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| Advent Journey | Advent with Aquinas | Advent with Dom Gueranger | Advent Sermons |
| Advent Prayers (not psalms) | From Cold to Hot for Christmas |
| Journey to Bethlehem | Pre-Advent Countdown |
IF YOU REALLY WANT TO "GET INTO" ADVENT, THEN PRAY THE PSALMS
TRANSFORM YOUR HOME INTO THE "DOMESTIC CHURCH" IT IS MEANT TO BE!
LINKS TO PSALMS FOR EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK DURING ADVENT
| Sundays | Mondays | Tuesdays | Wednesdays | Thursdays | Fridays | Saturdays |
| Advent Journey | Advent with Aquinas | Advent with Dom Gueranger | Advent Sermons |
| Advent Prayers (not psalms) | From Cold to Hot for Christmas |
| Journey to Bethlehem | Pre-Advent Countdown |
IF YOU REALLY WANT TO "GET INTO" ADVENT, THEN PRAY THE PSALMS
TRANSFORM YOUR HOME INTO THE "DOMESTIC CHURCH" IT IS MEANT TO BE!
LINKS TO PSALMS FOR EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK DURING ADVENT
| Sundays | Mondays | Tuesdays | Wednesdays | Thursdays | Fridays | Saturdays |
YOU ADVENT COUNTDOWN GUIDE
What to Do and What to Get Before Advent Arrives!
What to Do and What to Get Before Advent Arrives!
Article 1
Getting the Materials and Immaterials Together!
Getting the Materials and Immaterials Together!
We are made of body and soul, we are physical and spiritual—and so both aspects enter into our worship of God. We do not merely worship God in our thoughts, but also by our audible words, our physical gestures, our bodily actions, and by using a whole host and variety of physical, material things from this physical, material world. Thus the Church has material buildings, filled with a whole variety of material goods: altars, tabernacles, paintings, statues, stained glass windows, etc. The Church uses things created by animals and plants: beeswax, linen, silk, wine, incense, etc. The Church sings with voices, plays musical instruments, rings bells, etc.
All of this has various purposes. Firstly, since God is the creator of all things—then all things should be involved in the worship of God (as least by representation from each group: humans, animals, plants, minerals. Secondly, without many these things to occupy the imagination of worshipers, the body would be distracted or bored by not being catered for during the worship of God. Thirdly, we are made of body and soul, thus body and soul must worship God, and just the soul alone.
This gives us a clue for our Advent preparations. Meditations are fine and necessary—and quite indispensable—but we also need to involve material things in our Advent worship of God. Some material elements are pretty obvious and most people are already aware of them—such as the Advent Candle Wreath. Yet there are other customs that are not common knowledge, and some of these we will bring to your attention.
The first thing to do is to get the Advent Wreath ready and the purchase a new set of Advent Candles. The number of candles that you will need will depend upon how often you intend to light and burn them. It is suggested that you at least light them during the family prayer times—such as morning and evening prayers, as well as the family Rosary. You could also light them during meal times. Try to get these candles in good time and then take them to church before Sunday and have them blessed.
On the ADVENT JOURNEY PAGE (click here) you will find a wide assortment of materials that you can use throughout the Advent season. There are a variety of posters, prayers, penance birthday cards for Jesus at Christmas and, above all, a downloadable ADVENT RITUAL (click here) which provides you with a daily schedule throughout Advent. Be sure to check out and download all these materials.
All of this has various purposes. Firstly, since God is the creator of all things—then all things should be involved in the worship of God (as least by representation from each group: humans, animals, plants, minerals. Secondly, without many these things to occupy the imagination of worshipers, the body would be distracted or bored by not being catered for during the worship of God. Thirdly, we are made of body and soul, thus body and soul must worship God, and just the soul alone.
This gives us a clue for our Advent preparations. Meditations are fine and necessary—and quite indispensable—but we also need to involve material things in our Advent worship of God. Some material elements are pretty obvious and most people are already aware of them—such as the Advent Candle Wreath. Yet there are other customs that are not common knowledge, and some of these we will bring to your attention.
