~This Site is dedicated to the Holy Family: Jesus, Mary and Joseph ~ ~Pray for us~ |
Last updated on: October 30, 2006
Christmas Links |
Family Activities for Advent |
Christmas Stories for Children The Gift of Christmas By: Rev. Jude Winkler The Legend of Little White Hood By: Battistella A Special Place for Santa - By: Jeanne Piepper The Littlest Angel / the Original Christmas Classic By: Charles Tazewell The Little Match Girl - By: Hans Christian Andersen The Little Fir Tree - By Hans Christian Andersen With Bells On/ A Christmas Story By: Katherine Milhous The Christmas Coin By: Nora Burglon (found in "Take Joy" by Tasha Tudor) The Caravan by: Ruth Sawyer (found in "Take Joy") The Holy Night by: Selma Lagerlof (found in "Take Joy") Good King Wenceslaus (taken from "The Classic Christmas Treasury for Children") The Story of the First Christmas (taken from "The Classic Treasury for Children") The "Faith and Freedom Readers" The Christmas Stories of George MacDonald |
The Advent Wreath |
Advent Wreath Prayers Week 1 Let us pray. Stir up your might we beg you Lord, and come, so that we may escape through your protection and be saved by your help from the dangers that threaten us because of our sins. Who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen Week 2 Let us pray. O Lord, stir up our hearts that we may prepare for your only begotten Son, that through His coming, we may be made worthy to serve you with pure souls. Through the Same Christ our Lord. Amen. Week 3 Let us Pray. We humbly beg you, O Lord, to listen to our prayers; and by the grace of your coming bring light into our darkened minds. Who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. Week 4 Let us pray. Stir up your might, we pray You O Lord, and come; rescue us through Your great strength so that salvation, which has been hindered by our sins, may be hastened by the grace of Your gentle mercy. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen. |
An Advent Calendar |
Another way to mark the days in Advent is to use an Advent calendar. These calendars usually have a door to open each night to reveal a picture or an object (such as a small toy or candy). The days of Advent vary each year, so store-bought Advent calendars usually have 24 doors, one for each day in December leading up to Christmas. Opening an Advent calendar may follow the Advent Wreath service to more closely tie the service itself to the countdown of days. |
A Nativity Scene |
A nativity scene (sometimes called a crèche), is yet another way to highlight the season of Advent. Instead of putting out the whole set at once, try building the scene slowly. Begin with the manger the first week. Add a few animals the second week. Then add Mary and Joseph on the third week. On Christmas Eve add the baby Jesus and any additional figures. The wise men and camels don't arrive until Epiphany (January 6). This increases the feeling of anticipation that is Advent. |
The Jesse Tree |
O come, thou Rod of Jesse, free Thine own from Satan's' tyranny; From depths of hell thy people save And give them victory o'er the grave. Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel. |
What is a Jesse Tree? It is a small, leafless tree decorated with symbols portraying Jesus' spiritual heritage. It is a kind of family tree which was suggested by Isaiah's prophecy: "there shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse and a branch shall grow out of his roots." Jesse was the father of King David. King David is one of Jesus' ancestors. The prophet Samuel to establish a royal family anointed David King. A thousand years later Jesus was born in this royal line of David in Bethlehem, the ancient of City of David.The Jesse Tree is composed of ornaments which remind us of the promise of salvation made by God at the fall of Adam and Eve and the ancestors of Jesus from Adam to Our Lady and events in salvation history. They also remind us of the Jewish symbols and types of Christ and the Church. The Jesse Tree represents the 4000 years of salvation history when God prepared His people, the Jews, for the coming of the Savior. This is the theme of the 4 weeks of Advent. Because the Jews were unable to be in the state of grace since Jesus had not yet died on the cross, the branch for the Jesse Tree is a dead one without any green leaves. This symbolizes especially well for children, the fact that the soul is dead without God's sanctifying grace. The Jews could only be saved by believing in the Redeemer to come and obeying the Law of the Commandments and the Prophets. Male Jews were commanded by God to be circumcised thus symbolizing their desire to be baptized into the saving Blood of the Divine Redeemer to come. For 4000 years, the Jews lived in anticipation of the Savior. But no man had the indwelling of the Triune God in sanctifying grace. Only Baptism into the Body of Christ would one day bring that great gift to men from the death of Jesus on the Cross |
The feast of St. Nicholas is on Dec. 6th. It is a highlight of the Advent season. Each child puts out a shoe the night before St. Nicholas Day in the hope that the kind bishop with his miter, staff, and bag of gifts will pay a visit. The current "Santa Claus" is modeled after St. Nicholas, but commercialism has tarnished the true story. Many families give gifts on both Dec. 6 and Christmas. Read about St. Nicholas in your favorite saints book. |
The Mary Candle On this great feast, families place a candle with a blue ribbon before a statue or picture of the Blessed Virgin, whose "yes" to God enabled our Lord's coming at Christmas. The candle is lit during meal times to serve as a delightful reminder of Mary's eager expectation of the "Light of the World." It can also serve as a reminder to each family member to keep their own light of grace burning as a preparation for Christ's coming. |
St. Lucy Cakes The feast of St. Lucy, virgin and martyr, is on December 13th. This marks the opening of the Christmas season in Sweden. Her life story can be found in most saints books, as can the recipe for the traditional cakes. The symbolism is rich and her life story worthwhile reading. |
