Sunday, November 27, 2022

First Sunday of Advent glows at 8a mass with the 3 boys serving/"We need to be preparing for Jesus"-"...we may walk in his paths."


Father blessing the Advent Candle for the First Sunday of Advent while Patrick lights it.  All 3 older boys served today on this First Sunday of Advent in Charlottesville, VA.

Prayer For First Advent Candle... O God, by whose Word all things are sanctified, pour forth Your blessing upon this wreath and grant that we who use it may prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ and may receive from You abundant graces. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

David is 13 in a month, Patrick just turned 10, and Romeo has the same birthday as grandpa in Sept 15th and is 8, and received his first Communion in the last year so the 3 of them all serve together on the altar.  It proves that the youngest 8 year old Romeo is able to be still and reverent for an entire mass.
A visiting priest from New Orleans, who is in town to celebrate a wedding. "I asked Father how I could help, and he told me to do the 8a mass."
12 year old David was the acolyte and went back to bring up the gifts with the crucifix.
"The Body of Christ" Patrick rings the bells 3 times to bring our attention to Christ present on the altar for us.  "My Lord and my God."  recognizing Jesus risen for us with St Thomas
The white gloves add to the sacredness of the mass where we receive Jesus in His Word, Body and Blood each day.  

I always remember the story of one of John's buddies from the Farmhouse Fraternity, who loved worshiping Jesus so much that he exclaimed; "Wouldn't it be amazing if we could go and worship every day of the week?!?"  John and Brad Lanoue looked at each other, and said; "You can!  In the Catholic Church we can worship every day!"  

Sharing the family brunch here in Charlottesville with our military family as we do on the farm!  The feast shared on this first Sunday of Advent!

Pat lit the candle for our family on the vigil last night before we shared supper and the movie, Sandlot.  
The first week of Advent begins...Father reminded us that we are still awaiting Jesus coming and Advent allows us to prepare for his coming again, when we will join him in heaven forever.  The First reading today from Isaiah 2 is filled with beautiful imagery - All nations shall stream toward it;
many peoples shall come and say:
"Come, let us climb the LORD's mountain,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
that he may instruct us in his ways,
and we may walk in his paths."  Isaiah 2

In order to be prepared for his coming we need to stay on the narrow path - His paths!
Orienting myself to where we are - we entered West Virginia on our way.
Also curious about how far we are from the ocean - actually Chesapeake Bay.  Reminds me of the book Chesapeake by James Michener.  
Tomorrow they go from Charlottesville to Washington DC for a day of education and family times.  I will depend on pictures as I am here with the 2 youngest kids so the others can have the time of their lives literally.  We have added 2 days to our time here, and Pat says it might be the longest we have been away from the farm.
Cowvaliers milkshakes with the grandkids yesterday.  "We like to spoil you kids, so you know that we love you!"
Milk shakes all around after pizza from the pizza place and grandma got Pilipino food which she shared and all thought was GOOD!
The two bookends dancing and so loving to each other.  
Putting up their advent pictures - stickers will be added by the day.
6 year old with a wise man sticker - yes, we are having a rainy day today.
Leggo Advent Calendar with 19 windows to open with prayer needs until the leave for Minnesota Christmas.  Right around the corner.
Advent plans ending in coming to Minnesota for Christmas camps and gatherings.
Mom taking prayer requests from the kids - yes, they included grandma and grandpa and the farm!  LOVE to have the prayers of children for this old woman.  It fills me with peace and JOY!  
Therese and Maggie both love their dollies.  
Swimming at the local community center so I could do my water aerobics here too!  
The two littles are learning to pose for grandma.  I train my grandkids!
Patrick lighting the candles before mass by St Joseph.
The 3 leading the way...
Very reverent and prayerful - we sat in the front row and grandma took covert pictures of the 3 boys serving with great reverence.  
Jesus holding out the Eucharist to us as the boys come to wash his hands before the Consecration.
14 year old Therese sang with the choir above and behind us - very heavenly!  The back door open is 15 feet high and opens out onto a world that reminds me of New England with red brick everywhere with stately columns and beauty.
On the porch after mass 
Evie and Maggie - a real baby in the baby stroller 
So lucky to have many siblings to share their fun with also.  They are homeschooled by Maria, and now Therese is in a Catholic high School on line.  
1 1/2 year old Maggie dancing with Therese.  Thankyou Lord, for all the Seasons of The Church and how it prepares us to die to self so that you may use us as your hands and feet and voice.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Bless-bless, Barbara and the 34!  
First Sunday of Advent
Renewing the HOPE
 
In Advent, Christians relive a dual impulse of the spirit:  on the one hand, they raise their eyes towards the final destination of their pilgrimage through history, which is the glorious return of the Lord Jesus; on the other, remembering with emotion His birth in Bethlehem, they kneel before the Crib. The hope of Christians is turned to the future but remains firmly rooted in an event of the past. In the fullness of time, the Son of God was born of the Virgin Mary:  "Born of a woman, born under the law", as the Apostle Paul writes (Gal 4: 4). - Pope Benedict XVI, 27 November 2005



"Therefore, stay awake!"
Matthew 24 (Today's Gospel)
 
Fr Orr ~ St John Neumann Catholic Church  ~ Knoxville, TN ~ USA

"Jesus, … the Eucharist is the sacramental testimony of Your first coming,
with which the words of the prophets were reconfirmed
and expectations were fulfilled. 
You have left us, O Lord, Your Body and Blood
under the species of bread and wine that they may bear witness
to the fact that the world has been redeemed
 - that through them Your paschal mystery may reach all men
as the Sacrament of life and salvation.

The Eucharist is at the same time  a constant announcement of Your second coming
and the sign of the definitive Advent
and also of the expectation of the whole Church.
 
When we eat this bread and drink this cup,
we proclaim Your death, Lord Jesus,
until You come in glory. 

Every day and every hour
we wish to adore You,
stripped under the species of bread and wine,
to renew the hope of the call to glory.
Amen."
 
St John Paul II
 Quoted in Jesus, We Adore You
Paul Thigpen
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Advent season resources
"Prepare your hearts to receive Jesus the Savior." - Pope Francis

Vatican Advent page 
Click here: Fish Eaters Advent Overview
 
Learn more about the saints of Advent, including
the Blessed Virgin Mary (Dec. 8, 10 and 12), St. John the Baptist,
St Francis Xavier (Dec 3), St John Damascene (Dec 4),
St. Nicholas (Dec. 6), St Ambrose (Dec 7), St. Juan Diego (Dec. 9),
St. Lucy (Dec. 13), St John of the Cross (Dec 14),
St Peter Canisius (Dec 21), and St John of Kanty (Dec 23)
We are surrounded by holy friendships!
__________________






Gregorian chant - the First Sunday of Advent






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