The stores these days are full of Christmas ornaments, Christmas gifts, Christmas specials, and Christmas music. In the evening, while walking my dog, I'm noticing a few houses that already have their Christmas trees up! Every time I see this stuff, I keep wanting to go up to their door and very politely, but quite surely, say "It's not Christmas yet! We haven't even had Thanksgiving yet!"
There are soooo many special days that the Church celebrates before we get to Christmas! The first, of course, in the US, is Thanksgiving Day, celebrated this Thursday, Nov. 24. It's a lovely day set aside to gather with friends and family and give thanks for the many, many blessings we have been given this year. At my parish Thanksgiving Mass, during the presentation of the gifts, we take up nonperishable food for the food pantry. It's a great tradition.
On November 27, the Church begins the wonderful season of Advent. We watch and wait with the people in Jesus' time who were waiting for the coming of the Messiah, and we also watch and wait now for the second coming of Christ, our King. It's a time to look inside ourselves and ask if we are really ready to meet God face to face, with all our imperfections.
This year, as we start Advent, we are also starting to use the new translation of the Roman Missal. Most parishes and dioceses have had training sessions for their parishioners to explain the translations. For the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, we have videos available online that explain the reason for the changes and also show some of the common prayers in the Mass (Gloria, Sanctus, etc) in suggested ASL translations. This is not a REQUIRED translation but something suggested to get started. The videos can be seen here: ASL Interpreter Training New Missal
December 6 is the feast day for St. Nicholas, of "Jolly Old St. Nicholas" fame. St. Nicholas was a Greek bishop who was famous for helping the poor and others who needed his help. His feast day is particularly celebrated in Greece, Italy, Germany and some of the other Slavic countries. His story reminds me to remember those who are less fortunate than me, and help those I can.
December 8 is the feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. Many, many people ask me how Jesus came to be born 17 days after he was conceived and I say he wasn't - the Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord is celebrated on March 25! This feast celebrates His mother, Mary - and honors the fact that she was born without sin so that she could be a fitting mother for Jesus. This feast reminds me that God always has a long-term plan, not just a short-term one.
December 9 is the feast of Blessed Juan Diego, who was visited by the Blessed Virgin Mary in Guadalupe, Mexico. He was a very poor peasant worker who showed great courage and faith in going to the local bishop to say he had seen the Blessed Mother - and She wanted the bishop to build a church where Blessed Juan Diego had seen her. When the bishop asked for proof, Blessed Juan Diego went back and asked the Blessed Mother what to do. He was told to gather roses into his cloak, and take them back to the bishop. When he unfolded his cloak in front of the bishop, an image of the Blessed Mother that is now known as the Virgin of Guadalupe was seen. This image can still be seen at the Shrine of Our Lady at Guadalupe in Mexico - many, many years later. This story helps me to have courage to go against what seems the "in" way to go.
December 13 is the Feast of St. Lucy. Lucy's name (also Lucia) means "light". She lived in Roman times and was promised to a pagan bridegroom. She refused to marry someone who was not Christian and told her widowed mother to give her substantial dowry to the poor. When he found out, her intended bridegroom denounced her to the Romans. As a result, she was tortured and suffered a martyr's death. Many of the Scandinavian countries celebrate this as St. Lucia Day, when the oldest daughter in the house comes down early in the morning with a wreath of candles lit on her head. It celebrates the triumph of light over darkness.
December 14 is the feast day of St. John of the Cross. He was a priest and Spanish mystic who helped reform the Carmelite Order along with St. Teresa of Avila. His writings are very deep and thoughtful, and he is considered to be a Doctor of the Church (someone who knows very much about theology and the Church). Even in his 20s, he was helping St. Teresa by establishing monasteries in Spain and helping to protest against their government. His story helps me to persevere even when it seems everyone is against me.
FINALLY, after four Sundays of Advent, all of these celebrations and feast days (and a few others I haven't mentioned), we arrive at Christmas - or, as the Church calls it, the Incarnation or Nativity of the Lord! So - how about if we take a few minutes each day in all of the hustle and bustle of the "Christmas shopping season" and remember the reason we're doing this in the first place - and the people like St. Lucy who have given up their lives for their faith. God comes down to us to be with us! What a wonderful day to rejoice, gather and celebrate!
Now, please don't think I'm completely against the lights and Christmas trees. I, myself, usually put my tree up about mid-December. However, my nativity scene is not completed until December 25 because Mary and Joseph were traveling to Bethlehem, and then Jesus showed up! The Magi come later, too. I also have an Advent wreath that I use as part of my prayer during Advent.
Finally, remember that Christmas in the Catholic Church doesn't end at midnight on December 25. I'll blog about that later (you can see last year's entry too). We celebrate a lot more after that - so let's get ready for it first. Let's get ready for the celebration, take our "internal shower", get our spiritual party clothes on, and REALLY get ready for the coming of Christ!
Blessings to each of you during this season!
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