Monthly Archives: December 2013

12 Days of Christmas for My Priest: Day 2

On the second day of Christmas, my friend Jenn gave to me:  two photographs and one hour of adoration!

OLGC Adoration Chapel
OLGC’s Adoration Chapel in downtown Plymouth

Unexpectedly, I was the only one in the chapel for Adoration! On one hand, I like having Him all to myself. On the other hand, I was sad that He was by Himself.

After Adoration, I spent some time taking photos. It was cold outside and I just had my cell phone, so they aren’t the best pictures ever…

Lamppost by OLGC School
This lamppost was pretty cute — all decorated for Christmas — but I have quite a bit of streaking from the light. I’ll have to return with a proper camera. Hopefully, on a warmer day. 🙂

While I was there, I got to watch a car slide out of the school parking lot. Make a loop around the block, then return to the parking lot to do donuts in the snow. Unfortunately, he left before I could take a video. 🙂

The Second Day of Christmas

On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: two turtle doves (and a partridge in a pear tree)!

The doves stand for the Old and New Testaments, but also may represent the doves that were required as an offering when a male child was dedicated in the Temple at the age of 12.

Isn’t 2 doves also the offering for poorer families when the male child is presented at the Temple shortly after birth? I think that’s somewhere in Leviticus… Let me look… Yes. Leviticus 12 is all about this. This offering, for a male child, would happen about 33 days after birth, after the period of purification for the mother.

In an aside, I also recently learned that turtle doves are the same as mourning doves, which is the name by which I am more familiar.

Mourning Dove
Mourning Dove

As doves represent peace, the book recommends thinking up ways to spread peace. Hmmm… perhaps a good way would be to understand the position of people who do not agree with you. Even if you don’t come to a common understanding, if you have an idea of why they believe what they believe, then you can at least have sympathy for their position. Another way might be to practice humility in your daily life. If you are in the habit of being humble, you probably will be less inclined to being stubborn or prideful and letting disagreements escalate.

What are you thoughts on how we can spread peace?

The First Day of Christmas

The first day of Christmas is, of course, Christmas Day. Don’t let all the stores and advertisements tell you different! And it lasts until the 12th day of Christmas, which is the eve of Epiphany.

This year, I decided to celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas in a couple different ways. First, I’m going to be “giving” them as a present to my priest/best friend by doing different things for him in the style of the song. You can read more about that on my other blog. Second, I’m celebrating them more traditionally according to a book that I have, “Holiday Inspirations” by Better Homes and Gardens.

The book states that “The 12 Days of Christmas” is an English counting song reputed to have been established in the 1500s as a coded catechism for teaching the Catholic faith. They tell you how to make cute, themed gift boxes for each of the days, but I have neither the time nor the resources to make these. Plus, who would I pick to give them to? But, thankfully, there’s also different activities which can be done to symbolize each day.

The first day of Christmas is “A Partridge in a Pear Tree,” and they suggest celebrating with a themed meal. While partridge is rather difficult to find, my family and I had turkey for our Christmas dinner, and I think that totally counts. We are also supposed to have pears and cheese, along with other fruits and wine/sparkling juice or tea. However, the one pear I had in my fridge was all mushy and there were no grocery stores open on the way to my parents’, so it was basically just the turkey.

Technically, the song has us giving the partridge in a pear tree <em>every day, so I’m sure I can have my pears and apples some other time during this Christmas season and have it “count.” 🙂

The book explains that, “The pear tree is said to symbolize the cross; the partridge, Jesus Christ, because a mother partridge risks her own life to save her chicks by luring predators away from the nest.”

12 Days of Christmas for My Priest: Day 1

This year, I’d like to really celebrate the season of Christmas, especially because so many people think that Christmas ends on Christmas day, when it actually is just starting! One of the ways I am celebrating is to do the Twelve Days of Christmas for my priest, which is also his Christmas present from me this year.

On the first day of Christmas, my friend Jenn gave to me: one hour of Adoration!

St. Anastasia Divine Mercy Chapel Tabernacle on Christmas Day
I spent my hour at the Divine Mercy Chapel at St. Anastasia.

Our Lady of Guadalupe and Vigil Candles
I love all the candles! Thanks, too, to Mary, for her Yes.

In addition to praying, I read some from the book my brother gave me for Christmas, “Under Angel Wings: The Story of a Young Girl and Her Guardian Angel,” which is quite good so far. On the way home, I listened to some Christmas music and ended up crying. Good crying, though! Gotta love the Holy Spirit!

The Light of the World

Today’s Jesse Tree devotion celebrates Jesus as the Light of the World: John 1:1-14

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him. But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God.

And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.

Prayer Chapel and Vigil Candle 2

O Emmanuel!

Today’s Jesse Tree devotion and O Antiphon celebrates Jesus as Emmanuel: Isaiah 7:14; 33:22

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign; the young woman, pregnant and about to bear a son, shall name him Emmanuel.

For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he it is who will save us.

The Gifts - dscn4163

O Emmanuel: “O Emmanuel, king and lawgiver, desire of the nations, Savior of all people, come and set us free, Lord our God.” Isaiah had prophesied, “The Lord himself will give you this sign: the Virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.”

O Rex Gentium!

Today’s Jesse Tree devotion and O Antiphon celebrates Jesus as King of the Gentiles: Psalm 2:7-8; Ephesians 2:14-20

I will proclaim the decree of the LORD,
he said to me, “You are my son;
today I have begotten you.

Ask it of me,
and I will give you the nations as your inheritance,
and, as your possession, the ends of the earth.

For he is our peace, he who made both one and broke down the dividing wall of enmity, through his flesh, abolishing the law with its commandments and legal claims, that he might create in himself one new person in place of the two, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile both with God, in one body, through the cross, putting that enmity to death by it. He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near, for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.

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O Rex Gentium: “O King of all the nations, the only joy of every human heart; O Keystone of the mighty arch of man, come and save the creature you fashioned from the dust.” Isaiah had prophesied, “For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.” (9:5), and “He shall judge between the nations, and impose terms on many peoples. They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; one nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again.” (2:4).

O Oriens!

Today’s Jesse Tree devotion and O Antiphon celebrates Jesus as the Radiant Dawn: Psalm 19:6-7

It comes forth like a bridegroom from his canopy,
and like a hero joyfully runs its course.

From one end of the heavens it comes forth;
its course runs through to the other;
nothing escapes its heat.

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O Oriens: “O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.” Isaiah had prophesied, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shown.” (9:1).

O Clavis David!

Today’s Jesse Tree devotion and O Antiphon celebrates Jesus as the Key of David: Isaiah 22:22

I will place the key of the House of David on his shoulder; what he opens, no one will shut, what he shuts, no one will open.

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What would this key look like?

O Clavis David: “O Key of David, O royal Power of Israel controlling at your will the gate of Heaven: Come, break down the prison walls of death for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death; and lead your captive people into freedom.” Isaiah had prophesied, AI will place the Key of the House of David on His shoulder; when he opens, no one will shut, when he shuts, no one will open.” (22:22), and “His dominion is vast and forever peaceful, from David’s throne, and over His kingdom, which he confirms and sustains by judgment and justice, both now and forever.” (9:6).