Advent is a season of preparation that has a twofold purpose. Advent begins with Evening Prayer I of the Sunday falling on or closest to 30 November and ends before evening prayer I of Christmas. We prepare ourselves not only for the coming joy of our celebration of the birth of the Christ child; we also prepare ourselves for the Second Coming of Christ.
For Catholics, Advent is the beginning of the new liturgical year. The seasons of that year have always led me on a journey with Christ each year, and I gain so much in the consistency of the seasons and readings. We begin with Advent, awaiting the birth of Christ, then celebrate the Christmas Octave and season, Epiphany, and then soon begins Lent, in preparation for Easter. Then, after the Easter season ends with Pentecost, we have the bulk of Ordinary Time until the end of the liturgical year, and Advent again.
The readings at Mass reflect these times in the life of Christ. They take us through his birth, baptism, ministry, Passion, Death, and Resurrection. I find Advent and Lent especially to be times that help me prepare to meet Jesus in deeper and more profound ways.
Many Christian denominations celebrate Advent, perhaps in ways a little different from those of us who observe a liturgical calendar and cycle. But the focus, the point, is to prepare for the coming of Jesus.
https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/advent-rediscovered-by-southern-baptists/
We will have posts for each Sunday of Advent, beginning this weekend. I ask that you save political comments for the other posts. Please, give people a place to think about and discuss something else. I hope these posts will be an aid to all who stop in here during this busy season, an invitation to take a moment and find the reason we prepare for Christmas.
For those who are interested, here is a link to the St. John Cantius Parish Youtube channel. They are located in Chicago.
They broadcast daily masses in both English and Latin. See their Live Feeds.
What I like best about their masses is the old school nature, complete with numerous babies talking/making noise in the congregation. I haven’t heard that at church for a long time.
https://www.youtube.com/@sjcantius
I live near DC and have attended the March for Life almost every year. I remember the joyful presence of the youth group from St. John Cantius. A beautiful witness to life.
Yes! My hometown. Glorious.
We do. EVERY Latin Mass I’ve ever attended has the joyful noise of babies!
I took Maria as my Confirmation name after her. We were confirmed at the same age at which she died.
A short explanation of Advent in their bulletin.
https://container.parishesonline.com/bulletins/01/2151/20231203B.pdf
Just what I needed this morning 🙂
My daughter gave me a set of Advent candles a few weeks ago. When I went to store them in the candle drawer, I discovered a treasure trove of Advent candles. In an uncharacteristic move, my husband, unhappy that we had re-used candles last Advent, ordered enough for several years. That was in January. We’d both forgotten. Talk about an abundance of riches. We are good to go (candle wise) for the rest of the decade.
Just a thought – wouldn’t it be that we are waiting for the 3rd coming of Christ? His first would be his birth that was his first coming. The second would be his resurrection and now we await his third. No matter how you look at it, we could sure use His coming as soon as possible.
When He resurrected He was already here and leaving to go and prepare a place for us, so that isn’t a “coming”.
His second coming is when He returns for us, His bride.
We are the body of Christ, not the bride.
(not to argue doctrine, but just to point out something you might have overlooked)
I suppose this depends on “where” you imagine that Jesus went in the time between His crucifixion until the resurrection. Christian tradition informs us that he “descended to the dead”, possibly what we might imagine as hell, or purgatory, or some other state of being or “place” where the souls of the deceased were waiting for Him to open the gates of Heaven on Easter. So, if Jesus was not in Heaven during those three days, then perhaps he was still “here”, within a dimension of the created universe; or at least, not in Heaven. So if he arrived at his incarnation or birth, remained “here” after His death (or again, at least not in Heaven) and then ascended into Heaven “40 days” after Easter, promising to return; then we would be awaiting a second coming. “Second” or “Third” is irrelevant. Either way, we await His return, and the mysteries surrounding Christ’s “whereabouts” will be revealed to us in God’s time.
But a second thought confounds this. At the crucifixion Christ said to the repentant sinner (of the two being crucified along with Jesus), that “TODAY, you will be with me in paradise.” I think the confusion arises because we humans tend to limit God by our own perceptions of time and space…which are, after all, mere creations; our experience of time and space are also the handiwork of God.
Indeed, God is outside of time entirely (unless The Second Person of the Trinity now experiences it, which is probably the case).
Or by ‘Paradise’ Jesus meant the higher level of Limbo, where in the Righteous Ancients awaited His coming.
1 Peter 3: 18-20 “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: by which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.” Prison would refer to sheol (e.g. Revelation 18:2; also Ephesians 4:9).
Jesus took general relativity into account, which is part of why I find scripture so fascinating: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/time-s-passage-is-probably-an-illusion/
“Nothing in known physics corresponds to the passage of time. Indeed, physicists insist that time doesn’t flow at all; it merely is. … Albert Einstein famously expressed this point when he wrote to a friend, “The past, present and future are only illusions, even if stubborn ones.” Einstein’s startling conclusion stems directly from his special theory of relativity, which denies any absolute, universal significance to the present moment. According to the theory, simultaneity is relative. Two events that occur at the same moment if observed from one reference frame may occur at different moments if viewed from another.”