The first thing to do is to get the Advent Wreath ready and the purchase a new set of Advent Candles. The number of candles that you will need will depend upon how often you intend to light and burn them. It is suggested that you at least light them during the family prayer times—such as morning and evening prayers, as well as the family Rosary. You could also light them during meal times. Try to get these candles in good time and then take them to church before Sunday and have them blessed.
On the ADVENT JOURNEY PAGE (click here) you will find a wide assortment of materials that you can use throughout the Advent season. There are a variety of posters, prayers, penance birthday cards for Jesus at Christmas and, above all, a downloadable ADVENT RITUAL (click here) which provides you with a daily schedule throughout Advent. Be sure to check out and download all these materials.
Article 2
Winning Over the "Troops"!
This article is currently being written. Sections will be posted as they are completed. Please check back later.
Winning Over the "Troops"!
This article is currently being written. Sections will be posted as they are completed. Please check back later.
You could say that Advent is a war, a battle, a fight against ourselves, the world and the devil. A war cannot be fought without soldiers or troops. If there is nobody to fight the war, the war is lost by default. Today, there is almost nobody willing to “put in a shift” through the Advent Season. Advent has become a mere title with little or no consequence. Little thought is given to it. Little is thought of it. Little is done through it. Thus, most people “bump” into Christmas unprepared, with the wrong attitudes and the wrong expectations from the Christmas Season. This is largely because they neglected the Advent Season. As you sow, so shall you reap. You only get out of something what you put into it. Your fruits will be in proportion to your efforts.
Sports teams need a good pre-season preparation if they are to do well. Pilots and aircraft personnel must be diligent in checking everything before the aircraft is allowed to depart on its flight. A school curriculum needs careful preparation. Likewise a sermon. Meals need preparing before you can eat them. An essay or a book is not just written without careful preparation. People have to prepare for a road driving test. Students have to prepare for exams. A gardener has to prepare many things before planting his seeds. A new building is usually first prepared by architectural drawings and then builders need to prepare the site. An artist prepares his canvas before painting. For certain jobs you are obliged to undergo an apprenticeship as a means of preparing you to be able to work alone without supervision. An operating room needs to be prepared before surgery. A doctor is prepared in a medical school. A priest is prepared in a seminary. We prepare ourselves before Holy Communion and Confession. We are even told to prepare ourselves for our death. Purgatory prepares you for Heaven. Mortal sin prepares you for Hell. Jesus spent 30 years in a hidden life at Nazareth preparing for His public ministry. St. John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus. Our Lord Himself prepares a place for us: “I shall go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself; so that where I am, you also may be!” (John 14:3). These and many more instances need preparation―except for Advent!
“It is the part of man to prepare the soul” (Proverbs 16:1). “Before prayer prepare thy soul―and be not as a man that tempts God!” (Ecclesiasticus 18:23). “When thou comest to the service of God, prepare thy soul for temptation!” (Ecclesiasticus 2:1). “Prepare ye the way of the Lord! Make straight the paths of our God!” (Isaias 40:3). “Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight His paths!” (Matthew 3:3). “Behold I send My angel, and he shall prepare the way before My face!” (Malachias 3:1). “Thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways!” (Luke 1:76] “Prepare unto the Lord a perfect people!” (Luke 1:17).
The more important a visitor is, then all the more preparation is usually made for him. Imagine the difference in preparation that you would make in your home for (1) the visit of a friend or relative, and (2) the visit of a bishop. What would be the difference in degree of preparations made in New York City if (1) you were to visit the city, and (2) if a pope or president were to visit the city?
The problem for most Catholics―in relation to the dignity of Our Lord―is, as the proverb says, that “familiarity breeds contempt.” Not that there are many or even any who have contempt for Our Lord―but there are certainly many who have lost respect for Our Lord over the years. As Scripture says: “I have something against thee―because thou hast left thy first charity!” (Apocalypse 2:4) … “Well did Isaias prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honoureth Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me!’” (Mark 7:6).
