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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…

Advent for Children – Traditional Catholic Jesse Tree

by Filed Under: Advent, Jesse Tree, Prints 1 Comment

There was once a wonderful resource online that provided great gems of the Traditional Catholic Faith.

Most were provided for free and a few items were available to purchase for a nominal price. I collected them all and used them in my home. Unfortunately, I lost all of my saved files when my computer crashed years ago and only a few hard copies remain. Anyhow, in an effort to salvage what I do have for my own family, I’m working to back up my files in multiple places.

This is just one of the great resources, A Jesse Tree Book. It is rich in the Traditional Catholic Faith and can be used solely as an Advent devotional or a complete school study during Advent.

DOWNLOAD THE TRADITIONAL CATHOLIC JESSE TREE BOOK

Files are not to be shared — only share the direct link to the original posting.

Advent God’s Loving Promise – Jesse Tree; The Genealogy of Christ

  • Advent-Book-Cover
  • Advent Book Day 1-2 – pg 5-10
  • Advent Book Day 3 – pg 11-14
  • Advent Book Day 4 – pg 14-20
  • Advent Book Day 5 – pg 21-24
  • Advent Book Day 6 – pg 25-28
  • Advent Book Day 7 – pg 29-34
  • Advent Book Day 8 – pg 35-38
  • Advent Book Day 9 – pg 39-44
  • Advent Book Day 10-11 – pg 45-48
  • Advent Book Day 12 – pg 49-52
  • Advent Book Day 13 – pg 53-56
  • Advent Book Day 14-15 – pg 57-66
  • Advent Book Day 16 – pg 67-68

O Antiphons

  • Advent Book Day 17-22 – pg 69-82
  • Advent Book Day 23-24 – pg 83-90
  • O Antiphons & Reflections

Jesse Tree Ornaments

  • Advent Book – Jesse Tree Ornaments – Black & White to Print, Color & Cut
  • Jesse Tree Ornaments – Colored ornaments to Print & Cut

“And there shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse, and a flower shall rise up out of his root.” – Isaias 11:1

Pax Christi, 

Lena

It was unanimous!

The Greater Ferias {O Antiphons}

by Filed Under: Jesse Tree, O Antiphons Leave a Comment

The seven O Antiphons are known in the Liturgy as the Greater Ferias. These prayers come from the Breviary’s Vespers during the Octave before Christmas Eve, a time which is called the “Golden Nights.”

Each Antiphon begins with “O” and addresses Jesus with a unique title which comes from the prophecies of Isaias and Micheas (Micah), and whose initials, when read backwards, form an acrostic for the Latin “Ero Cras” which means “Tomorrow I come.” Those titles for Christ are:

Sapientia
Adonai
Radix Jesse
Clavis David
Oriens
Rex Gentium
Emmanuel

Ero Cras – Tomorrow I come

An Advent PSA & Ways to Keep it Simple

by Filed Under: 11 November, Advent, Advent Planner, Christkindl, Christmas Novena, Jesse Tree 1 Comment

When you’re out shopping for Thanksgiving Day, digging in your garage for your decorations, or just kicking your feet up for a much-needed break — remember to pick up the necessary items for any of the traditions that you’re seeking to observe this Advent.

This is an Advent Calendar (in list form) for 2022. The current year Advent Calendar is included in Advent Planner.

Help your children discern their Advent Resolutions or discern as a family.

You can print out a blank Advent plan to record the family plans or each family member can have their own. I usually print 4 per child (2 pages/sheet) to cover the entire Advent season (in most years).

Advent Wreath — candles (they need not be purple and pink), wreath, and you can print out the prayers from here.

Advent/Christmas candles for your home window. I opted for battery-operated candles covered in real wax that can be controlled by remote. They were left over from our daughter’s wedding. If you don’t know about this tradition, you can read more here. I’ve also used a stick-candle-like option.

Christkindl cards for all those children, family, or friends that will be participating in this lovely tradition to serve & keep Christ at the center of the season.

Christmas Novena prayer cards or sheets are also helpful to have handy ahead of time. The actual devotion starts on Nov. 30, a day after the start of Advent this year. Be certain to get beads if you plan on making a Chaplet or ribbon if you perfected Novena lacing cards.

Jesse Tree — get a tree to use, branch, or twine to tack up to the wall. Ornament hooks or clothespins are needed. If you don’t have ornaments on hand, print out a simple set for free and follow along with an easy guide. A Bible is a must even if you have the readings.