Thank you for posting this! Loved the video!
Dear Heavenly Father, Help me to hear your voice. Touch me once again. Give me the courage to be your beloved. Give me the courage to choose joy. I need you now this Christmas. Be born in me again. Today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
This humble, heartfelt prayer brought a tear to my eyes… Ok – a few.
“Happy Advent” is the common greeting in Germany (both protestant and catholic regions) up until December 24th when it switches to Merry Christmas. Therefore I wish you all a “frohe Adventzeit”.
I’ll be using that Jim!
One of the youthful delights I remember from the region and Advent were the religious Advent calendars with their beautiful artwork and daily Bible verses or prayers. While there are many types now (like most things, commercialized and bereft of meaning), I’m glad that there are still ones of the traditional styles and content like the one below:
Traditional Religious Advent Calendars
Frohe Adventzeit Jim!
Absolutely loved those as a kid! We had a little ceremony everyday to open that day’s door
Thanks Menagerie! I’m going to focus on this each day during this wonderful time of year!
We are Baptist but our children go to Catholic School (with one graduating this year!). I always appreciate these posts because it gives me insight into what my children are learning, and then marry it with what we hear at our own church. It makes me pause and evaluate what we are truly celebrating in the coming weeks. As hectic and stressful life is with busy kids, jobs and other obligations, I find peace in these heartfelt articles. So many thanks, Menagerie.
I have been a lifetime Baptist with an interval at a Methodist church for a couple of years a few years ago and a recent move to the Methodist church here in town where I have been singing in the choir for 4 years. Last year, for the first time, there was an Advent candle at the Baptist church. I know not why Baptists haven’t acknowledged the Advent season with the candle in churches we have been in over the years. Such beautiful Advent music we (choir) will be using the next few weeks.
I have been married to a Catholic for 16 years and have Catholic kids, but have never converted (raised Church of Christ).
Well, I have my Rite of Welcoming this weekend as I go through RCIA. The Catholic posts and discussion on this site played a role in my journey. Thank you.
How wonderful to hear! I say that as a convert who came to the Church late in life, after having been raised and lived in a very secularist way, the grandson of Nono Mario, who came here from Italy to get away from the Church, traveled in the Communist circles of early twentieth century NYC, and remained an atheist throughout his life.
You will never regret what you are doing, if my experience is any indication.
As you cite Catholic posts on this site related to your journey, be sure to be fully educated as to what you would accept in such an initiation, particularly as it relates to matters if salvation and what is asserted is being practiced as far as the “sacrifice” of the mass. And before this gets flagged or criticized, this is somebody seeking to be educated about this, and as with every post on this site, has the opportunity to examine available evidence.
http://www.justforcatholics.org/a102.htm
As evidenced by the links I included, you don’t have to be Catholic to celebrate and appreciate Advent. I’m very sorry that you missed the whole point of the post in your rush to “educate” Catholics. If you don’t want to read about Advent, skip these posts.
Rest assured, I am very educated in the Sacrifice of the Mass, what it really is, as opposed to what your article portrays it to be, and in salvation, and how to obtain it. I appreciate your concern, as I have the same for you.
Here is one Bible quote to ponder upon during this time of year, and find peace……..:
Matthew 18: 2-5
2He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5″And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.”
As a little…I learned of the Lord and His Mother, at the knee of my grandmother….who was very devoted Catholic…I have had many miracles in my life, because of that. I will go even further to say that I am alive and well, because of that devotion spread to me….having been ‘watched over’…..
Slightly paraphrasing something I read by Caryll
Houselander: The door to heaven is small. Children can walk through, but adults must go in on their knees.
😇🪽
We LCMS Lutherans celebrate Advent joyously. There is much to learn about ourselves in the study of other religions. Two of my favorites online
Barnhardt | Judica me, Deus, et discerne causam meam de gente non sancta.
Stone Choir – The stones themselves would cry out… (stone-choir.com)
My Lutheran Church burns an Advent candle for each of the ‘L’ ‘G’ ‘B’ & ‘T’. Because our Pastor has determined that “love is love” … and if we don’t celebrate ‘special sex’ … then we don’t know Christ. Yeah, that’s what I think of the church that baptized me. They are celebrating an Advent of depravity.
RUN, as fast as you can!
Menagerie — this is truly lovely. It is just another reason why the Tree House is so meaningful. Sharing, praying, and communing on a special branch during this holy season. 😇
I appreciate your concern. It took me 14 years to have my eyes opened and another 2 so far as I continue to discern and research.
I don’t want to have a theological debate here as I don’t think it is keeping with the spirit of the original post.
Happy Advent and I hope you have a Merry Christmas!
No worries on the debate score. What was shared was directed to you in the interests of putting a link before someone in the midst of discerning and research of aspects of something (in this case, doctrine) with the freedom to examine it, which occurs on this site frequently and was offered accordingly.
