Denver Catholic

ADVENT I 3 DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER I DECEMBER 17, 2014 Participants will be able to ask questions or record a voice message for the archbishop! Sign up at archden.org 12/21 at 7pm with Archbishop Aquila Archbishop Aquila LIVE and INTERACTIVE INTERACTIVE Phone Call Phone Call with Archbishop Aquila LIVE and INTERACTIVE Phone Call SUN. SUN. "Enter the Mystery": A conversation on Christmas and the Church's mission A CHRISTMAS TREE BLESSING Look into many homes and you'll fi nd a green Christmas tree deco- rated with colorful bulbs, sparkling lights and festive ornaments. The use of the Christmas tree dates back to medieval times when trees were depicted in plays as the Christmas light or candle that symbolized Christ. Customarily, a tree is set up before Christmas and remains in the home until the Solemnity of the Epiphany, this season cele- brated on Jan. 4. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops recommends the follow- ing prayer be said by a parent or family member to bless the tree. Make the sign of the cross. Leader: Let us glorify Christ our light, who brings salvation and peace into our midst, now and forever. My brothers and sisters, amidst signs and wonders Christ Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea: his birth brings joy to our hearts and enlightenment to our minds. With this tree, decorated and adorned, may we welcome Christ among us; may its lights guide us to the perfect light. Read: Titus 3:4 or Ezekiel 17:22 Leader: Let us ask God to send his blessing upon us and upon this sign of our faith in the Lord. The group may offer up intentions and recite the Our Father together. Leader: Lord God, let your bless- ing come upon us as we illumine this tree. May the light and cheer it gives be a sign of the joy that fi lls our hearts. May all who delight in this tree come to the knowledge and joy of salvation. We ask this through Christ our Lord. All: Amen. The leader concludes the blessing with the following verse. Leader: O come, thou dayspring, come and cheer, our spirits by thine advent here; disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death's dark shadow put to fl ight. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. BY NISSA LAPOINT Christ is coming. Next week, in fact, Christians around the world will celebrate the Nativity of the Lord and his humble birth in Bethlehem. The Church designates the four weeks preceding Christmas as the season of Advent, a time to prepare a place for the sav- ior. According to local priests, it's never too late to make it a prayerful time. How to make Advent prayerful Father Greg Cleveland, an Oblate of the Virgin Mary who directs the Lanteri Center for Ig- natian Spirituality, said one way is to unite with Jesus' mother Mary, especially as she carried her son in her womb. "As Christians we carry Christ in our hearts and simply recall his presence with loving aware- ness," he said. "We can ponder the mysteries of Jesus and Mary, just as Mary 'pondered all these things in her heart'" (Lk 2:19). One way faithful can antici- pate Christmas is to ask, "How can I stir my heart to grow in that longing, in that desire for God?" Father Brady Wagner, pa- rochial vicar of the St. Thom- as Aquinas Catholic Center in Boulder, said this question is a good starting point. "In order to awaken the deep- er desires of the heart, greater silence and stillness through fasting from media can be very helpful," he suggested. "And in the space of that silence to refl ect on the promises that God has made, as St. Augus- tine says, placing himself in our debt, not because of anything we have given to him, but sim- ply because he has made the promise." Through this kind of med- itation on Christ's fulfi lled promises, faithful "can be more aware and ready to receive him as he comes to me daily in hid- den ways as well as when he comes in glory," Father Wagner said. Prayer that focuses on Christ's birth St. Ignatius recommended prayer that uses the imagination. "He goes so far as to become a participant in the mystery, imag- ining one's self to be a little boy or girl serving the Holy Family in the cave at Bethlehem," Father Cleveland explained. "Interact with Mary and Joseph. Hold the Christ child. Be in awe and re- joice at the arrival of the shep- herds and wise men." Father Wagner also recom- mended using the imagination to refl ect on the mysteries of Christ's life. "To pray imaginatively with the joyful mysteries of the rosa- ry can be powerful, seeing what Mary was doing, how she prays, how she works, how she medi- tates on the Scriptures, how she speaks and interacts with others, which prepared a ready heart to receive the word from the Angel Gabriel and freely respond," Fa- ther Wagner said. "And to enjoy an intimate conversation with her so she can teach us how to ready our hearts as well." Vocal vs. mental prayer "(Vocal and mental prayers) are not so much different as complementary forms of prayer that should go together," Father Cleveland said. "Vocal prayer begins with speaking the words of praise or petition, while align- ing our thoughts with our words. Mental prayer begins with think- ing about God and the truths of our faith with the goal of greater understanding and conviction." Mental prayer, he added, leads to vocal expression of love and petition to God. The rosary is a way to engage both forms of prayer, Father Wagner said. Previous popes have spoken of vocal and mental prayer as the "body and soul" of the ro- sary—the vocal prayers being the body of the rosary and the meditation on the face of Jesus with Mary, on the mysteries of Christ's life, as being the soul, he explained. Make time for private prayer Father Wagner said, "Jesus encourages us, 'when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you'" (Mt 6:6). Father Cleveland said, "Just as we need time both in commu- nity and in solitude, so we need both communal and private prayer." Although it is import- ant to pray liturgically and communally, "there is a depth of the heart where God desires to encounter us," Father Wag- ner said. When faithful participate in private prayer and communal prayer, the benefi ts are mutual- ly reciprocal, he added. "Praying with others and especially liturgically teach- es me how to pray, but also praying fruitfully with others assumes that I pray individu- ally and know how to pray," he explained. Nissa LaPoint: 303-715-3138; nissa.lapoint@archden.org; www. twitter.com/DCRegisterNissa Christmas traditions: Prayerfully preparing for His coming Priests offer insights on Advent prayer THE LITUR- GICAL season of Advent is a time for prayer and prepara- tion for the celebration of the Nativity. Local priests weighed in on ways to make it a prayerful time. PHOTO BY TLWILSONII/FLICKR ENTER THE MYSTERY OF CHRISTMAS Are you looking for other ways to prepare to Christmas? Visit the Archdiocese of Denver's website for a page dedicated to help faithful during the holiday season. Visit www.archden. org/Christmas for a list of scheduled penance services, information on an interactive phone call with Archbishop Samuel Aquila Dec. 21 and details on the meaning of the Advent wreath. DCR FILE PHOTO the fi rst Lakev- administra- funds and funds go don't really remodel said. 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