Awaiting Christ

November/December 2009 Issue | Posted by Melissa Hartog in Season

“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.”

~ Charles Dickens

Feasts, Traditions … and Fun

November

More Faith and Family Days in November

29 THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Make an Advent wreath from evergreens.

(For more ways to celebrate the season, log onto FaithandFamilyLIVE.com “Resources.”)

26 THANKSGIVING

• Throw a new twist on the Thanks-
giving pies and make pumpkin cake!

Pumpkin Cake

Cake:

16-ounce can of pumpkin (not filling)

1 1/4 cups sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon salt

12-ounce can evaporated milk

2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

4 eggs

Beat all these ingredients and pour into a greased 9-inch-by-13-inch pan.

Topping:

1 yellow cake mix

1 cup chopped pecans

1 1/2 sticks of butter

Sprinkle cake mix over the whole cake, sprinkle on the pecans, and then pour the butter over the whole mixture.

Bake 50 minutes in a preheated 350-degree oven. Serve warm or cold. Top with whipped topping.

— Maryan Vander Woude

30 ST. ANDREW

Since St. Andrew’s feast falls 25 days before Christmas, there is a beautiful Christmas Anticipatory Prayer that begins on his feast (also called St. Andrew’s Novena — even though it’s more than nine days). Prayer cards indicate: “It is piously believed that whoever recites the prayer fifteen times a day from the feast of St. Andrew (November 30) until Christmas will obtain what is asked.”

Hail and blessed be the hour
and moment in which the Son
of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight,
in Bethlehem, in piercing cold.
In that hour, vouchsafe, O my God!
to hear my prayer and grant
my desires, through the merits
of our Savior Jesus Christ
and of his Blessed Mother.

Amen.

Imprimatur +Michael Augustine, Archbishop of New York
Feb. 6, 1897

For more information, go to FaithandFamilyLIVE.com “Resources.”

— Maryan Vander Woude

December

8 THEIMMACULATECONCEPTION

Attend Mass on this holy day of obligation and think about your Christmas gift to Our Lady. Maybe you haven’t been faithful to the daily Rosary. Resolve to get back to it (or start it) right away. For motivation, try the National Catholic Register’s Guide to the Rosary ($4.95 from CirclePress.org) or read The Rosary — Keeping Company With Jesus and Mary (Servant Books), a new book by Karen Edminsten that succinctly explains the beauty of this prayer and shows us how to get the most out of it. Karen demolishes every excuse for not praying the Rosary, and gives lots of creative hints for finding the time to incorporate it into our prayer life.

— Daria Sockey

25 THENATIVITYOFTHELORD

• You’ve been to Mass, opened presents, and eaten a traditional Christmas meal of some sort. Those are the main things. Here are a few other ideas — things you actually have time to do now that the big shopping spree is over. Maybe one of them will become your family’s special Christmas Day tradition.

• Sing carols around the piano, or during an after-dinner walk down the street.

• Play a game such as charades, categories, or Fictionary (players guess the definitions of obscure words).

• Have the kids produce and direct a living Nativity scene, a Christmas skit, or a talent show. Mom’s interference should not extend beyond helping to locate a few props or costume pieces.

• Just before bedtime, everyone bundle up and go in the back yard to look at the Christmas stars. Have a brief prayer of praise and thanksgiving for this day, and all sing “Silent Night.”

— Daria Sockey

More Faith and Family Days in DECEMBER

7 ST. AMBROSE

He was chosen as the new bishop while still an unbaptized catechumen (FaithandFamilyLIVE.com “Resources”).

12 OURLADY OFGUADALUPE

Learn more about the symbols on St. Juan Diego’s tilma (FaithandFamilyLIVE.com “Resources”).

27 THEHOLYFAMILYOFJESUS, MARY, ANDJOSEPH

Pray for all families.

Looking Ahead ...

January

More Faith and Family Days in JANUARY

3 EPIPHANY

(The Solemnity of Epiphany is transferred to the first Sunday following Jan. 1) Read The Gift of the Magi (see page 39).

10 THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD

Look at photos of family baptisms.

27 St. Angela MERICI

She was foundress of the Ursuline nuns (FaithandFamilyLIVE.com “Resources”).

1 MARY,MOTHER OFGOD

• Go to Mass — holy day of obligation.

• Serve Lady Fingers in honor of Our Lady, who held our Divine Infant:

Lady Fingers cookie recipe:

2 sticks butter
1/4 cup sugar
2 1/2 cups cake flour
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup almonds (or other nut), chopped
Confectioners’ sugar, sifted

Cream butter and sugar. Add flour, vanilla, and nuts. Divide dough and roll into “finger size” shape.

Bake at 250 degrees for 1 hour. Cool on rack. Roll in confectioners’ sugar.

Lady Fingers can be dressed up in a trifle, as well. Put a couple in a tall glass or large glass bowl, pour on 1 teaspoon Grand Marnier (optional), soak in 2 teaspoons blueberry sauce, and add fresh blueberries. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least four hours. Top with whipped cream.

— Adapted from Cooks.com

— Maryan Vander Woude

28 St. THOMAS AQUINAS

On the feast of St. Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the Church, do the two things he did best: Pray in front of the Blessed Sacrament and study. What should you pray and read? Here are suggestions:

• If you find the 60-volume Summa Theologiae daunting, start with a commentary, such as The Shorter Summa (Ignatius Press) by Peter Kreeft, or read a biography and introduction to his philosophy: Thomas Aquinas: The Dumb Ox (Random House) by G.K. Chesterton.

• On the lighter side, you can read The Quiet Light (Ignatius Press) by Louis DeWohl, which is historical fiction about the life of St. Thomas Aquinas.

• Memorize one of the prayers/songs that he wrote. We owe a debt of gratitude to this saint for some of the greatest adoration songs — “Adore Te Devote” or “Pange Lingua” to name two. Use them for your meditation in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Visit FaithandFamilyLIVE.com “Resources” for more of his songs and prayers.

• Pray to St. Thomas Aquinas for our Catholic schools, of which he is patron.

— Maryan Vander Woude

Homework: Share your own faith and family traditions with us.

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