Sanctus Simplicitus

Ideas from a dear friend on celebrating Advent:

"One of the traditions that we have as a family for Advent is choosing a Christ Child.  On the first Sunday of Advent we put everyone's name in a bowl and then each person draws out a name.  The name they draw is then their Christ Child for all of Advent.  They are to keep the name that they draw secret and do as many things that they can for them all through Advent.  Maybe doing their chores without them knowing, saying prayers for them, offering up little sacrifices, etc.  We put prayers on the back of holy cards and keep them in the center of
the Advent wreath.  If it's prayers you want to say for your Christ Child you place the holy card with the appropriate prayers on their pillow.  When they find them they place them back in the wreath to be used by others.  They also make their Christ Child a homemade gift.  It makes for a lot of secrecy through Advent which is quite fun, it's amazing to me how it helps them to be good as well.

On the first Sunday of Advent I have each child write a letter to Jesus, telling him what gifts they are going to give him, such as trying to correct some of their faults, to giving right-away obedience and whatever their little
hearts want to try to do.   They fold them up and place them under our manger and try to keep their resolutions as best they can.  I have kept all of those letters and enjoying reading them every year.  It brings back lots of
memories especially when you have older children 17, 16 who started this when
they were very little.

By Advent is meant the four weeks before Christmas, appointed by the Church to prepare us for the worthy celebration of our Saviour's birth. We should endeavour by prayer, the practice of virtues, fasting, and a good confession, to have Jesus formed anew in our hearths as this holy season. For this reason the Gospel read at Mass on the first Sunday treats of His coming at the Last Day. The Church seems to say to us, "If you wish to behold without fear the arrival of that God Whom I announce to you, when He shall come as the supreme Judge of all the living and the dead, prepare to receive Him now that He comes as a Saviour."

On the Second Sunday of Advent the Church continues her instructions. The Gospel sets before us the Precursor, John the Baptist pointing out in the person of Christ the Redeemer expected for four thousand years.

On the third Sunday the Baptist is again heard "The voice of one crying in the desert: Make straight the ways of the Lord. Behold He cometh, and I am not worth to loose the latchet of His shoe."* He who uses these words is the greatest among the children of men. Oh! how holy is our Lord, and how careful we should be in preparing ourselves to receive Him!

We ought during this season to make use of frequent ejaculations inviting our Lord into our hearts. "O Divine Infant Jesus, come to be born in my heart, to drive out sin and to plant Thy virtues there."

"Great Judge of hearts, Thou dost discern
Our ills, and all our weakness know;
Again to Thee with tears we turn,
Again to us Thy mercy show.
And grant us, while by fasts we strive
This mortal body to control,
To fast from all the food of sin,
And so to purify the soul."

Example.- St. Phili Neri

A young man named Spazzara, who lived in Rome, visited St. Philip Neri one day, and entered into long details about the study of law, which he had just commenced. He described the course which he meant to pursue in order to obtain the degree of Doctor. "And then?" demanded the Saint. "Then," replied the young man, much encouraged, "I will plead causes, and I hope successfully." "And then?" added the Saint again. "And then people will begin to speak of me, and I shall enjoy a reputation." "And then?" continued St. Philip, smiling. "And then," continued the young man, a little embarrassed, "I shall live at my ease, and I shall be happy." "And what then?" "Well, then- I shall die." "And then?" resumed the Saint, raising his voice. "What shall you do when your own trial comes, when you yourself, shall be the accused, Satan the accuser, and the Almighty your judge?" The young man, who little expected such a conclusion, hung his head and began to consider within himself. After this interview, he endavoured, by consecrating his life to the service of God, to prepare seriously for the final judgment on which eternity depends.

*John i. 27
From Catholic Life