A lukewarm Advent―(once again?)―is not what is recommended! Our Lord Himself warns: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot! I wish you were cold or hot! But because you are lukewarm―and neither cold nor hot―I will begin to vomit you out of My mouth! Because you say: ‘I am rich and made wealthy [with the things of the world], and have need of nothing!’ and you know not that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked! I counsel you to buy of Me gold [charity], fire tried, that you may be made rich, and may be clothed in white garments so that the shame of your nakedness may not appear; and anoint your eyes with eye-salve, that you mayest see! Such as I love, I rebuke and chastise! Be zealous, therefore, and do penance [this Advent season]. Behold, I stand at the gate [of Advent] and knock. If any man shall hear my voice, and open to Me the door, I will come in to him!” (Apocalypse 3:15-20). Most of the people in Bethlehem did not open their doors to Christ―will we be the same?
Sports teams need a good pre-season preparation if they are to do well. Pilots and aircraft personnel must be diligent in checking everything before the aircraft is allowed to depart on its flight. A school curriculum needs careful preparation. Likewise a sermon. Meals need preparing before you can eat them. An essay or a book is not just written without careful preparation. People have to prepare for a road driving test. Students have to prepare for exams. A gardener has to prepare many things before planting his seeds. A new building is usually first prepared by architectural drawings and then builders need to prepare the site. An artist prepares his canvas before painting. For certain jobs you are obliged to undergo an apprenticeship as a means of preparing you to be able to work alone without supervision. An operating room needs to be prepared before surgery. A doctor is prepared in a medical school. A priest is prepared in a seminary. We prepare ourselves before Holy Communion and Confession. We are even told to prepare ourselves for our death. Purgatory prepares you for Heaven. Mortal sin prepares you for Hell. Jesus spent 30 years in a hidden life at Nazareth preparing for His public ministry. St. John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus. Our Lord Himself prepares a place for us: “I shall go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself; so that where I am, you also may be!” (John 14:3). These and many more instances need preparation―except for Advent!
“It is the part of man to prepare the soul” (Proverbs 16:1). “Before prayer prepare thy soul―and be not as a man that tempts God!” (Ecclesiasticus 18:23). “When thou comest to the service of God, prepare thy soul for temptation!” (Ecclesiasticus 2:1). “Prepare ye the way of the Lord! Make straight the paths of our God!” (Isaias 40:3). “Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight His paths!” (Matthew 3:3). “Behold I send My angel, and he shall prepare the way before My face!” (Malachias 3:1). “Thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways!” (Luke 1:76] “Prepare unto the Lord a perfect people!” (Luke 1:17).
The more important a visitor is, then all the more preparation is usually made for him. Imagine the difference in preparation that you would make in your home for (1) the visit of a friend or relative, and (2) the visit of a bishop. What would be the difference in degree of preparations made in New York City if (1) you were to visit the city, and (2) if a pope or president were to visit the city?
The problem for most Catholics―in relation to the dignity of Our Lord―is, as the proverb says, that “familiarity breeds contempt.” Not that there are many or even any who have contempt for Our Lord―but there are certainly many who have lost respect for Our Lord over the years. As Scripture says: “I have something against thee―because thou hast left thy first charity!” (Apocalypse 2:4) … “Well did Isaias prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honoureth Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me!’” (Mark 7:6).
A lukewarm Advent―(once again?)―is not what is recommended! Our Lord Himself warns: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot! I wish you were cold or hot! But because you are lukewarm―and neither cold nor hot―I will begin to vomit you out of My mouth! Because you say: ‘I am rich and made wealthy [with the things of the world], and have need of nothing!’ and you know not that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked! I counsel you to buy of Me gold [charity], fire tried, that you may be made rich, and may be clothed in white garments so that the shame of your nakedness may not appear; and anoint your eyes with eye-salve, that you mayest see! Such as I love, I rebuke and chastise! Be zealous, therefore, and do penance [this Advent season]. Behold, I stand at the gate [of Advent] and knock. If any man shall hear my voice, and open to Me the door, I will come in to him!” (Apocalypse 3:15-20). Most of the people in Bethlehem did not open their doors to Christ―will we be the same?