Christmas Eve
Posted by Danielle Bean in Faith on Wednesday, December 24, 2008
As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”
—Luke 3:4-6
Today’s task: Make ready. Be busy. Jesus is near!
Advent Day 24
Posted by Danielle Bean in Faith on Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather the lambs in his arms, he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.
—Isaiah 40:10-11
Today’s task: Keep quiet. Even if chaos reins around you, keep quiet inside. Listen.
Today’s music: Christmas on Pandora
Today’s last minute cookie recipe: Candy Cane cookies
Today’s antiphon: O Emmanuel
Advent Day 23
Posted by Danielle Bean in Faith on Monday, December 22, 2008
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.
—John 3:16-17
Today’s task: Clean something. Mop the dining room floor, scrub the bathroom, or make your stove top sparkle. It might not get done again till 2009.
Today’s recipe: Dangerous Toffee (so called because of the threat it poses to my thighs — My plan is to make it and not eat any of it. How’s that for self-delusion?)
Today’s shout out: Happy birthday to my darling nephew Gregory!
Today’s YouTube cuteness: Large Family 12 Days of Christmas
Today’s antiphon: O King of the Gentiles
4th Sunday of Advent
Posted by Danielle Bean in Faith on Sunday, December 21, 2008
4th Sunday Prayer:
O Lord, stir up Thy power, we pray Thee, and come; and with great might help us, that with the help of Thy Grace, Thy merciful forgiveness may hasten what our sins impede. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Today’s O Antiphon:
O Rising Dawn
More Advent background, blessings, and prayers.
The Liturgical Roots of the Christmas Cookie
Posted by Rebecca Teti in Food on Saturday, December 20, 2008
Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger writes in The Blessing of Christmas: Meditations for the Season
“Even a custom like Christmas baking, apparently such an external activity, has its roots in the Church’s Advent liturgy, which makes its own the glorious words of the Old Testament in these days of the declining year: “In that day, the mountains will drip sweetness, and the rivers will flow with milk and honey.”... READ MORE
Advent Day 21
Posted by Danielle Bean in Faith on Saturday, December 20, 2008
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not live according to the truth; but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
—1 John 1:5-7
Today’s task: Be thoughtful. Think of someone who could use your help or companionship — especially at this time of year — and offer it.
Today’s recipe: rum balls (which will mellow nicely in the fridge)
Today’s music: O Night Divine
Today’s antiphon: O Key of David
Advent Day 20
Posted by Danielle Bean in Faith on Friday, December 19, 2008
Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
—Isaiah 60:1-3
Today’s task: Breathe. Delegate what can be delegated. Skip what can be skipped.
Today’s book:Jan Brett’s Christmas Treasury
Today’s baking: Pinwheels and Checkerboards
Today’s antiphon: O Root of Jesse
Advent Day 19
Posted by Danielle Bean in Faith on Thursday, December 18, 2008
For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
—Isaiah 60:2-3
Today’s task: Be generous. Give more than you were planning to. Of your time, money, talents, and energy.
Today’s link: Christmas special schedules
Today’s music: Vince Guaraldi
Today’s antiphon: O Ruler of House of Israel
An Advent Hymn
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Faith on Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Rebecca’s post about “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” has me wanting to share my new favorite Advent hymn.
I heard it for the first time at Mass during Advent last year, and this year when I decided I was going to focus on learning Advent music, I knew I had to find a recording of it. I found one, and I’ve been listening to it and singing it non-stop this Advent. It has really enriched me during this season.
The hymn is called “Comfort, Comfort Ye My People.” It dates from the seventeenth century. You can see the text and hear the tune here at the Oremus Hymnal (warning: clicking that link will cause music to play) and you can buy an mp3 of a beautiful choral arrangement here
And you can imagine my delight, on the Second Sunday of Advent this year, to recognize my new favorite hymn in the Old Testament reading at Mass! The words are straight from Isaiah 40.
I hope you’ll love this one as much as I do.
It’s Not Too Good To Be True
Posted by Rebecca Teti in Faith on Wednesday, December 17, 2008
I can never read this Pope’s preaching without thanking God for sending us such a man.
He has such a lovely soul that pours itself out before us in his teaching. How can we not love a God who can raise up people who can speak to us of God in the way the Pope did at yesterday’s papal audience inaugurating the pre-Christmas novena?
Postponing further audiences on St. Paul until after Christmas, Benedict... READ MORE
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