Our Advent Music Plan Friday, Nov 20 2009

Yesterday I roused myself to run an errand to a few craft stores. Our household is trying to recover from the swine flu but it’s been slow-going. I thought I had a bit of energy and wanted to use the opportunity of going solo, since dh was home. I emerged from our Quarantined Retreat and trudged out. I was seeking only a few items – a few birthday gifts for ds2 that were on sale and some materials for some Advent projects. I got the first item, but struck out on the rest.

It was my in these stores that I remembered how much I dislike piped-in Christmas carols when I’m shopping. Take note – it was only November 18 and the carols were playing. And I shouldn’t even use “carols” because most are not. Because we’re reduced to just “Happy Holidays” the songs in stores can’t mention the real meaning of “Christ-Mass”. It is just twaddly songs about Santa, Rudolf, being jolly, decking halls, getting everything I want. Yes, that last one is something I heard. Some male rock band was singing some song about making out a list, wanting everything, going to get everything.

If dragging myself out wasn’t going to cause a relapse, that song pushed me over the edge. Ugh.

And most of what I heard could be barely called “music”. I can’t even sing along to these pop artist renditions.

So, while I’m not opposed to Christmas carols in general before Christmas, I am opposed to being onslaught by what is I shall call “P.C. Holiday Listening” (P.C. standing for “Politically Correct”, for my non-American readers).

So, here are some of my thoughts. I want to choose music that is good, true and beautiful. I’ll phrase it this way – to counteract the PC Holiday Listening I am going to be EXTREMELY selective and picky about the music we shall listen to in Advent and Christmas. The places I do have control (which I do in my home and car) on what we hear, I can choose good music for us. I find my choices run pretty traditional, but also most of my choices are calm and peaceful. I think I unconsciously wield a counterattack on the PC Holiday Listening and the Holiday Panic that ensues outside. Plus, I want to continue my strategy of contrasting the liturgical seasons. It is not Christmas until December 25.

Here’s my plan in a nutshell.

1. Emphasize more Advent chants and hymns to sing and to hear during the Advent season so my domestic church will reflect the Church’s Advent Liturgy.
2. Hold off on Christmas carols until Christmas, or closer to Christmas. (We generally start the Christmas carols around the 3rd Sunday of Advent.)
3. The carols and Christmas music will be deliberate, beautiful choices.

I’ve always hoped for a cd totally dedicated to Advent the hymns, and I think this year I finally found some. I’m still working with the old-fashioned stereo, with physical cds and records. One of these days I’ll graduate to an .mp3 player, but I only want one if I can play it through my car speakers and have some decent speakers to play for the whole family to hear – which all costs more. So, I work with what I have. But I will say, with the .mp3 technology it is so easy to come up with an Advent playlist for the family. There is very little excuse to NOT have Advent music playing in the home.

I first want to start with the Sunday introits. I loved Jeffrey Tucker’s 2006 post Ad Te Levavi, making the point of having these so familiar. That is my aim — hearing the different chants will bring them into the spirit of the liturgy with the corresponding liturgical season. We might not be singing it this year, but we will become familiar by hearing them.

The Introits are the Entrance Antiphon of the Mass, part of the propers of the Mass. These are found both in the Ordinary and Extraordinary Form of the Mass. Traditionally the Sunday Mass was called by the first words of the Introit. While there are other propers, I thought just playing at least the Sunday Introits throughout the week would help gain the familiarity of the liturgy, and also keeping Sundays the focal point. I’ve included the text and translation of the four introits below.

1. First Sunday of Advent: Missa Ad Te Levavi

   Introit: To you, my God, I lift my soul, I trust in you; let me never come to shame. Do not let my enemies laugh at me. No one who waits for you is ever put to shame. Psalm 25:1-3 (Roman Missal)

   Ad te levavi animam meam: Deus meus in te confido, non erubescam: necque irrideant me inimici mei: etenim universi qui te exspectant, non confundentur.

   Ps. Vias tuas, Domine, demonstra mihi: et semitas tuas edoce me.(Graduale Romanum).

