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| How should we be observing Advent? | |
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| Topic Started: Wednesday, 7. November 2012, 21:13 (1,069 Views) | |
| Deacon Robert | Tuesday, 13. November 2012, 22:17 Post #16 |
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We have been celebrating the season from before I fully returned to the church. We have had many wreaths, the latest is a wall sconce in the kithchen. My daughters have had an advent calendar since they were infants, and at 28 and 34 they would be apalled if they knew I told others, they would be saddened and feel they missed something of the season (tradition= thankyou to "fiddler on the roof"). For my parishioners, I try to instill a time of waiting and rebirth: our year for the coming spring, our hopes for the future in our lives, and a renewal of our faith. It is a time for us to shedd our adult vision of the world and be as a child in our hopes for a new and beautiful future. Christmas is a rebirth for us and a time to build our lives, our faith, and our closeness to God as his adopted children. |
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The burden of life is from ourselves, its lightness from the grace of Christ and the love of God. - William Bernard Ullanthorne | |
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| Penfold | Wednesday, 14. November 2012, 18:16 Post #17 |
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http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/overviews/seasons/advent/jesse_tree.cfm The tree of Jesse or the root of Jesse are are ancient ways of portraying the linage of the Messiah, Jesus's family tree. Symbols representing ancestors of Jesus. In churches and homes during Advent a new symbol was added each day and the relevant text from scripture reflected upon. The Christmas tree may have its origins in this custom and the borbles and decorations that are hung on it would once have been the symbols of the Jesse Tree. I have often suggested to families that an activity that their children can do during Advent is create decorations to represent their family tree, be it photos stuck on interestingly cut shapes of card to little paper mache bobbles with the names painted on, and there is no limit to the range of craft skills that can be utilised to make the tree more personal, however including a few religious symbols is no bad thing. I also like to build the crib during Advent with the ox and the ass going in first with Mary and Joseph somewhere near the back of church and gradually making their way closer, the shepherds in a field some where off to the side and the wise men far off as Christmas draws closer so do the characters, and as they move the story is told. I have left some suggested readings in the prayer section. |
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| Derekap | Wednesday, 14. November 2012, 20:52 Post #18 |
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When I was a boy leading up to WW2 Advent was considered a penitential time in preparation for Christmas. Wednesdays and Fridays were days of Fasting and Abstinance from Meat and also Christmas Eve (except for manual workers) - just like Lent! Because of the rationing of food, scarcity of certain foods and the hardships caused by bombing raids the rules were relaxed and then lifted. After the war the rules were not reinstated to the extent they were in the 1930s. Thus Advent was considered like Lent but for Christmas not Easter. I used to think (pause to polish my halo) it strange that we in a Catholic Primary School had a party in a penitential season. Any parochial celebration (Dances and Pantomimes) was after Christmas Day; Carol Concerts were rare. Even any office or works celebrations were rare in them there days. The Salvation Army of course toured the streets playing Carols and collecting money (but probably not from Catholics in those pre-ecumenical days!) Like Lent the celebrant wore violet vestaments except on the third Sunday he was allowed to wear rose vestaments (if he had them) -just like today. Hence your accusation of my confusing Advent and Lent is correct! (Incidently, many years later, I checked the Book on the Lecturn before Holy Mass. It was on the right Sunday but in the wrong season!) |
| Derekap | |
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| Rose of York | Monday, 19. November 2012, 18:39 Post #19 |
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Thank you Penfold for your response to Derek's opening post on this topic, it helped me remember what Advent is about. I have never been as aware of the need for pre-Christmas preparation as I am of Lent. I wonder why it is usual to "give something up" or "do something" for Lent but not for Advent. |
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Keep the Faith! | |
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| Derekap | Monday, 19. November 2012, 22:19 Post #20 |
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" I wonder why it is usual to "give something up" or "do something" for Lent but not for Advent" I have a vague idea that in the 1930s sometimes the priests would suggest 'giving-up something'. Edited by Derekap, Monday, 19. November 2012, 22:20.
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| pat | Tuesday, 20. November 2012, 00:34 Post #21 |
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What I have found useful in previous years is the Walk with Me booklet containing scripture, prayers and meditations for each day of Advent. I think it is published by Alive publishing and is small enough to fit in a pocket or handbag. |
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| garfield | Tuesday, 20. November 2012, 09:34 Post #22 |
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We did the CAFOD Advent service in our parish last year http://www.cafod.org.uk/Pray it was very good, I think the long dark evenings lend themselves to services where light, particularly candlelight can be used Edited by garfield, Tuesday, 20. November 2012, 09:37.
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| Derekap | Thursday, 6. December 2012, 21:17 Post #23 |
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With the commercial sales in decorated shops in Christmas decorated town centres and shopping malls getting earlier and the temptation of parishes to hold Carol Concerts and Christmas Fayres it is difficult to follow a more penitential preparation. About fifteen years ago my wife and I saw a Father Christmas on the streets of San Diego Ca, in September!! I think Harrods opened their Christmas Department in August this year. In fact just after Christmas when the decorative element is removed the feel is more penitential! For a few years the local Woolworths removed its decorations before opening on Christmas Eve morning - much to my amazement - it did look bare. There have been constructive suggestions of prayers and readings. Obviously I wont preach that members (or anyone) should observe Advent in a particularly way I wanted to make the point that most of the Festive Season is before, not afterwards. (Children in many countries get their presents from Santa Claus today, 6th December, the Feast of St Nicholas. [The abbreviation Claus comes from the second syllable of Nicholas in some languages]. When I worked in Hamburg for a short time there were wonderful shop displays of toys which suddenly disappeared about this time to concentrate on adult presents) Edited by Derekap, Thursday, 6. December 2012, 21:23.
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8:36 PM Jul 11