I greatly appreciate the insights of persons who have literally spent their lifetime in bible studies, AND also shared that with us in their writings. One such person is Scott Hahn, an anti-Catholic protestant who eventually converted to Catholicism. His conversion story has the terrible, “hokey” title: “Rome Sweet Home”. But if you can get over the title, the book itself is packed with profound considerations. You may read it and agree OR disagree, but he is definitely more knowledgeable than most, and I wager you will appreciate his thoughts.
I esp liked Scott Hahn on Covenant theology. Once you grasp how there’s Siix Covenants in the Old Testament, and the New Testament explains the Seventh, then wow, the whole Bible (and entire Religion!) hangs together beautifully. And it deepens one’s trust in God, as this ‘program’ He set in motion the beginning is still running full force.
I posted a comment about some hours ago now how I liked Scott Hahn’s Covenant theology teaching but the comment seems to have vanished. Don’t know why.
I suppose Teresa has read it anyway. Scott has published many books over the years.
Congratulations! I’ll be praying for you, and it’ll be waiting for you to tell us all about your experiences and joy on Easter Sunday!
Oh how wonderful! I think those that go thru the RCIA are better Catholics…..due to the study involved and the older age…May the Holy Spirit come upon you and yours!
The Catechism of the Catholic Church . =
#811 (in part) … “This is the sole >Church of Christ, which in the Creed we profess to be one, holy, catholic and apostolic.”
… … I heard a Priest on EWTN one evening, discussing how a Protestant Denomination has the legal right to use the name ‘Church of Christ’ in the USA.
Welcome to the Catholic Church. … Your parents started your journey years ago, when you were “raised in the Protestant Church of Christ”. The people at TheConservativeTreehouse helped you make the journey.
#751 (in part) … “In the Church, God is “calling together” his people from all the ends of the earth.” [The Call is to everyone.]
…literally tears of joy! Thank you! and God bless you and your family!
Wonderful, and Welcome! Your Communion together will be lovely.
I’m beginning to think He is our only hope for our country.
HE is!! God always wins!
He is and always has been and will be till the end of time. 🙂
He always has been our only hope.
He always has been our only Hope.
My apologies 47yinzer! I posted and didn’t read the entire thread first! But, great minds…
OF COURSE!!!!
Amen Amen Amen thoughtfulness is everything
Hi Menagerie,
I always look forward to your posts, especially your seasonal ones. They remind me to put life in it’s proper perspective. Thank you for posting, God bless you and your family and have a very merry Christmas season.
Also, your posts about the church have been a help to my wife (who was raised Buddhist) seek and find Christ. I wanted you to know that something as simple as these posts have had a big impact on someone else’s life. Thank you.
Thank you! Best wishes to you and your wife. I’m sure you know, it isn’t the post that helps, but the grace He gives for seeking.
This Calvinist thanks you for the reminder of the shared love of Christ that binds all denominations together.
Thank you, I appreciate your comment. I think the celebration of Advent, and slowing down the mad rush of the holiday season, has value for all Christians.
Menagerie – you are an inspiration! You and Sundance make such a BEAUTIFUL Christian witness… guided and driven by TRUTH!
Yes – there is so much wisdom in these “traditions”. Yes we all need to slow down, open up to Christ. Thank you!
Your posts are appreciated more than you can imagine. Thank you for calling us together in prayer to prepare for His coming. We often forget that Jesus IS the reason for the season. May you and yours receive all His gifts.
Thank you for refreshing & renewing beliefs in the birth of our Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ.
I long ago tired of the commercialism & attempts to take Christ out of CHRISTmas & found Thanksgiving a more sane way to offer thanks.
But nothing could take the real meaning & hope of Christ’s birth from my heart. Blessings.
Thank you, Menagerie, for the call for personal reflection during this Holy season.
Here is the link to the Bible Broadcasting Network(BBN)
It promotes solid Bible teaching.
https://bbn1.bbnradio.org/english/listen-now/
Currently, they have switched to the traditional Christmas hymns for the month of December.
One thing I want to mention is that BBN features the male singers with the rich baritones and bass ranges that are lacking on most radio stations.
Have a blessed day, all.
There is many wonderful songs traditionally played through the season. One that resonates in my journey with Christ, my elementary guitar skills and the, birth of our saviour is “This Must be Christmas Tonight” by The Band, on the LP Islands. Do not forget Mitch Miller, Christmas album
Started the season of Advent by going to confession this morning.
Trying to focus on ‘stay in my love’ as Jesus commanded us to do.
Good morning, and thank you once again for the education.
TCTH is really quite the site.( that is an understatement)
I have learned more about politics, economics, religions and a host of other subjects here, than anytime in my sixty plus years of life.
Cheers!
The nun’s always made it a special time for us….preparing for the Christ Child. And the selling of Christmas candy and holy Christmas Cards….I give a pass on that one…it was a fun time but a serious time.
As an adult, I look at it as a time to clear out ‘the debris’ and try and make myself acceptable for the joy of the season. Much like Mary, the Mother of Our Savior. She is reported to have have cleaned up the stable prior to the birth of her Baby. I don’t know where I read that, but knowing how humble she was….I could see that happening…The Queen of Heaven doing menial tasks for her little family.
