When I was a nominal Catholic, I liked to pretend that I knew a lot about Catholicism. Realistically, I knew slightly less than the average 7-year-old knows about the workings of a combustible steam engine. Back then, for me, Advent was the Catholic word for Christmas. I was, for a lack of a better term, a theological idiot.

Webster’s Dictionary gives three meanings for the word Advent:

1. The arrival of a notable person, thing, or event. The advent of Christ. The advent of television. The advent of the day my husband will finally pick up the pair of socks that have been in the same spot on the floor for six weeks.
2. The first season of the Christian church year, leading up to Christmas and including the four preceding Sundays. So, all of December.
3. The coming or second coming of Christ.

If you knew this, you’re doing better than I was most of my life. One of the many drawbacks of being a lukewarm Catholic is blindly going through life thinking you know enough about the faith, yet really knowing very little, including the why and how behind most of the Church’s teachings. For a number of years, I was part of the misinformation problem.

Advent is a trifecta of celebrations:

• Celebrating Christ’s birth.
• Waiting for Christ to return to Earth again.
• Waiting for Christ to come into our hearts.

In a culture where everything is instant, we most certainly have lost the art of waiting. I blame Amazon because faith has no Prime shipping. We’ve lost the wonder and contemplation needed to appreciate the beauty and mystery of Advent. How can we find Christ at Christmas if we aren’t watching and waiting for him? How can we appreciate the time we have to wait when we can’t even wait two minutes for a slow Wi-Fi confection?

Advent gives us a chance to really put our minds where it matters most, on the next life. Here’s how:

Quit being too busy to be spiritual

I know you have to do the thing with the thing before the thing and then you have to rush off to the other thing, and in the words of INXS, “There’s not enough time…” If you wait for the time, it’ll never come. So, make room. Turn off your phone. Set aside your to-do list. Light a candle. Say a prayer. Sit in the chapel.

Sacrifice all of the things

Then, substitute them with Jesus. Give up some part of your daily routine to fit in 20-30 minutes for Christ:

• Pray on your afternoon run.
• Dedicate a decade of the Rosary to someone you don’t know who needs prayers. No Rosary? No problem. God gave you 10 fingers.
• Listen to Scripture or faith-based books/podcasts on your commute.
• Grab a Bible and pick a psalm. Find a sentence and make it your daily meditation. Apply those words to your day and try to uncover their meaning in your life.

Take your Christmas playlist to a higher level

Traditional Christmas music is one of my favorite things about Thanksgiving through Epiphany. There’s a rumor going around that I even indulge in summer. Once or twice a week, or an hour before bed, listen to some spiritual songs, like a Gregorian chant or (my favorite) “Advent in Ephesus” by the Benedictines of Mary Queen of Apostles. They are prayers that feel as traditional as Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” but are spiritually uplifting, calming, and peaceful.

Give, give, give

You don’t always have to give away money. Give your time, talent, and friendship. Be kind to an enemy. Pay someone a compliment who doesn’t deserve it—bonus points if you do it after they’re rude to you. Hold open a door for a stranger. Offer to help someone carry their groceries. Write inspirational quotes on cards that serve as compliments to people and randomly place them on car windshields. Remember that the smallest act of kindness is still a huge act of love.

Have Sunday Advent dinners

If the good Lord gave you the gift of culinary skills then by all means, give Glory to God with traditional Advent meals. I was given no such skills. I am a terrible cook. Use these meal ideas to spark conversation and invite talk about Advent, God, prayer, and, of course, to eat. Obviously, feasts are important to Catholics, since we celebrate one every day. End these meals by lighting the candle on your Advent wreath for the week.

Go to Confession

Advent is diet Lent. Cough it up, fess up, spill it out. Get into Confession because if Advent is the time to celebrate the Second Coming, we should be ready at all times. No one wants to greet Jesus with a dirty soul. I know. Gah. Bleh. Confession. Eye roll. I get it. No one who ever rolled their eyes at the idea of going to Confession did harder than I did once upon a time. I’d even toss in a “pfffft” with the eye roll because I was a terrible person. The truth is, without Confession we really can’t allow Christ into our hearts, which is needed for deeper conversion, and that is what this is all about. That’s what it’s always been about. If you do nothing else during Advent, consider, at least, Confession.