Jesse Tree Devotional with Traditional Catholic Reflections & Scripture from the Douay Rheims Bible & Cut/Color Jesse Tree Ornaments

Jesse Tree Readings from the New Catholic Picture Bible – Shower of Roses

Jesse Tree Schedule for the Year and printable Jesse Tree Ornaments – Holy Heroes

Gather your manger (box cutout or wood crafted) and straw for the Christ Child. Each child or family member can place a prince of straw or paper into the manger when an act of service or kindness is done. This serves as a great visual for children regarding how their small acts add up to something grand. It also serves to grow joyful anticipation for the glorious season to come.

Other items to consider:

  • Spiritual reading & Pray the Divine Office
  • Feastday goodies — Refer to the Advent Calendar to select which feasts you want to celebrate in a special way. Below are a few to consider.
    • Presentation of the BVM – Nov. 21 — Marian feastday go-to
    • St. Nicholas – Dec. 6 — Cuties, chocolate coins, socks, a book, candy canes, St. Nicholas chocolates…
    • Immaculate Conception of the BCM – Dec. 8 — Holy Day & Marian feastday go-to
    • St. Lucy – Dec. 13 — crown, candles, tea, and all the simple sweet breakfast fixings.Hot cocoa as you take your family to see the lights.
    • Our Lady of Guadalupe – Dec. 12 — Mexican dinner or pastries
  • Advent book basket — You do not need to have anything grand. You can select one good book this year and read it throughout Advent or four and rotate one for each week. You could also just select a few titles from your bookshelves or at the thrift store that will help your children grow in their Faith and life of Jesus.
  • Consider fasting and abstinence when meal planning. Advent was traditionally observed as a “Mini-Lent.” There are also Ember Days in Advent which are traditional days of fast and abstinence.

You can check out this post if you have more questions or desire additional resources.

Jesse Tree Ornament ~ Moses

by Filed Under: 12 December, Advent, Jesse Tree, Ten Commandments 6 Comments

Moses led the Israelites, the Chosen people, out of Egypt to the Promised Land. Later, he received the Ten Commandments from the hand of God on Mount Sinai.

The Law of Moses as symbolized in the tablets which God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai, was fulfilled in Christ who brings a law of love.

~~~

I created this ornament for the Jesse Tree Swap hosted by Karen.

10 Commandments

inspired from here

Moses (Symbol: Tablets of Commandments)
Exodus 20:1-4, 7, 8, 12-17 – RSV

And God spoke all these words, saying, “ am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a graven image. … You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. … Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. … Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which the Lord your God gives you. You shall not kill. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal.  You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant, or his maidservant, or his ox, or his ass, or anything that is your neighbor’s.

~~~

Jese Tree Ornaments

Supplies:

  • Tablet shape/template (I used a wood block found in the toy stash. It measured 3.25inx1.75in.)
  • Gray paper (Staples – $10.73/500)
  • Printer/printable 10 Commandments
  • Cardboard (I used recycled cardboard from the All Saints’ Catacombs)
  • Scissors
  • Glue Stick
  • Hot Glue gun
  • Ribbon/Suede Cord ($0.99/25 ties – $4/60 ties)
  • Skewer or mini screwdriver (to punch hole through cardboard)
  • Stamp pad

Directions:

10 Commandments cutout

  • Trace a tablet shape onto the cardboard (Trace the cutouts so that that each shape shares a side.  This will reduce the number of cuts needed.  You will thank me if you are cutting 50+ cutouts like I did.)
  • Cut-out cardboard tablets

10 Commands pic tutorial

  1. print Ten Commandments onto gray paper
  2. cut the commandments
  3. crinkle the cut-out commandments to give an aged look
  4. adhere glue to the cut-out cardboard
  5. position the cut-out commandments
  6. glue the back of the cut-out cardboard
  7. wrap the paper around the back of the cardboard
  8. cut out a backing from paper or cardstock (I used paint a paint chip)
  9. adhere the backing to the back of the cardboard tablet to secure the wrapped paper
  10. repeat step 9 with the other cardboard tablet
  11. pierce a hole into one of the completed tablets  (I initially used a skewer but found that a mini screwdriver worked best)
  12. embellish with distressed ink, as desired
  13. attach the two tablets with a small amount of hot glue
  14. secure the back of the attached tablets with another backing that unites the two tablets
  15. tie the hanging ribbon/cord

~~~

Additional Meditation for this Reflection

found at Presentation Ministries

“I, the Lord, am your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery. You shall not have other gods besides Me.” —Exodus 20:2-3

The first commandment of the Ten Commandments is the one most emphasized. It is explained in greater detail, and it is further commented on after the list of the other commandments. Focus on the first commandment.

Prayer: Father, may no person or thing ever take more of my time, energy, or money than You do.

Exodus, Chapters 7-14, 19, 32

 

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