Journeys of a Catholic Poster Girl

While 2009 doesn’t start for another month, in the Church 2009 has begun today! The first Sunday of Advent marks the beginning of the new Church Year. 

Last year I found a copy of the out-of-print Around the Year With the Von Trapp Family (yes, that Von Trapp family) on the internet (link on sidebar). Besides being wonderfully written, it also gives meticulous detail about how the large family celebrated every season of the Church year. I printed off the pages and placed them in a binder (sort of comprising a ‘book’), and have followed it since then. 

This is the first Advent I have with it, and one of the ideas is choosing a patron saint for the year. This year, I have chosen St. Francis, partially because there are several “Francis”es in my family, and also because I hope to be studying at Franciscan University in 2009, so I figure I better know some more about him and his order, other than he was kidnapped by pirates, rebuilt churches with his money, liked animals and founded the Franciscan order. 

So this year I will be praying/reading/studying St. Francis. If you know any good books or internet links about him, please leave them in the combox!

Another thing: Advent reading. I use the Magnificat Advent book, and Advent and Christmas with Pope John Paul II. (There’s a whole series of these–Padre Pio, G.K. Chesterton, etc., etc.) What books do you like to use? 

Tony Blair becomes Catholic!
Mary and Jesus–too cute.

Fr.Z

 O come, Desire of nations, bind,
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel. 

A Very Appropriate O Antiphon for the short days.

O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer,
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

Again, Fr. Z.

 O come, thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you O Israel. 

Today’s Fr. Z reflection.

O come, O 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. 

Fr. Z’s excellent reflection here.

O Come, O come, thou Lord of might
Who to thy tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times did give the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. 

Great link at Fr. Z about today’s Antiphon.

O come, O wisdom, from on high
Who orders all things mightily
To us the path of knowledge show
And teach us in your ways to go. 

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I say it again: Rejoice! –St. Paul

Happy Gaudete Sunday, everyone!

It amazes me how Advent goes so fast (and Lent, usually, seems interminable). What have you been doing to spiritually prepare for Christmas? Have you added any new practices–more prayer time, daily Mass, daily rosary, etc.? During Advent I read from Magnificat’s Advent devotional, as  well as a book called “Advent and Christmas with Pope John Paul II.” I find that these help keep me in the right frame of mind as Christmas approaches.

As we enter the home stretch, these lyrics might help us focus (we’re singing this song next week, so if you’re in my parish, come out!)

Are we ready for the babe of Bethlehem
To be born in a lowly stall?
Are we ready to greet the tiny little king
Who will come to save us all?

Are we ready for the star of Bethlehem
to appear in the winter sky?
Are we ready to follow anywhere it leads
And let its light fill all our lives?

Prepare ye the way for the King of Glory
Once again proclaim the wondrous story
God has sent His own true Son.
But will we know Him when He comes?

Are we ready for the song of Bethlehem

to declare our Savior’s birth?
Are we ready to  join the angels as they sing
And spread the news to all on Earth?

Prepare ye the way for the King of Glory
Once again proclaim the wondrous story
God has sent His own true Son
But will we know Him when He comes?

Are we ready for the babe of Bethlehem
God’s true and promised Son?
Are we ready to greet the tiny little King
And will we know Him when He comes?

Will we know Him when He comes? 

For the first time in many moons (like, since high school!) I am able to make the St. Lucia buns for St. Lucia (or St. Lucy’s) feast day tomorrow. Yay!

If you have never had these, they are wonderfully sweet and delicious. It’s nice to have a treat on the shortest day of the year (well, at least traditionally. I’m not sure if it actually is the shortest day, scientifically).

My recipe below… (Read on …)