“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” Isaiah 9:2
Light
The True
The weary days of waiting and Isaiah proclaims. With the
celebrate the true light, our
wandering are over, the prophet
advent of the Christmas season, we
Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
We walk with Joseph and Mary toward this “great light,” the promise of joy, the incarnation of hope, the birth of Jesus. In this book, we ask the Holy Family to accompany us as we unravel a rich tapestry of traditions within the universal Church. We invite you to encounter moments of grace and illumination along your family’s journey to Christmas Day.
This theme of light originates in John’s Gospel. John begins with epic poetry rather than a narrative of Christ’s birth:
was the Word, and the Word was with God... “InIntheHimbeginning was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5
Bethlehem is where David was born, raised and later crowned king of Israel. Because St. Joseph was a descendent of David, he was obligated to travel to Bethlehem for the census.
days a decree went out “InfromthoseCaesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled…” Luke 2:1
Joseph too went up from Galilee “And from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
”
Luke 2:4-5 The Holy Family’s 100-mile journey on foot from Nazareth to Bethlehem was an arduous one. The ancient roads of Israel were dangerous and dusty. Mary’s discomfort and Joseph’s steadfastness inspire us to offer up hardships during our day.
dvent A
The Four Sundays of
The round shape of the Advent wreath,
woven from evergreen branches, is a symbol of God’s
unending love. The four candles—three purple and one pink—symbolize hope,
faith, joy and peace. The fifth candle—known as the “Christ Candle”—is lit on Christmas Eve and represents the life of Christ. Its white color symbolizes the purity of our sinless Savior.
st 1Sunday The “Prophet’s
rd 2ndSunday 3Sunday The “Bethlehem Candle” symbolizes Faith, reminding us of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem.
The “Shepherd’s Candle” symbolizes Joy, reminding us of the joy the world experienced at the coming birth of Jesus.
th 4Sunday The “Angel’s Candle”
Candle” symbolizes
symbolizes Peace,
Hope, reminding us
reminding us of the
that Jesus is coming.
message of the angels: “Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men.”
Blessing of an Advent
Wreath
Lord our God, we praise you for your Son, Jesus Christ: He is Emmanuel, the hope of the peoples, He is the wisdom that teaches and guides us, He is the Savior of every nation.
Lord God, let your blessing come upon us as we light the candles of this wreath. May the wreath and its light be a sign of Christ’s promise to bring us salvation. May He come quickly and not delay. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Tree
Blessing of a Christmas
Light has a constant presence in this season. From decorating our trees with Christmas lights to the Irish custom of leaving a candle lit in the window to welcome the Holy Family, we naturally seek out light as the nights grow darker and longer.
Let us glorify Christ our light, who brings salvation and peace into our midst, now and forever. Lord God, let your blessing come upon us as we illumine this tree. May the light and cheer it gives be a sign of the joy that fills our hearts. May all who delight in this tree come to the knowledge and joy of salvation. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Mercy The Works of
Christ asks us to share His light engaging in the Corporal ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊
Feed the hungry Visit the sick Give drink to the thirsty Give alms to the poor
and spread hope by
Works of Mercy:
◊ Visit the imprisoned ◊ Bury the dead ◊ Shelter the homeless
In the spirit of the season, may we find ways to share His light along our journey.
Honoring the Year of
St. Joseph
Matthew and Luke
are the only Gospels
that explicitly mention Joseph, foster father of Jesus. We encounter Joseph, a humble carpenter and “a just man” who is betrothed to Mary and does “as the angel of the Lord commanded him” (Mt 1:19, 24) when faced with uncertainty. During this Year of St. Joseph, we strive to imitate Joseph’s example of faith, even when there was no room at the inn, trusting completely in God during life’s darkest, most perplexing moments.
The second week of
Advent
is full of celebrations that
prepare us for great joy at Christmas. On December 6, Christians worldwide celebrate the Feast of St. Nicholas. He was a faithful 4th century bishop who lived in modern-day Turkey. Today, many families celebrate St. Nick by having children place their shoes out the evening before his feast day. St. Nicholas fills their shoes—or winter boots—with fruits (traditionally, an orange or tangerine), candy (often, candy cane or chocolate coins), and religious books or prayer cards. St. Nick’s legacy continues today through the generosity of those donating Christmas gifts to children in need.
