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The Last Week of Advent

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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

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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

Rorate Mass {A New Season}

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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.

Holy Mass begins and all the worries fade. The darkness is almost unnoticeable as all the senses are drawn into the True Light.

It’s all a beautiful preparation for the Christchild.

I give thanks for this glorious gift!

Divine Infant King Jesus, come down into our hearts!

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Have you been blessed to attend a Rorate Mass this Advent or in a past Advent?

Family Advent Devotions

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Our Advent devotions are led by our oldest son (not the oldest children in the home whom are girls) when Dad is away and not available to call us for our family prayers. And the youngest always NEEDS to lead a mystery. We pray for all the intentions we hold in our hearts and those which you have shared with us.

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Prayer is the most necessary weapon of defense against our enemies; he who does not avail himself of it, says St. Thomas, is lost….

In order to understand better the value of prayers in God’s sight, it is sufficient to read both in the Old and New Testaments the innumerable promises which God makes to the man that prays. Cry to me, and l will hear you (Ps. 49,15). Call upon me, and I will deliver you (Jer. 33,3). Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. He shall give good things to them that ask him (Mt. 7,7). Everyone that asks receives, and he that seeks finds (Lk. 11,10). Whatsoever they shall ask, it shall be done for them by my Father (Jn 15,7). All things whatsoever you ask when you pray, believe that you shall receive them, and they shall come to you (Mt. 18,19). If you ask me anything in my name, that will I do (Jn 14,14). You shall ask whatever you will, and it shall be done to you. Amen, amen, l say to you, if you ask the Father anything in my name, he will give it to you (Jn 16,23). There are a thousand similar texts; but it would take too long to quote them. #stalphonsusliguori my #advent patron

Our rhythm is slowing down – not like years past but a new season with more “lasts” than “firsts”. Our baby is 5!

I give thanks for them all and take none of it for granted — praying for the grace to live each moment to the fullest and to tend to my duties as He wills.

Veni, Veni Emmanuel

Previous Years:

Our First Week of Advent

by Filed Under: Advent, First Week of Advent, Jesse Tree, Second Sunday in Advent Leave a Comment

My boys and I made our own manger for Baby Jesus.

For years we have just put their hay (received for sacrifices, almsgiving,…) into our crèche floor. And every year we would say how much we wanted a larger scale, more realistic manger. I hadn’t ever found one and was even ready to resort to making one out of cardboard.

Instead, I took a trip down the craft isle while grocery shopping and came across the “pallet” wall hanging for $4.95. I bought two and $1 worth of paint. We improvised as we went and persevered despite having malfunctions with our tools — currently it’s being held together with hot glue. But I think that will be perfect, making it easy to take apart for storage.

Our “Baby Jesus” will be my son’s prop for his All Saint’s Day costume, St. Cajetan.

So, four days into Advent and we’re still getting things set — no perfection or rush. It would be nice to have our Jesse TREE and ornaments out but those have been misplaced. My oldest son said he will make it happen tomorrow.

We actually like the staggered start with all of our traditions — the anticipation builds naturally with nothing forced, only prompted by my children’s desires to pick up the traditions which they have so lovingly embraced.

On Sunday, we moved a step deeper into Advent…

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