On the first Sunday of Advent each child in our family receives an empty manger. The idea is that when acts of service, sacrifice, or kindness are done in honor of Baby Jesus as a birthday present, the child receives a piece of straw to put into the manger. Then, on Christmas morning, "Baby Jesus" is placed in the manger. Encourage your children to make Jesus' bed as "comfortable" as possible through their good deeds. In the process, explain Christ's incomparable self-gift at Christmas and Easter that enables us to be part of God's family. |
Christmas baking There are many recipe books available to find great traditional Christmas baking ideas. The baking usually starts around December 20th. As Christmas approaches, the house will smell of baking and fresh wreaths. The glory of Christmas is at hand! Move the manger to a focal point, add lights to the Nativity to be lighted on Christmas Eve, and anticipate together. |
St. Nicholas Dec. 6th |
Feast Days in Advent |
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception December 8th |
St. Lucy, Dec. 13th |
Gifts for Jesus |
2006 Advent Dates: 3 December: First Sunday of Advent 10 December: Second Sunday of Advent 17 December: Third Sunday of Advent 24 December: Fourth Sunday of Advent O Antiphons- December 17th- 23rd |
Our Lady of Guadalupe, Dec. 12th |
Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mystical Rose, make intercession for holy Church, protect the sovereign Pontiff, help all those who invoke you in their necessities, and since you are the ever Virgin Mary and Mother of the true God, obtain for us from your most holy Son the grace of keeping our faith, of sweet hope in the midst of the bitterness of life of burning charity, and the precious gift of final perseverance. Amen. |
O Antiphons - December 17 - 23 |
O Sapientia (December 17) O Wisdom (Eccl 24: 5), you came forth from the mouth of the Most High (Sir 24: 30), and reaching from beginning to end, you ordered all things mightily and sweetly (Wis 8: 1). Come, and teach us the way of prudence (Isa 40: 14). O Adonai (December 18) O Adonai or O Lord and Ruler (Exod 6: 13) and Ruler of the house of Israel (Matt 2: 6), you appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush (Exod 3: 2), and on Mount Sinai gave him your Law (Exod 20). Come, and with outstretched arm redeem us (Jer 32: 21). O Radix Jesse (December 19) O Root of Jesse, you stand for the ensign of all mankind (Isa 11: 10); before you kings shall keep silence and to you all nations shall have recourse (Isa 52: 15). Come, save us, and do not delay (Hab 2: 3). O Clavis David (December 20) O Key of David (Apoc 3: 7) Scepter of the house of Israel, you open and no man closes; you close and no man opens (Isa 22: 22). Come, and deliver him from the chains of prison who sits in darkness and in the shadow of death (Ps 107: 10). O Oriens (December 21) O Rising Dawn (Zac 6: 12), Radiance of the Light eternal (Hab 3: 4) and Sun of Justice (Mal 3: 20); Come, enlighten those who sit in darkness & the shadow of death (Ps 107: 10; Lk 1: 78). O Rex Gentium (December 22) O King of the Gentiles (Hag 2: 8), Desired of all, you are the cornerstone that binds two into one (Eph 2: 20). Come, and save poor man whom you fashion out of clay (Gen 2: 7). O Emmanuel (December 23) O Emmanuel (Isa 7: 14; 8: 8), our King and Lawgiver (Gen 49:10; cf. Ezek 21: 32), the Expected of the nations and their Savior (Isa 33: 22): Come, and save us, O Lord our God. |
Any large white candle can be used for the Christ candle. The idea is to decorate it with symbols for Christ. Use old Christmas cards, sequins, holly, etc. The candle can be lit on Christmas Eve to show that the Light of the World has arrived. Then continue to light the Christ candle throughout the year at Sunday dinner to remind your family of our waiting for Christ, as well as celebrating His birth and Resurrection. |
The Christ Candle |
Blessing of the Tree |
More and more frequently families are blessing their Christmas trees. It is good to remind children that "the tree" relates to many aspects of our faith. For example, we are reminded that our first parents were not allowed to eat from one tree, and that Christ paid the great price for our redemption by hanging on a tree (cf. Acts 5:29-32). |
St. Juan Diego, Dec. 9th |
Juan walked fifteen miles to attend Mass every day. Participate in Mass one day this week that is not a Sunday Mass. If this is impossible, take a long walk outside and notice the miracles of God's love during that walk. You may not see roses in the snow or hear music, but there is plenty to praise God for! Prayer: Blessed Juan, you faced the skepticism and rejection of a bishop and the crowds to bring Mary's message to Mexico. Pray for us that when we are faced with obstacles to our faith we may show that same courage and commitment. Amen |
A Christmas Quiz Test your children's biblical knowledge and enhance your own with this challenging quiz! The answers are all to be found in the Bible in Matthew's Gospel chapters 1 and 2. Or in Luke's Gospel chapter 1 and chapter 2 verses 1 to 40. DIRECTIONS 1. In Matthew's Gospel how many generations are recorded between Abraham and the Messiah? 2. How many gifts did the Wise Men bring to Jesus? 3. In the accounts of Jesus' birth how many visits from angels are there? 4. How many months did Mary stay with her cousin Elizabeth while they were both pregnant? 5. How old was Anna the prophetess? 6. How many months had Elizabeth been pregnant when the angel appeared to Mary? 7. How many different names are given to Jesus in these passages? 8. How many times do angels say 'Do not be afraid'? 9. How many prophecies are quoted from the Old Testament in the Matthew passages? 10. How many days old was Jesus when he was circumcised and given his name? Answers 1: 42 2: 3 3: 6 4: 3 5: 84 6: 6 7: 12 (Immanuel, Jesus, Messiah, King of the Jews, Christ, Son of David, Son of Abraham, Son of the Most High, Son of God, Lord, Saviour, Nazarene). 8: 4 9: 5 10: 8 |