The Legend of the
Pretzel
In the Early Church, Christians fasted
on bread and water
during the penitential seasons of
says a medieval Italian monk rolled
Advent and Lent. Legend
his dough into the shape of two
arms crossed in prayer, creating what we know today as the modern-day pretzel. The three holes in the pretzel represent the three persons of the Holy Trinity. This doughy, salty snack is found at Christkindlmarkts, which translates to “Christ Child Market.” These festive markets are popular during the holidays in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and in many cities across the U.S.
The Legend of the
Candy
Cane
Believe it or not, this sweet, simple candy is rich in meaning.
◊ The upside down “J” stands for Jesus. ◊ The shape also resembles a shepherd’s staff and symbolizes Jesus, the Good Shepherd. ◊ The vibrant red and white stripes point to Isaiah’s prophecy: “He was wounded for our transgressions...and with His stripes we are healed” (Is. 53:5), meaning that by the blood Jesus shed at His scourging and suffering during the Passion, our sins are forgiven, and our salvation is secure. ◊ The peppermint flavor reminds us of the fragrant gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh that the Wise Men brought to Jesus.
The Feast of the
Conception
I mmaculate
the Lord Himself will give you a sign. “Therefore Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14 Each year the Church venerates the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of Our Savior, on December 8, Feast of the
Immaculate Conception. From the moment she was conceived in St. Anne’s womb, Mary is preserved from Original Sin and full of grace—just as we exclaim in the prayer:
“Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.”
Feasts of
St. Juan Diego
Juan Diego was walking his 14-mile trek to Mass to celebrate the Immaculate Conception when Our Lady first appeared to him on Tepeyac Hill located on the outskirts of what is now Mexico City on December 9, 1531. Mary appeared as a native Aztec woman who is visibly pregnant and radiant, “clothed with the sun” (Rev. 12:1). Juan Diego was still learning his catechism at that time. He reminds us that God chooses the most humble among us to announce His Good News! Later Mary appeared again, sending Juan Diego to the Bishop with proof of her heavenly apparition: fragrant Spanish roses gathered atop the frost-covered hill and her beautiful image imprinted on his tilma which remains visible nearly 500 years later.
Dec. 9
and...
Our Lady of Dec. 12
Guadalupe Our Lady of Guadalupe is venerated as “Patroness of the Americas” and protectoress of the unborn. Our Lady consoles each one of us through her precious words to St. Juan Diego:
“Hear me and understand well, my little son, that nothing should frighten or grieve you. Let not your heart be disturbed… Am I not here, who is your Mother? Are you not under my protection?”
On the third
Sunday
of Advent, Gaudete Sunday, the priest wears a rose-colored vestment and we light the pink candle. The Church rejoices that the birth of Christ is near! We ask God that the spirit of generosity and hope may fill our hearts—and those of family, friends and neighbors—in anticipation of Christmas Day.
Feast of
St. Lucy Although Lucy (Lucia) lived in Sicily, where she was
about 300 CE, her feast day is marked on December 13
martyred
by festivities
in several European countries. Scandinavian people celebrate Lucia, whose name means “light” around the Winter Solstice, as the days lengthen. It is custom for the eldest daughter in a family to dress as St. Lucy in a white gown, red sash, and crown of green leaves and candles. Carrying “Lucia buns” or small cakes, the family members would join her to walk door-to-door in the neighborhood delivering a warm treat and sharing light, symbolic of the great Light of the World, Jesus Christ.
Why study the saints at
Christmas?
Pope Benedict VXI said: “The saints are our true constellations, which light up the world at night.”
Dec. 13
St.
Francis
and the First
St. Francis of Assisi, with permission from Pope Gregory IX, made the first crèche or manger on Christmas Eve in 1223. The endearing appearance of a child laid humbly in a manger of hay brought many of Francis’ brothers to tears. Christians worldwide observe this tradition today by displaying a Nativity scene in their home.