Let’s celebrate Advent this year as Catholics ready and willing to serve our God. Let’s be humbled and filled with everlasting love for each other so we can show the world what true Christianity is all about. Let us find this season the path of peace and the ability to let Christ enter our hearts so that one day when he comes, we can kneel in reverence, bow our heads, and know that we served our purpose in this life: serving and loving. You can’t find either of those on Amazon.

Christina Antus lives with her husband and her three cute, but noisy, kids. When she’s not writing, she’s running, reading, folding forever-piles of laundry, and probably burning dinner. You can read more of Christina’s writing here: http://www.heykristeenuh.com/.

Last weekend, as I was greeting people and shaking hands after Mass, I said to a few parishioners, “Happy New Year!” Some of the glances and puzzled looks that I received in return gave me the impression that for a few, I really took them off guard—and someone even warned me that I was a bit early for ushering in the new year.

What I meant, of course, was to wish people a happy beginning to the Church’s new year, which commences every year with this season of Advent. As of last Sunday, we began a new liturgical cycle, reliving anew the mysteries of our salvation ‘from the top,’ starting appropriately with this season of postured anticipation of a Savior who will be born among us at Christmas. We move from studying Luke on most Sundays to Matthew in this coming year. In all of our liturgical books, we made what the seminarians I studied with used to call the “big flip,” which was when we moved the ribbons from the very back of the books to the very front. All in all, there’s just something satisfying about knowing we’ve completed another year in the Lord’s grace, and so we begin again.

While I’m not sure it’s ever necessarily been the practice to make resolutions at the beginning of a liturgical year, I think this ‘new beginning’ does present us with a perfect opportunity: to examine our spiritual lives with fresh eyes; to ask the Lord to illumine those ways in which He is calling us to grow deeper in the mystery and in the practice of our faith; and to resolve to adhere to some simple and achievable practices in this coming year. Ask yourself in prayer this week,

“How is God calling me deeper? What can I do to recommit myself to this life of discipleship and prayer? What is a small resolution that I can make to God in this coming year?”

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• If you haven’t gone to confession in years (yeah, you!), there’s no time like the present!
• Start praying before meals with your family, if you don’t already. Kneel by your beside every night and thank God for the beauty of another day.
• Commit to reading the Scriptures every day. Read a single chapter of one of the Gospels or start with the Book of Psalms. If you want something systematic, the Augustine Institute published a Bible in a Year that I find helpful, and it only takes about 20-30 minutes per day. (For the more technologically inclined, there are apps for this as well.)
• Spend a weekly or monthly hour in adoration. Start coming to Cathedral’s offerings of adoration on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Come see what our Late Advent Holy Hour is about!
• Resolve to pray the Rosary daily or weekly or to spend your commute offering a Divine Mercy Chaplet.
• Look through this Weekly and pick one of the plethora of Advent Offerings and go. Invite a friend! Go to some of the many adult faith formation opportunities we host. Discover the beauty of prayer and song at Lessons and Carols. Come see what a Rorate Coeli Mass is.
• Ever tried going to a daily Mass? Try going one extra day a week. See what grace the Lord has in store for you.
• Pick a different thing to fast from every week (coffee, snacking, salt, dessert, social media/internet, etc.). Offer the little suffering for someone you know who is sick or in need of your prayers.
• Explore the world of Catholic podcasts. I’m a fan of Catholic Stuff You Should Know. The Diocese started a podcast called Dive Deep. There’s even a podcast for praying the Liturgy of the Hours (called Pray Station Portable).
• Follow the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois on Facebook or Instagram. Share a post every once in a while. Be that person.
• Up your weekly contribution by $5. Pick a charity that you know and trust—local or global—and send them a donation. Commit to living discipleship in your financial life as well.
• Pick up a book for spiritual reading. Learn about the saints. Dive in deeper with some theology or spiritual classics. If you need suggestions, call me!

The options are endless. Pick something you can accomplish. Like our other New Year’s resolutions, we don’t want these to be a distant memory in just a couple weeks from now. Don’t try and do everything; but as a spiritual director once told me, “Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.” Resolve to do something good, even if we’re never going to implement in perfectly. One thing I know is that our Lord can never be outdone in generosity—if you commit to growing with the Lord, even a small effort can be met with great reward!

Father Michael Friedel is a Parochial Vicar at the Cathedral and Chaplain at Sacred Heart Griffin High School.

For much of the world the Christmas season has arrived; or I suppose one could say, it arrived several weeks ago!