My goal is to do some of that debris removal and pray more…
God bless all Treepers and Treepettes and may this special time of year be all that you hope for and pray for as we await the Christ Child.
Thank you Menagerie!
I was raised Baptist and Advent
was never explained.
I had no idea even what an Advent
calendar was.
Now getting a new Advent calendar
every year is part of my Christmas
tradition. 🙏
Today I start my Christmas decorating.
This evening I will start my Advent
calendar.
I say Thank you because you are the
one who explained what an Advent
calendar was.
🙏🙏🙏
I have learned more about the religion I was schooled in here than I ever did on so many Saturday mornings.
Thanks Menagerie and Sundance.
THIS speaks to the consumerist-revulsion in me… links for appropriate calendars
{ The Advent Calendars Are Out Of Control }
I am with you on the consumerist-revulsion!
My guidelines are…manger scene
and bible verse
I saw calendars anywhere from Legos
to Barbie themed. 🤷♀️💁 😵💫
Frankincense & Myrrh essential oils fit beautifully into an Advent Calendar… pure & therapeutic grade – zero artificial components, excellent quality, Ancient Wisdom co. has the most reasonable costs by comparison. If you mention my referral (as ‘Amara Russell’), I might get points, which will not increase your cost. TIA if interested.
Frankincense essential oil
{ https://www.ancientwisdomessentialoils.com/sc/basepages/sc_product_detail.asp?pid=228&cat=Essential%20Oils&subcat=Single%20Oils }
AND
Myrrh essential oil
{ https://www.ancientwisdomessentialoils.com/sc/basepages/sc_product_detail.asp?pid=241&cat=Essential%20Oils&subcat=Single%20Oils }
I apply the essential oil(s) to my temples, pineal, (forehead between eyes), throat, brainstem, Heart, & wrists in that order before I sit in EFT healing sessions… 1 single drop on my finger then touch lightly each point… it’s an excellent preparation for personal prayer also;
(I always consider being in session with another as prayer time). I use them all year.
I began using them when I (formally trained Wholistically and) was apprenticing with Midwives. Attending births in people’s homes made it plain & crystal clear to me that every birth is how the Divine manifests into physical form. I never got anything resembling that feeling from church or religion (I got the opposite, in fact, from the way it was imposed there).
I experienced it for the first time in my life during my own 1st & subsequent babies births; then over & over again & again during Midwifery apprenticeship.
Every newborn is a Child of Christ fresh from God, every Mother is Sacred, every birth Truly is a Blessed Event. I KNOW what Heaven smells like; odd to say maybe, but absolutely True.
Breaking down the family – literally the backbone & nervous system of our strong culture – actually begins with making women afraid of childbirth -horrified & terrified death is undoubtedly imminent! – and imposing/coercing the fear-based belief that a cold sterile (yet filthy, germ-ridden, ritualistically-restrictive) hospital & a surgeon is the (only way to avoid death and the) best – necessary – place & attendant to ‘choose’ for birthing;
it removes both the Sacredness AND personal autonomy… it substitutes mindless dependence on the technocracy & “the experts”. It has wreaked havoc on our collective consciousness for over a century, and we are experiencing – and paying the profound price of -the results of the imposed disconnection(s) now.
Most fortunately, we have only to ask with sincere Gratitude & it all shall be given back.
This Advent, I’m Joyfully ‘preparing the table’. I wish all a profoundly Blessed Christmas season… and that you each may clearly feel the Truth of it every single day.
A realist’s perspective on commercialized childbirth (though he’s not speaking to a Spiritual imperative, he does maki it obvious all the same)
{ http://mileswmathis.com/child.pdf }
Advent began sometime after the 4th century
Advent began sometime after the 4th century as a time of fasting and preparation for Epiphany, rather than in anticipation of Christmas1. The first sure indications of a time of preparation come from Bishop Perpetuus of Tours in Gaul (France) in the fifth century, when he issued directives for fasting three days a week from the feast of St. Martin (November 11) to Christmas2. Advent is a period beginning with the Sunday nearest to the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle (30 November) and embracing four Sundays3. In the Ambrosian Rite and the Mozarabic Rite of the Catholic Church, Advent begins on the sixth Sunday before Christmas, the Sunday after St. Martin’s Day (11 November)4.
Advent | Description, Meaning, History, & Symbols | Britannica
Free speech is great. I will leave the politics out of the Advent thread.
Maybe in exchange you could put up a Protestant thread for those of us who hear the voice of God directly and not through human intercessors? You would benefit from hearing our experiences as well, and it would demonstrate a willingness to support free speech.
First, I do not hear the voice of God through human intercessors, and I resent deeply that uninformed and ignorant slander. And second, if you read the post, and the comments from so many of different denominations here, you would realize that this is neither a Catholic nor a Protestant post, but one about welcoming Christ more deeply into our lives.
I am really sorry for people like you.
I guess that’s a no on free speech.
Save your sympathy for those in need. Merry Christmas.
See your post. It’s up. I disagree with every insult in your comment, but you’ve got your post.
