: 12 December, Advent, Christmas, Novena 3 Comments

Praying the {St. Andrew} Christmas novena is a vital part of my family’s Advent plans as we observe a “mini Lent.”

This meditative prayer helps us increase our awareness of the real focus of Christmas and helps us prepare ourselves spiritually for His coming.

It is piously believed that whoever recites the below prayer fifteen times a day from the feast of St. Andrew (30th November) until Christmas will obtain what is asked.

St. Andrew Christmas Novena

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. In that hour, vouchsafe, O my God! to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen.

Imprimatur +MICHAEL AUGUSTINE, Archbishop of New York, February 6, 1897

Below are images & printables to use as reminders in your home, tech gadgets, and social media outlets. You are invited to use the images for your personal use and share freely.

This image can be used on INSTAGRAM.

Christmas Novena Printable with Border

Christmas Novena Printable without border

This image can be saved on your phone or iPad and set as your lock screen and wallpaper.

This image can be saved on your phone or iPad and set as your lock screen and wallpaper.This image can be used as a FaceBook cover photo or a blog header.

This image can be used as a FaceBook cover photo or a blog header.

I’ve also formatted a page of printable holy cards for the Christmas Novena They can be used alone or used when making a Christmas Novena Chaplet.

Advent:

——————-CHRISTMAS——————-

Rorate, caeli, desuper, et nubes pluant justum, aperiatur terra, et germinet Salvatorem.” ~ Isaiah 45:8

Here is a video of the Solemn Rorate Mass being celebrated at my parish from years past.

This video was created by a talented parishioner, Jennifer Rego.

St. Andrew Christmas Novena

Prayers for a blessed and fruitful Advent from my family to yours!

St. Andrew Christmas Novena

Prayers for a blessed and fruitful Advent from my family to yours!

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