While the secular celebration of Christmas begins earlier and earlier each year, we as Christians are asked to reel things back in a bit, in order to prepare for the actual Feast of our Lord Jesus’ Nativity. Whereas the world finds itself on a roller coaster, beginning around the night of October 31, slowly climbing up the tall mountain over the next two months only to find itself on the steepest of declines every December 26, the Christian is asked to prepare with the Advent season. No roller coasters in sight here, as we find ourselves on a much more serene bell curve.

The liturgical new year begins on the Feast of Christ the King, between November 20 and November 26 each year. We then begin the buildup for Christmas on the following weekend with the First Sunday of Advent, which then crescendos with Christmas Day, with a bell curve leading us slowly back down into Ordinary Time with the true twelve days of Christmas. The pacing of the Christian calendar helps us orient our focus on Christ much easier than the hustle and bustle of the commercialized Christmas season. And as we find ourselves just beginning our journey into Advent and Christmas, we would do well to look to the wisdom of the saints, both from times past and of more recent times. This way, we can refocus during this solemn time of Advent, in preparation for the awesome celebration of the Savior’s birth.

Josemaría Escrivá

St. Josemaría Escrivá, the founder of Opus Dei in the midtwentieth century, has left us with voluminous writings on the Christian life, particularly in regards to this season of Advent. In one sermon, St. Josemaría exhorts us to turn away from the evils of pride and sensuality, and to focus on our true vocation:

“On this first Sunday of Advent, when we begin to count the days separating us from the birth of the Savior … we have considered the reality of our Christian vocation: how our Lord has entrusted us with the mission of attracting other souls to sanctity, encouraging them to get close to him, to feel united to the Church, to extend the kingdom of God to all hearts. Jesus wants to see us dedicated, faithful, responsive. He wants us to love him. It is his desire that we be holy, very much his own.”

St. Josemaría’s words remind me of something I recently heard in a homily. During these weeks that lead up to Christmas, our culture seems to engage more in sensual pleasures. Company parties, feasts, shopping sprees. All these things cause distraction, taking our sights off what we’ve been called to do in the world, which is to be a contradiction of this current age. This is why Advent is such a perfect time to “extend the kingdom of God” to our friends and peers. Instead of indulging in all the various things that surround us in the commercialized Christmas season, we can live a bit more simply through increased fasting and prayer. Or if we must attend such functions before the true Christmas season begins, we can do more penitential acts during other days of the week. This way, our Lord will hopefully see us as dedicated, faithful and responsive to his will. St. Josemaría continues:

“This time of Advent is a time for hope. These great horizons of our Christian vocation, this unity of life built on the presence of God our Father, can and ought to be a daily reality. Ask our Lady, along with me, to make it come true. Try to imagine how she spent these months, waiting for her Son to be born. And our Lady, Holy Mary, will make of you alter Christus, ipse Christus: another Christ, Christ himself!”

Here we have the perfect example, and single boast of our human race, in the blessed Mother. Her life was certainly built on the presence of God, and we can experience that as well when we are oriented toward heavenly matters as opposed to the worldly matters of “the holiday season”. This time of Advent will afford us a great opportunity to be “another Christ” to the world. But before we can be another Christ to the world, we must first let our Lord transform our very beings.

St. Bernard of Clairvaux

This is something that the great Doctor of the Church, St. Bernard of Clairvaux, spoke about. Living during the twelfth century, St. Bernard wrote a series of sermons for Advent. Often called the last “Father of the Church” in the Christian West, his words are still relevant even as we experience the Advent season in the twenty-first century. He reminds us that we are in actuality preparing for “two advents”:

“It is fitting, my brethren, that we should celebrate this season of Advent with all possible devotion, rejoicing in so great a consolation, marveling at so great a condescension, inflamed with love by so great a manifestation of charity. But let us not think of that advent only whereby the Son of man has ‘come to seek and to save that which was lost,’ but also of that other by which He will come again and will take us to Himself. Would to God you kept these two advents constantly in your thoughts, revolving them in assiduous meditation, pondering in your hearts how much we have received by the first, how much we are promised at the second!”