Of course its up. You are tricky. You don’t want the passersby to understand how censorship works here. Instead of deleting the post, the person’s next post gets labeled “Awaiting For Approval“, and they are never seen again.
And you are a total jackass. You aren’t awaiting approval, and as far as I know, you never have been. I saw your comment at 2:14, and in between cooking for a party, I put up a post for you.
Comment, or don’t. You just want to argue and be a jerk.
Love to you, Menagerie for your patience and kindness. You are so appreciated here on the limbs with us ❤️ suffering fools is not easy.
AMEN
Oh bologna. I have been here going on 9 years and i still occasionally receive “awaiting approval.” It has to do with the filtering system included with the site software and has little if anything to do with the commenter.
This may come as a surprise to some, but it’s not all about you, or me, or anyone else. It has most to do with the programmer who wrote the software, and most people do not write their own software.
Be blessed, smile, and spend the rest of today making yourself and someone else happy.
“Awaiting approval” is not worth your angst and energy.
Dude, I have yet to see a less Christian post on this site than yours, and I’ve been acquainted here since this tree was an acorn.
You owe Menagerie and the House an apology for your false accusations and your aggressive and unbelievably nasty attitude.
But most of all you owe your loving Father in Heaven a big display of repentance and a sincere request for His forgiveness.
Shame on you.
I have had, on occasion, a “waiting for approval” message. It has NOTHING to do with the screening of posts. I believe I encountered it when I changed devices I was using. Instead of the computer, using a smart phone.
Perhaps this is what you did?
Silverbeard, you made your point. At this point you are just being hateful. Enough already. Go away.
Protestants “hear the word of God directly” and Catholics don’t?
It would depend on the exact person if they hear the Word of God and not what religion they practice.
“Judge not ….”
Gee, I’d love to talk about the subject, but only with those who don’t ban, block, and censor opinions they disagree with.
Sorry to disappoint you. You have a post for sharing your celebrations, your worship, your Advent ideas, not your arguments and ugliness.
Can you highlight those? You really seem to hate Protestants.
You’ve misspelled ‘propagandists’
I was going to say ‘misspelled troll’. 🙂
You are definitely a jerk and have bit of a “chip” on your shoulder. Nobody is pushing beliefs on anyone else. The fact that you willing express your iignorance of the Catholic faith invites instruction. Like Menagerie, I too am a convert from Protestantism and know both sides. After reading all of your comments, I think you don’t belong here.
You just lost the argument.
Nativity comments are welcome.
Negativity comments are not.
Go find another tree. There is a rather large forest.
You might find it very interesting to get your hands on a copy of the “Catechism of the Catholic Church”. It is the official reference book on Catholic doctrine. I see used ones all the time in Goodwill and Salvation Army stores for less than a dollar. You will probably see that almost every thing that you believe in, Catholics believe as well. The book is NOT legal mumbo jumbo. Whether you agree with things or not, you’ll get a better understanding of where Catholics are coming from. You’ll undoubtedly read stuff that initially says to you that Catholics are crazy and on other issues you’ll probably come away thinking, “Wow! I never thought about that from that angle. That’s pretty cool. I like that.”
What will really interest you will be issues that you are in total agreement with Catholics on and you might be amazed seeing it explained in a way you never thought of. Whether you were to convert or not it will give you ammunition for your arguments dealing with non Christians.
Anyway, it’s an interesting book.
You should watch Pirates of the Carribean. I recommend the third one. It has catchy songs. Yo ho ho.
This is how you react to someone reaching out to you?
We’ve met before. I know what to expect from you…
That is a non answer. “Menagerie” just put up a thread for you so you can enjoy the freedom of speech.
I enjoy my God given natural rights wherever I am.
You have zero natural rights on a private blog someone else pays for.
Interesting. When I read your post that started this thread, my initial thought was that your comment was offensive and a put down of Catholicism. You see, I’ve had hundreds of discussions over the years with Protestants about Catholic doctrine which typically involved the Protestant trying to convince me the Catholic Church is the church of Satan; so, I thought maybe I was misinterpreting your intentions. Giving you the benefit of the doubt, I then thought maybe you were confused by or didn’t understand the concept of intercessory prayer, so I responded in the hope of correcting your misconceptions. Now that I’ve read several of your follow up posts and responses to others, I see that my initial reaction was correct.
Roman Catholic here, in my 70’s. I talk to God directly all the time, and yeah, sometimes He answers (if I’m paying attention…) As for another thread, what’s next? Gnosticism? Methodists as opposed to Lutherans? There are so many differences among Christian religions, save perhaps two — the reason why Christ chose to be born, and the reason He died.
Advent focuses on the reason He was born. How about we all just focus on that?
I propose free speech on ALL threads, like God and the Founding Fathers intended.
You know, Red, there is a simple solution to solve your perceived lack of free speech here – Create Your Own Blog!!!!!
This blog here is Sundance’s blog. We follow his rules. Sundance pays for the cost of this blog, and as such, he sets the rules.
Looking forward to the start of your blog. Be certain to let us know where you are when your blog is up and running. Assuming, of course, there will be no rules on your blog. Talk to Elon Musk about speech rules on public software. Mr Musk has some interesting stories to tell.
