December
Advent
Brother Francis
Watch the Advent video with Brother Francis
- What is Advent?
- What are some symbols you may see in church or your house that remind us it's Advent?
Symbols of Advent
Advent- A time for preparation
During this season of Advent, many of us do many things to prepare for our celebration at Christmas. The Gospel on the 2nd week of Advent tells us how John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus. He preached repentance and baptized people as a sign of forgiveness of sins. One of the things that the Church invites us to do during the season of Advent is to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation. During Advent, we seek forgiveness for our sins and look for ways in which we can be better followers of Jesus. Many of the churches in the Duluth area have special Advent opportunities for us to partake in. As a family consider attending these celebrations as a way to help prepare your family for the coming of Christ at Christmas. Let us also take a moment to pray for our First Reconciliation students who will be making their First Reconciliation in the upcoming weeks. May they know God’s love and forgiveness that he has for them.
The Nativity
- What is happening in this image?
- Who do you see?
During Advent, the Nativity Scene is a visual way for us to remember the events of Christ’s birth and the coming of our Savior. It is traditional to leave the manger empty until Christmas Eve and then place Baby Jesus in the manger on the day of His birth.
The Story of the Nativity
Gospel of Luke 2:1-14
The Birth of Jesus.
1* In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus* that the whole world should be enrolled.
2This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town.
4And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,
5to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
6While they were there, the time came for her to have her child,
7and she gave birth to her firstborn son.* She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8* Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock.
9The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear.
10The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
11* e For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord.
12And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”
13And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:
14* “Glory to God in the highest
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
The Visit of the Shepards
15When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.”
16So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger.
17When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child.
18All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds.
19And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.
20Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.
Gospel of Matthew 2:1-12
The Magi
The Visit of the Magi.
1 When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod,* behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem,
2 saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star* at its rising and have come to do him homage.”
3 When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4 Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.*
5 They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet:
6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
since from you shall come a ruler,
who is to shepherd my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance.
8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.”
9 After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.
10 They were overjoyed at seeing the star,
11 and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.