The Advent season, then, helps us to bear in mind our ultimate destiny. It causes us to call to mind that, God-willing, we will at the end of our earthly lives be in union with our Lord for eternity. God came into the world to redeem the entire human race, but he will also come again as he promised us. To think about the Second Coming as we prepare to remember his First Coming brings everything full circle. Christ came into the world so that sin would have no reign over us. And when he returns again at the end of the world, he will bring all those that follow him into heaven, where only his love reigns supreme and where the effects of sin will be non-existent. This is what the season of Advent looks forward to in the truest sense. In the first Advent, God became man. But in the second Advent, when our Lord reunites our souls with our bodies, we as men will become like God. Truly, we must always ponder these two types of “advents”, especially at this time of the year.

Pope St. John Paul II

But even if we turn our attention just to this “first Advent”, we’ll see that the Lord’s Nativity, which Advent anticipates, is not merely confined to one point in time, or to one culture in the past. Pope St. John Paul II explains in a beautiful homily he gave in 1988:

“In Advent we await an event which occurs in history and at the same time transcends it. As it does every year, this event will take place on the night of the Lord’s Birth. The shepherds will hasten to the stable in Bethlehem; later the Magi will arrive from the East. Both the one and the other in a certain sense symbolize the entire human family. The exhortation that rings out in today’s liturgy: ‘Let us go joyfully to meet the Lord spreads to all countries, to all continents, among every people and nation.”

The birth of our Lord and Savior is to be transmitted to all peoples across all points of time. This confirms exactly what St. Josemaría had mentioned above, that we “extend the kingdom of God” into the hearts of all those we encounter. St. John Paul has this in mind when he talks of the Nativity transcending time itself. Our own personal meeting with the Lord, and cultivating that relationship with him, causes us to preach the Good News to the world in our words and actions. Once we have found solace in Christ, how could we not want to share it? As he continues, St. John Paul II also finds himself in agreement with St. Bernard:

“In today’s Gospel we heard the Lord’s invitation to be watchful: ‘[Watch, therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming’ (Matthew 24:42) … The exhortation to be watchful resounds many times in the liturgy, especially in Advent, a season of preparation not only for Christmas, but also for Christ’s definitive and glorious coming at the end of time. It therefore has a distinctly eschatological meaning and invites the believer to spend every day and every moment in the presence of the One ‘who is and who was and who is come’ (Revelation 1:4), to whom the future of the world and of man belongs. This is Christian hope!”

We proclaim this hope every Sunday in the Nicene Creed. We look forward with a hopeful view to the resurrection of the dead, and that wonderful life of the world to come. We prepare for that in a very special way during Advent, being watchful for our Lord just as the shepherds and wise men were as they anticipated the Lord’s birth. This eschatological dimension of the Advent season must always be at the forefront of our minds. So instead of celebrating Christmas early this year, let’s think in sync with the great saints, and let Advent be Advent so we may more fruitfully contemplate that triumphant moment when we will be face to face with our Lord Jesus at the end of time in the heavenly kingdom.

Nicholas LaBanca is a cradle Catholic and hopes to give a unique perspective on living life in the Catholic Church as a millennial. His favorite saints include his patron St. Nicholas, St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. John Mary Vianney, and St. Athanasius of Alexandria.

This weekend the church year begins anew as we begin the holy season of Advent, a name derived from the Latin word adventus, which means “the coming.” This holy season looks to the two comings of Christ; first, we look forward to our Lord’s return in glory at the end of time, and second, beginning December 17th, we look back, remembering that our Lord came to us in time to be one with us in all things but sin. While it may not have the same depth of austerity as Lent, Advent is also a penitential season where the words of the Prophets echo to us from ages past to prepare a way for the Lord in our hearts and lives.

Even though the readings of Advent follow a three-year cycle, with Matthew now being this year’s primary Gospel, each of the four Sundays have their own consistent theme with their own readings. This first Sunday always has the theme of “Watch and Pray.” This year we hear from Paul’s Letter to the Romans where we are told to “wake from sleep.” Why? The answer follows in this Sunday’s Gospel from Matthew: “you do not know on which day your Lord will come.” This Gospel is not one of doom and gloom but an admonition for us to be ready every day and always for the Lord’s appearance; for those who will be ready to receive him, greater things will follow.

This time of year is a busy time for many of us, but I encourage you to not get swept away in the commotion. Advent is a beautiful season and even though it is penitential (thus the use of the color violet), it also possesses a subdued joy and peace. I encourage you to make use of this season and set aside some time for yourself with the Lord.