You have the right to free speech, but you don’t have the right to crap in someone’s living room.
If she came out with an anti-protestant post, your comments would have been more appropriate…however they were not, yet you chose to attack any way….like a radical Muslim….
Nice … but … that AWFUL “Hooked on Classics” mangling of The Nutcracker Suite would make even Putin cringe. Horrible, loud, obnoxious music
Concerning the Second Coming of Christ, whenever I need a lift I listen to this sermon by J. Vernon Mcgee, ‘Behold The Bridegroom Cometh’, which considers the return of Jesus as they would have understood it in light of a 1st Century Jewish wedding, which gives some insight into the rapture and his taking of the Bride unto himself. It’s so lovely and hopeful! xx
What a wonderful sermon! I really miss having a local church where the pastor (or those who hire him) has a good command of scripture.
Thank you for the beautiful post, Menagerie. This morning after the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and Eucharistic Adoration, I set out to the local post office to buy Virgin and Child Christmas stamps. I was told that. “They were all out” by the time the request was made to the supply center for them.
I was also told that the post office couldn’t get them last year either.
Last year I bought seven books of Virgin and Child Christmas stamps from this same post office.
This is a town of 3,300 people. New female employees who treat the people at the counter as an
inconvenience. My heart is heavy because I am aware of the real reason why the Christmas stamps
were not ordered.
Check the online website for USPS – I ordered those stamps and had them delivered to my house for small fee. They arrived today.
What if a whole bunch of people bought seven books this year, and that’s why the post office ran out? Those stamps could be more popular than you realize! Just sayin’ your heart might want to be lifted in celebration! No sarc.
Fortunately you can order them directly from the USPS website – also an excellent addition to an advent calendar, imo…
{ https://store.usps.com/store/product/buy-stamps/virgin-and-child-stamps-S_684104 }
Always check through their ‘Gifts’ & ‘Cards & Envelopes’ sections for other lovely postal accoutrement; though I didn’t see any Madonna & Child items there today :-/
In case you don’t know… otherwise just a reminder… the Postal Bulletin always gives instructions how to get Christmas postmarks (& other s special postmarks yearlong) on all your holiday mail
{ Postal Bulletin Archives – USPS } towards the end; p. 29 in the 11-30 edition;
Some available postmarks included are – Bedford Falls Station; Nazareth, MI; Joy, IL; Star, NC; here is the full list of holiday theme postmark addresses/zip codes
{ http://tcotrel.tripod.com/holiday/holidaypos.html }
I’ve not tried all the links, fwiw.
Instructions:
**address, seal & & affix appropriate postage all pieces of mail**, then place all in a large envelope addressed to POSTMASTER at the address & zip of your desired postmark postal station – the postage required will depend on the amount of mail inside, your postal clerk will weigh it & charge the correct amount –
then it will be received & opened by the staff at the postmark station you’ve chosen, who will then affix their special postmark to each piece of mail. Your envelopes will be mailed out to the addressees by them. Allow extra time (mail for Christmas ASAP – this week if possible)
This is a FREE service! and your mail will be above & beyond.
Th postal bulletin also instructs the way to get First-Day-of-Issue postmarks – some are in color – for select new stamp designs
– p.31 of the most recent (11/30)… also tells where the FDOI ceremony will be held; I attended one here just before the scamdemic, and it was amazing.
I often use this special service for sending Valentines – if I like their new stamp; this next one is just OK compared with some in the past (p. 7 in Postal Bulletin 11/30; linked above).
I’ll probably use it. This service costs 50cents each with a minimum of 10 pieces -(purchase the new stamps, seal/address/affix to the mail, send to the FDOI address; instructions specified on p. 31; follow exactly). IMO it’s worth it for the WOW factor it gives an ordinary greeting; I always send at least a couple to myself for my small collection.
These FDOI digital pictoral postmarks are available for 3 months following the issue of the new stamp design – after that they are usually available on the USPS website at a higher cost per each.
The Post Office is one of the most fascinating things about the USA – it is a most authoritative organization we have; Benjamin Franklin was our first Postmaster, and he surveyed the shipping lanes for N. America as one of his first duties. No-one registers for military service except by first going through the Post Office. They are legal process servers too, did you know that? Send anyone/agent/operation a “notice-of-intent”, mail it registered/return-receipt, and the legal notification will stand up in court.
I’m the voice of successful experience re: transferring legal financial responsibility lifelong for vaccine injuring a child to those who “demand” a child be vaccinated… I watched a family court judge drop that notice paper (addressed to him personally) like it was on fire & nix the “required” vaccinations, end of discussion… in spite of the spitting apoplexy of those state-agents & others who demanded he be so injected (who were also each served personally with transfer of liability, but not smart enough to understand the actual meaning). Good times.
I was friends with a Postmaster & learned there’s no easy job at the behemouth-juggernaut Post Office… and not everyone there has integrity (as everywhere these days, obviously & sadly). I pray for all who work there and I always have a good positive experience.
Blessed Be the Postal Workers – especially now but always!