Crèche Blessing of a Christmas manger:
God of every nation and people, from the very beginning of creation you have made manifest your love: when our need for a Savior was great you sent your Son to be born of the Virgin Mary. To our lives He brings joy and peace, justice, mercy, and love. Lord, bless all who look upon this manger; may it remind us of the humble birth of Jesus, and raise our thoughts to Him, who is God-with-us and Savior of all, and who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.
Around the
World
For Christians around the globe—from Germans to Peruvians to Vietnamese—it is custom to display a Nativity, whether a miniature on a mantle or life-size figures in the front yard. Italian and Portuguese Catholics build a grand presepio under the Christmas tree. Some are extravagant and an entire village is constructed around the manger scene; others simply include Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, the shepherds, the three Wise Men, and sometimes, a donkey for warmth near the Christ child.
Decorating with or recreating the Nativity is a wonderful family activity to journey along with the Holy Family. A Haitian-Creole tradition finds children setting out straw-filled shoes, reminiscent of the Christ child’s manger, at their homes on Christmas Eve. Upon returning from Midnight Mass with their families for a lavish Réveillon feast, they hope to find their shoes emptied of straw and overflowing with presents from Tonton Nwèl (Santa Claus).
Feast of the
Fishes
Seven
The Italian Feast of the Seven Fishes, an Old Country Christmas Eve tradition, originates from the Catholic discipline of fasting from meat and dairy before feasts, or holy days. The cuisine from different regions in Italy evolved into a unique meal that reflects the biodiversity of Italy. Why seven fishes? The number also traces its roots to the significance of “7” in Sacred Scripture including that in seven days the world was created and God had completed His work.
On the fourth
Sunday
means our journey of hope
of Advent, the lighting of the fourth candle is nearly complete.
is a journey towards Bethlehem. May we let “Advent ourselves be drawn by the light of God made man.” Pope Francis
Evangelists
The Four
Each of the four evangelists
that reflects the Gospel writer’s
announce the birth of the Messiah in a way
distinct audience and intention.
Matthew chronicles Jesus’ genealogy, tracing His lineage from Abraham to David to Christ Himself to manifest that Jesus is the Savior for whom the Israelites have waited. Mark begins with the prophetic message of John the Baptist, who literally prepares the way for the Lord; he also highlights the Baptism of Jesus when God the Father declares for all to witness: “You are my beloved Son” (Mk. 1:11). John’s poetic introduction describes the Incarnation in evocative and profound figurative language. Lastly, Luke offers the most comprehensive infancy narrative, and provides the Gospel we often hear proclaimed on Christmas Day.
Christmas Many families have their own traditions for Christmas
E ve
Eve. Consider starting a new tradition
by joining Cardinal Seán O’Malley as he shares the story of the birth of Christ from the Gospel of Luke. Find the video in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French online at: bostoncatholicappeal.org/christmas/a-journey-of-hope
M agi The
Twelve days after Christmas, on January 6, the Church celebrates Epiphany, when the Three Magi or wise men, arrive to pay homage to the newborn king bearing three gifts: gold, treasure worthy of a true king; frankincense, fragrant incense burnt as a prayer offering; and myrrh, used in healing and as an embalming ointment. Myrrh, the most mysterious of the gifts, foreshadows Jesus’ crucifixion and death.
The Magi also teach us to heed God’s voice:
warned in a dream not to return to Herod “[and]...theytheyweredeparted for their country by another way.” Matthew 2:12
It is common in Spanish-speaking countries that the Epiphany, or El Dia de los Reyes, is even more jubilant than Christmas Day! Delicious pastries accompany this feast, from the Galette des Rois in France to Rosca de Reyes in Mexico, Roscón in Spain to King Cake in Louisiana. The brilliance of the Christmas star symbolizes the guiding light that faith is in our lives. We follow the Church as the three wise men followed the star to draw near the Light of the world (Is. 9:6).