As we being our Advent journey, three important celebrations are coming in the next week. First, we begin our annual novena in honor of the Immaculate Conception this Sunday evening, December 1st, and this will continue every evening through December 8th at 7PM. The novena will end on December 9th at the 5:15PM Mass. Second, this Monday, December 2nd, is the anniversary of the rededication of our Cathedral Church and is a solemnity in our parish and a feast day in every other parish in the diocese. I find it hard to believe that this will mark ten years since that beautiful celebration in 2009. Third and final, this coming Sunday, December 8th, would normally be the Solemnity of Mary, the Immaculate Conception, but it is transferred to Monday, December 9th because it cannot land on the Second Sunday of Advent, thus why the novena begins and ends a day later this year. This is the only circumstance when the obligation to attend Mass for the Immaculate Conception is lifted. While this year it is not a holy day of obligation, I still encourage you to come and honor our Blessed Mother who is patroness of our nation, diocese, and parish under the title of the Immaculate Conception. Masses that day will be at the regular daily times of 7AM and 5:15PM.

For me, this Sunday begins my favorite time of year, now through the end of the Church’s celebration of Christmas in mid-January. For some, this season can be stressful or sad; for all of us, the Lord wants us to know his peace, now and in every season. Open your heart to the Lord, watch and pray, and you will find him, his grace, and his peace.

Father Christopher House is the Rector of the Cathedral and serves in various leadership roles within the diocesan curia, namely Chancellor and Vicar Judicial.

We hope to provide you with resources and prayerful opportunities to help grow your relationship with Christ. Advent is a time of waiting and anticipation. It is a season that reminds us to slow down and to spend time in prayer and reflection. As you journey through the Advent season, please know you and your guests are welcome at any of the offerings listed. If you have any questions, please contact the Parish Offices at 522-3342.

Novena in Honor of the Immaculate Conception
Beginning December 1st thru December 9th, the Cathedral will host the annual diocesan novena in honor of the Immaculate Conception, patroness of the United States, our diocese, and the Cathedral Parish. Each night a different preacher will offer a homily on a different aspect of Marian theology and devotion. The novena is moved one day this year because December 8th falls on the Second Sunday of Advent resulting in the transfer of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception to December 9th. December 1st thru 8th – 7:00PM; Last Night and Closing Mass, December 9th – 5:15PM @ Cathedral

Advent Lunch and Learn
St Joseph Worker parish in Chatham hosts an Advent Lunch & Learn that consists of a simple soup/bread/etc. lunch followed by a series of Advent reflections on the Tuesdays prior to Christmas. This year, Fr. Dominic Rankin will speak about the three gifts of the magi; gold, frankincense, and myrrh December 3, 10, 17 – 12:05, O’Hara Hall

Rorate Coeli Mass
Join us on Saturday, December 14th at 7am for Cathedral’s first Rorate Coeli candlelit Mass in honor of Our Lady during Advent. The Rorate Mass is lit only by candlelight. In the dimly lit setting, priests and faithful prepare to honor the light of the world who is soon to be born, and offer praise to God for the gift of Our Lady. As the Mass proceeds and sunrise approaches, the church becomes progressively brighter, illuminated by the sun as our Faith is illuminated by Christ. All are welcome to join us for this special Mass!

Springfield Choral Society Presents “Messiah”*
The Cathedral is thrilled to once again host the Springfield Choral Society’s presentation of Handel’s “Messiah.” This is a ticketed event. Tickets are available through the Springfield Choral Society or at the door the evening of the performance. Saturday, December 14th – 7:30PM @ Cathedral

Advent Lessons and Carols
On the evening of Gaudete Sunday, in the holy season of Advent, join Mark Gifford and the Cathedral Choir for an evening of Scripture, music, and prayer as we reflect on the two promised comings of Christ. Sunday, December 15th – 7:00PM @ Cathedral

Late Advent Holy Hour
Enjoy the peace and quiet during this prayerful hour spent before the Lord. Tuesday, December 17th – 7:00pm @ Cathedral

ONLINE RESOURCES

The Adventure of Discipleship
Sacred Heart Major Seminary is offering a free, short, interactive online course based on Dr. Daniel Keating’s new book, “The Adventure of Discipleship.” Dr. Keating invites you to look at your Christian journey as an adventure that far surpasses other adventure stories. Dynamic and engaging, each week of the course features short videos, film clips from epic adventures such as Lord of the Rings, scriptural meditations, interactive learning activities and online discussion. Starting December 1st, register at shms.edu