A NEW Madonna & Child stamp will be issued in 2024 – the release date is TBA
{ https://link.usps.com/2023/10/23/whats-in-store-24/ }
scroll down, bottom row if the collage – 3rd from left > click to enlarge
It’s Lovely
Yes, lovely artwork. I, too, am one of those folks who stocks up on “keep Christ in Christmas ” stamps. I use them all year long, and I still write letters!
Bravo to you for being a letter writer! Such a worthy & worthwhile endeavor; you’re an uplifter.
Christmas is a time for Fancy & Beautiful mail. I didn’t link this Madonna & Child one previously (IDK why not!), but it’s also currently available… probably *much prettier* in person than the photo can capture…
{ https://store.usps.com/store/product/buy-stamps/our-lady-of-gupulo-stamps-S_682904 }
I had pen pals when I was a kid, so I’ve always loved mail & postage. I learned how to search for old postage that matches the theme of my decorations outside & inside the mail I make. Old postage – stamps that are no longer issued or available through the USPS – is still usable at face value unless it’s cancelled. People who collect stamps often buy whole stamp collections from estates & dealers, and sell off the unwanted items at or below face value… there is a giant network/rabbit hole of people making Mail Art, and stamp collecting, and postmark collecting, etc.
Point being, old Madonna & Child & Holy Family postage stamps are available… lots & lots of them have been made over the decades. Every postage stamp design is an original piece of art – some are photos of original paintings, as is the one linked just above and also previously; as are a great many of these specifically.
The Madonna & Child and Holy Family postage designs are special to me too, and I use them all year also. great minds think alike. I keep track of when a stamp show is occurring locally and go to them to find what I’m looking for… and to see what I can find that I can use, that isn’t “valuable/collectible”. There are stamp dealers on e-bay also – price is often an issue there for anything “specific, as in Christmas postage now during the season… but it doesn’t const anything to look. I only buy what I can use as postage.
You might enjoy finding some that way too. I’ve found stamp/postage collectors are very helpful people and love to talk about & help find whatever designs I’m looking for or interested in. I learn what to ask for by name by looking through this stamp gallery – here’s just one beauty in the ‘Christmas’ category…
{ http://usstampgallery.com/view.php?id=fbce66f99c809283638f344ecb3d50674ea64189&Nativity__Lorenzo_Lotto&st=&ss=&t=45&s=12&syear=&eyear= }
I’m not the letter-writer I would like to be; what to leave in what to leave out? is my conundrum. In my mind a decorated envelope is a bonus that I hope makes up for a short note in a card instead of a letter – I do make the cards I send, so there’s that.
However, I know that a plain letter by itself – finding an actual letter amongst the junk mail & bills – always makes someone’s day 100x better.
Happy Advent – enjoy your preparations – and Blessings on your House DellaC
Here is a good selection (17+ designs) of vintage & antique reproduction *gorgeous art* Madonna & Child, Holy Family, Angels, and Adoration cards (+the images are available in many other forms)… If you don’t have Christmas cards yet
{ https://www.monahanpapers.com/catalog.php?category=55&page=all }
A good reminder for us all, especially in light of current events. Consider the “wait” of the Israelites waiting for the Messiah. A quick read of the Old Testament reminds us how bad things can get (so far, not a lot of golden calves around, except for outside Merril Lynch offices). The entire hierarchy of the Jews was completely corrupt leading up to Christ’s birth.
Indeed, we wait, like a woman groaning in labor. There is joy in waiting, joy in suffering, because when there is hope, there can be joy. On the other hand, keep in mind that the Messiah wasn’t exactly the one they were expecting. God has his own way of reminding us about what is important. Kings being born in stables and such. . ..
Happy Advent all
TY Menagerie for the reminder of what this Season is truly about!
BTW, cute video, but the channel had a nice interview with Fr. Jimmy Martin . . . not so sure about that . . .
I’m a cradle Catholic and grew up in the South. It was challenging because at the time there were hardly any Catholic families around except those we saw on Sunday.
As I’ve journied through my life/faith, I’ve become more sensitive to the difference between Advent and Christmastime and I strive to not get too entangled in the early ramping up of Christmas. There are radio stations that are 100% Christmas music from even before Thanksgiving…and then at 8pm Christmas Day, they’re back to standard format. During Advent, I change my ring tone to O Come, O Come Emmanuel, which is really an Advent song. I change it to Carole of the Bells on Christmas Eve until Epiphany.
This has enhanced my celebration of the seasons, and I try to educate folks about it inst of just being a curmudgeon about it.
I appreciate the post Menagerie!
Love the ring tone idea. Will be copying you! Thanks, I need all the reminders possible to put Christ first in all things
As a fallen away Catholic of many years, a few weeks ago I reconnected with a local parish and now am back to being a “practicing” Catholic during the time of Advent and beyond. It was one of the incentives to come back and be part of the iiturgy…
Welcome home!
Needed to hear this. Thank you. Gonna get my Advent Wreath up🥰🙏
The Anglican Book of Common Prayer (also the basis for Wesleyan Methodism service) also begins with the first Sunday of Advent.