Rejoice! Advent Preparations with Joseph or Rejoice! Advent Preparations with Mary
Rejoice! Advent Meditations with Joseph is a prayer resource with daily meditations that will enrich your Advent by inviting you to experience the first Advent with Joseph and Mary, as they await the birth of their son, the Savior of the world. Together with the guided meditation videos, this journal calls you daily to see through Joseph’s eyes, feel what is in Joseph’s heart, and read the Scripture that Joseph read, so you can fully prepare to welcome Jesus into your heart this Christmas. Presented by Fr. Toups, Sister Miriam Heidland, and Fr. Josh Johnson. The Rejoice! Advent Meditations with Mary Journal not only lets you walk beside Mary during the first Advent, but also lets you get to know her in a way you haven’t before. Rejoice! offers more than insights and information about Mary’s life—it offers an opportunity for you to encounter Mary in the quiet of your heart. Go to ascentionpress.com for more information and to watch an introductory video and order the book or journal.

Advent Gospel Reflections
This year’s Advent Gospel Reflection booklets contain brand new reflections from Bishop Barron, the full Gospel reading for each day, questions for reflection and even journal pages. It’s short, simple, but extremely powerful. It’s like getting a mini-homily each morning from Bishop Barron. Go to bishopbarronbooks.com to purchase a booklet.

Best Advent Ever
A great Christmas begins with an incredible Advent. Every day during Advent, you’ll receive an email with a short video from Matthew Kelly and the Dynamic Catholic team. It’s free and easy to sign up. Go to dynamiccatholic.com to sign up

Finding God in Unexpected Places
A free daily email featuring a short and inspiring Advent video reflection on a work of art from the Detroit Institute of Arts by Fr. John Bartunek, LC. Each daily 1-minute video is designed to help you know the happiness and joy of discovering the presence of God in unexpected places of your daily life and to help others around you do the same. Go to rcspirituality.org/advent-2019/

DAILY PRAYER BOOKS – Paper copy and Online versions

Give Us This Day– Request a free copy at giveusthisday.org
Magnificat– Subscribe at: bookstore.magnificat.net
The Word Among Us– Subscribe or get a free online trial at wau.org/subscribe/

ADVENT BOOKS

Jesus of Nazareth, the Infancy Narratives by Pope Benedict XVI
Pope benedict focuses exclusively on the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ life as a child. The root of these stories is the experience of hope found in the birth of Jesus and the affirmations of surrender and service embodied in his parents, Joseph and Mary.

Joy to the World: How Christ’s Coming Changed Everything (and Still Does) by Scott Hahn
What could be more familiar than the Christmas story — and yet what could be more extraordinary? The cast of characters is strange and exotic: shepherds and magicians, an emperor and a despot, angels, and a baby who is Almighty God. The strangeness calls for an explanation, and this book provides it by examining the characters and the story in light of the biblical and historical context.

Advent and Christmas; Wisdom from Henri J.M. Nouwen
This book is designed to be used during the entire period from the First Sunday of Advent to the end of the Christmas season. Reflections begin with the words of Nouwen, followed by an excerpt from scripture related to the quote and then a prayer timing both together. Finally, an activity is suggested for applying the message.

Advent Meditations with Fulton J Sheen
Drawn from Archbishop’s best-selling books, theses reflections are eloquent quotes paired with beautiful Scriptures on the themes of the season; patience, waiting, gift, hope, humility, joy and more.

Advent and Christmas: Wisdom from Pope John Paul II
Designed like the Nouwen book, we read and reflect on selections from the Holy Father’s talks and statements followed by scripture, prayer and a suggestion for an appropriate seasonal activity

In Death on a Friday Afternoon, the late Fr. Richard John Neuhaus cautions us to take Lent slowly, to not rush to Easter. A similar thought comes to mind when approaching Advent: we should not rush to the stable. Advent, the time of great expectation, should be a time when we can linger awhile with Mary and Joseph in their time of anticipation.

But what has become of Advent? Or the days before Advent, for that matter? I went shopping on November 1, All Saints Day, also known as the day after Halloween. What to my wondering eyes should appear but peppermint sticks, ornaments and a battalion of reindeer. On November 1. It is little wonder that those of us who wish to keep Advent feel not only a bit overwhelmed but just a little like Charlie Brown on his Trick or Treat rounds. OK, I didn’t get a rock in my treat bag – just a holiday surprise that was less than charming.

Yes, there is no need to rush to Christmas. And, with a little advance planning now, Advent can find its proper place on the calendar and in our hearts.

THANKSGIVING
A major stumbling block for those of us who live in the U.S. is the way the Thanksgiving holiday has been almost totally subsumed into the secular celebration of Christmas. Keeping Thanksgiving as its own holiday – before Advent – is a good start. Thanksgiving is about gratitude; not the opportunity for jump starting our shopping. Decide now to bring a grateful heart into the days of Advent.

PRAYING
Having a prayer plan is the most important Advent planning. Whether it be a personal choice from the many wonderful resources for Advent or a plan for prayer as a family, planning ahead can lead to a more peaceful, prayerful Advent. Parents of older children may want to include them in the planning for Advent devotions. (This is a lesson I had to learn the hard way. And I quickly learned that the first day of Advent is not a good time to be casting about for prayers and reflections for the season.)

PLANNING
Panic is a peace thief of the blessed days of Advent. Good advance planning – be it for celebrations religious and secular, shopping, cooking, cleaning – helps prevent panic. Keeping all of those plates of plans spinning in one’s head is a definite distraction. Putting plans down on paper (or electronically if that is your preference) gets things organized and out of your head. Whether you chose to use a special planner or create your own, start now with the planning that can free up your mind during the days of Advent.

CELEBRATING
Don’t forget the feast days that come in December. Among the many days for celebration, we have the feasts of St. Nicholas, St. Juan Diego, St. Lucy, Our Lady of Guadalupe as well as the feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Spending some days in Advent celebrating the feasts of these holy men and women is not just a teachable moment for the family. These are tangible celebrations – not random days of the vague ‘holidays’ season. Not only are these days faith-filled and fun days, but they are also great moments for evangelization as we share the reason for our celebrations. Of course, St. Nicholas was the first of the December feast days that I remember from a very young age during my German Lutheran upbringing. Naturally, this was the first Advent feast day that we celebrated as a family and then, as time passed, more family feast day celebrations were added to our calendar.

PLANNING A FULL CHRISTMAS SEASON
Remember that Christmas is more than one day and plan accordingly. While secular media pulls the Christmas rug out from under us on the 24th of December, we know that the 25th of December is just the beginning of our Christmas celebration. Just as we should not rush to Christmas, we should ignore the cultural influences that try to rush us past this holy season.

Ellyn von Huben is a native of Wisconsin, and has never lived more than five miles from the shores of Lake Michigan. She has a degree in art history from Barat College in Lake Forest, Illinois. Fascinated with the Catholic faith since her childhood, Ellyn, her husband, four children (plus one in utero) were received into the Catholic Church in May of 1988. Ellyn lives in the suburbs of Chicago, and still has her ‘day job’ as an administrative assistant in a large Catholic parish on Chicago’s North Shore.

Thank you to the many parishioners who have submitted your good faith intention cards during the Season of Stewardship! There is still time to send yours in to the office. However, are you wondering why you are being asked to do this? Why is this important?

When you commit to doing something, you likely have the best of intentions to see it through, right? You may right down your goal or tell others about it to help hold yourself accountable. The form helps us identify how we are currently stewards or how we would like to be stewards of our time, talent, or treasure in the future. Many of you are already incredibly generous and involved- thank you! By filling out the stewardship form you help the parish staff identify needs in the parish. We need to ensure that our ministries remain vibrant and welcoming with volunteers. The forms also help us plan the spiritual and financial resources for the year ahead. We want to make sure we can continue to bring to you the high-caliber faith formation programs, services, and special Liturgies, which have become the norm at Cathedral! We need your support and participation in this effort.

As we enter into the Season of Advent, we begin a new commitment to discipleship and stewardship in the Parish! Below we have a few ideas to challenge ourselves during Advent. Watch the Parish eblast and facebook page for more stewardship challenges and videos that will hopefully serve as great resources for you and your family this Advent!