The Collect:
“Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious Majesty, to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen.”
Always look forward to lighting my advent wreath. A few years ago I changed out the real candles with battery operated ones for safety concerns. I purchased an Advent calendars for my grandchildren that can be used year after year.
If anyone’s interested it can be purchased here:
https://www.bronners.com/the-story-of-christmas-advent-story-book-calendar
Thank you ! Menagerie, for this thread.
A gift of sorts, to be watchful and alert, waiting with each other here at the Treehouse.
A people of good will. Waiting together, in all ways.
Yes, there is JOY(!) in ANTICIPATION.
🙂
Advent has become my favorite time of year; it was not always that way because for many years would experience what some would call seasonal affective disorder, or SADS, and got to wondering why seasonal? So the hunt for understanding the seasons of our lives was on. Out of curiosity wondered if people in the southern hemisphere had similar malady in their winter times while we were enjoying the warmth of summer’s sun and came across some meditations for Advent written by a Rev. Mario Schoenmaker in what I call a servant in the independent sacramental movement, i.e. priests and worshippers not part of any mainstream or large denomination;
and so one year decided to try out these meditations, see if there really is something to embracing the mystery of seasons and why all religions, well at least the Abrahamic ones, embrace seasons in their practices – and, for the past decade have not had any SAD experiences and do believe that it is important for us to honor the seasons through prayer, meditation, mostly silent preparation in anticipation of what the different seasons may offer us while we learn what our part is to become closer to our Creator, however we approach God.
Having found embracing the mystery of each new season in the Christian traditions do work, and this gift of your post Menagerie with the opportunity to share; here goes:
Prepare the way for the Lord in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert. Isaiah 40:3
Keynote: Purification of character.
“The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all cattle, and above all wild animals; upon your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” Genesis 3:14-15
The promise of a redeemer:
“The promise of the first Christmas, that is, of the birth of a Redeemer, was first given that a redeemer would descend from the heavens and incarnate in a human body to redeem us . . . Ever since that fall there has been a struggle between the soul of the human race and the devil . . . but from the seed of Adam, from the seed of the human being, which means the human body, a Saviour would be born who would bruise the head of Satan.”
-excerpted from Meditations for the Days of Advent by Mario Schoenmaker.
Thank you for starting this Advent thread.
Read one chapter of Luke every day – starting 1 December. You will finish the life of Christ in one month on Christmas Eve.
Thank you. I appreciate you doing this! I am not Catholic but I do love their attentiveness to tradition and devotion to God.
Thank you!
Thank you for this. I’m a new believer (baptized earlier this year). I’m not a catholic, but my husband and I have been discussing advent and wondering how to introduce it to our kids.
I grew up Episcopalian — all by myself! — as my parents were of Christian background (Baptist/Congregational Dad and Russian Orthodox Mom) but not regular attendees of the church they sent me to, St. James the Less in Scarsdale NY. Anyway, I was baptized there at the age of five, at Easter, standing at the font with adults doing the same; was in the Red Choir and attended Sunday School and Religious Instruction during the school week to be confirmed in the sixth grade by the Bishop of NY, Horace W. B. Donegan, who was from Great Britain.
My fiance and I attended pre-marital counseling and tied the knot at St. James the Less in June 1968. I guess that pre-marital stuff was a good idea as we are still Man and Wife (old school C of E lingo).
The church was pretty strict about not going all-out on the day after Thanksgiving to decorate for Christmas. It observed Advent carefully. To show how important early lessons are for children, I can still recite the first words of the carol which begins the Liturgical Year, as Sundance has said. A reason I think I will remain Episcopalian to the end, even though this denomination has multiple problems, is that the hymns and carols we sing each and every Sunday throughout the year are wonderful! Here goes: “Advent tells us Christ is near, Christmas tells us Christ is here. In Epiphany we trace all the glory of His Grace. . . .” So I think that’s a great plan for the next six weeks or so. Wishing everyone a wonderful Advent Tide!
Anti-Catholic comments like the one posted are usually from a deep hurt or pain that was caused. Perhaps I am wrong, but anger is seldom derived from something not touched. As for describing things in a ‘protestant’ manner, that would include the Episcopal, Lutheran, Baptist, Methodist, Evangelical Non-Denominational, and other non-Roman Catholic denominations that would make this somewhat difficult. I wonder what Jesus thinks of all the division in our ranks. I think He weeps. Here’s praying that anyone offended finds peace, finds healing, and I wish them well.
Thanks Menagerie, your Sunday Advent posts are much needed and appreciated
Anglicans also celebrate Advent. I was in my mid forties, and twenty years a Protestant Christian, when I discovered the liturgical year. Observing it has enormously enriched my understanding of all the Christian holidays. I remember when Easter just appeared out of nowhere every spring. Now there is Lent and Holy Week preceding it, making the blessing of Easter so much greater. It’s easy for us to forget that for nearly 1500 years, almost all Christians observed the liturgical year.
Thank you Menagerie! The video was really special.
Blessings always
Happy, joyous Advent to all of you! 🙏🌄