• Begin the Season of Advent in prayer and in gratitude by joining us at the Novena in honor of the Immaculate Conception! The Novena begins December 1st and runs through December 9th. Each night a different preacher will offer a homily on a different aspect of Marian theology and devotion. Join us Dec. 1st thru 8th – 7:00PM; the last night and closing Mass, December 9th at 5:15 Mass.
• Serve at the Breadline with your family this Advent (https://cc.dio.org/programs/st-johns-breadline)! St. John’s Breadline in Springfield serves a hot, nutritious meal in a clean, positive environment. The St. John’s Breadline has volunteer opportunities available seven days a week. Shifts are available Mondays through Fridays from 7:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Shifts are also available on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays from 10 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. The Breadline is located at 430 N. 5th St. Springfield, IL 62702. Contact them at (217) 528-6098 for more information.
• Have a family Advent wreath! The traditional Advent wreath – a crown made from branches of holly, spruce, or straw (or cardboard, fabric, dried flowers, etc.) with four candles (three purple and one rose) that you light in the course of the four weeks of Advent, is a great family tradition! Find a great article with resources for your Advent wreath here: (http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/advent/about-advent-wreaths.cfm)
• Make a NEW family Advent tradition by joining us at the Cathedral Lessons and Carols (Sunday, December 15th – 7:00PM at Cathedral), the Late Advent Holy Hour (Tuesday, December 17 – 7:00pm at Cathedral) or at the first annual Rorate Coeli Mass, which is a Mass in candlelight on Sat. December 14th at 7am!

If you have any questions regarding your stewardship form or how you can grow deeper in your relationship with God this Advent, please contact Katie Price at [email protected].

Every now and again I am asked which of the four Gospels is my favorite. That is a difficult question to answer because, while there are four, together they form one Gospel of Jesus Christ. Each has parts that stand out for me. Mark is the oldest and arguably the most reliable concerning many of the sayings of Jesus. Matthew gives us part of the Infancy Narratives, along with Luke, especially the story of the Magi. John is very theological. It’s the last of the Gospels and is able to assume a base knowledge that already exists among believers because of the three texts before it therefore its language and teaching is more exalted. This leaves us with Luke whose Gospel does have a special place in my heart because it gives us the image of Jesus as the loving divine physician.

The passage from Luke for this Sunday, the Solemnity of Christ the King, may be one of the last passages that we would think of having for this day as it presents us with Christ crucified; not the most kingly presentation from a worldly point of view. As Jesus hangs on the cross, he is mocked three times by the “rulers” who are most likely the Jewish religious authorities, the soldiers, and by one of the criminals crucified alongside Jesus. Each mockery is about challenging Jesus to save himself if he truly is the Messiah. The last mockery from the criminal also comes with a plea for Jesus to save him from the agony and death that he is experiencing as well. All three mockeries can be summed up as “save yourself from the pain and suffering of this life and we will believe.” That’s the messiah the world wants and at times it may be the messiah that we want, but that is not the Messiah who is Jesus Christ.

The other criminal gets it right. Tradition calls him “the good thief” and names him Dismas, but of that we can’t be sure and we don’t know his crimes, which were probably more heinous than robbery given that he and his accomplice are being crucified by the Romans. This criminal acknowledges his guilt and his repentance is implied in his stating that his punishment is just, he acknowledges the innocence of Jesus, and then follows one of the most beautiful exchanges in all of the Scriptures when he makes his own profession of faith: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom” to which our Lord replies “today you will be with me in Paradise.”

The salvation that our Lord Jesus has accomplished is for us but it is not for this life. Salvation does not mean that we will be spared from the heartaches and sufferings that are inevitable because of sin. The repentant criminal appears to understand that Christ’s Kingdom truly is not of this world and that the salvation that he is accomplishing will be revealed only through our own exodus from this life.

As we celebrate this great feast of Christ the King and in times when we may be tempted to expect God to save us from the trials of this life, may we remember that God will save us but that his salvation is not about this world but liberation from it. Those who mocked the Lord could not see beyond this present life and still the world continues to mock the crucified Lord today as it holds on to a reality that is fleeting. Thanks be to God that we are called to a hope beyond this world, to a greater life to be revealed, to something better than this world could ever offer. As we prepare for the Season of Advent, let us be mindful that as Christ has come so he will return again in glory with salvation for those who live and die in him. May the grace of Christ lift our minds beyond the cares of this life to the Paradise to be revealed. Thy Kingdom come!

Father Christopher House is the Rector of the Cathedral and serves in various leadership roles within the diocesan curia, namely Chancellor and Vicar Judicial.