2. Second Sunday of Advent: Missa Populus Sion

   Introit: People of Zion, the Lord will come to save all nations, and your hearts will exult to hear his majestic voice.(Based on Isaiah 30:19,30, Roman Missal)

   Populus Sion, ecce Dominus veniet ad salvandas gentes: et auditam faciet Dominus gloriam vocis suae, in laetitia cordis vestri.

   Ps. Qui regis Israel, intende: qui deducis velut ovem Ioseph.(Graduale Romanum)

3. Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday): Missa Guadete

   Introit: I exult for joy in the Lord, my soul rejoices in my God; for he has clothed me in the garment of salvation and robed me in the cloak of justice, like a bride adorned with her jewels. Isaiah 61:10 (Roman Missal)

   Gaudens gaudebo in Domino et exsultabit anima mea in Deo meo: quia induit me vestimentis salutis, et indumento iustitiæ circumdedit me, quasi sponsam ornatam monilibus suis.

   Ps. Exaltabo te, Domine, quoniam suscepisti me: nec delecasti inimicos meos super me.(Graduale Romanum)

4. Fourth Sunday of Advent: Missa Rorate Coeli

   Introit: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice! The Lord is near. Philippians 4:4-5 (Roman Missal)

   Gaudete in Domino semper: iterum dico, gaudete: modestia vestra nota sit omnibus hominibus: Dominus prope est. Nihil solliciti sitis: sed in omni oratione petitiones vestrae innotescant apud Deum.

   Ps. Benedixisti, Domine, terram tuam: avertisti captivitatem Iacob.(Graduale Romanum)

With some recommendations from members at Musica Sacra, I tracked down a few recordings that contain only Advent chants. There are multiple recordings, but these cover most of the introits and the few Advent chants I’d like to play. I’m offering a variety of choices, and I’m sure there are more out there:

• Gregorian Adventby CantArte Regensburg & Hubert Velten. This is my least favorite recording merely because the interpretation of the chant is different than I prefer, but it still is a good cd.
• Gregorian Chant: The Lord Is Near – Chants of Advent (Der Herr Ist Nahe)by Schola of the Benedictine Abbey, Gerleve, Musical Direction: P. Gottfried Meier OSB.
• Chant Grégorien et Polyphonie à l’Abbaye du Bec-Hellouin. This one contains only the first Sunday of Advent, Alma redemptoris Mater, plus other selections from the entire Liturgical Year.
• Gregorian Chant for the Church Year: Advent / Veni Domineby Schola of the Hofburgkapelle of Vienna, directed by Fr. Hubert Dopf, S.J. This is my favorite, but it seems to have become quite rare. It contains all four Advent Sunday Masses, just three O Antiphons and hymn Conditor alme siderum. Former Vienna Choirboys, now men. Perhaps you can find it on iTunes.
• Meinrad Abbey’s Advent and Christmas. Contains the first three Sundays of Advent, but does have all the O Antiphons.

Following the example from this post on Ad Te Levavi, there are many different YouTube recordings of the various introits, including the 2nd Sunday’s Populus Sion. Plus, there are loads of various recordings to find online of the chant.

For Advent hymns, here is my short list of favorites.

• Veni, Veni, Emmanuel (O Come, O Come, Emmanuel)

• Rorate Coeli
• Creator alme siderum (Creator of the Stars at Night)
• Alma Redemptoris Mater
• People Look East
• On Jordan’s Bank
• Lo, How a Rose ‘Er Blooming
• Saviour of the Nations, Come
• O Come Divine Messiah

Last year we sang O Come, O Come Emmanuel at the lighting of the Advent Wreath. I’d like the boys to learn “People Look East” and “Creator alme Siderum” this year. I’m not aiming for perfection with words, but familiarity with the tunes.

Two free downloadable books that can help learning the Advent tunes are available from Musica Sacra

• Story of the Redemption for Children
• Ward Hymnal for Children

I have talked about these resources before. I also reviewed a beautiful old picture book that gives a message of why we choose Gregorian chant.

Since the Christmas season extends until January 10, we’re not at a loss for time to hear our favorite records and cds. We do compromise and play some Christmas carols before Christmas, but I try to wait until Gaudete Sunday, when liturgically we are given a glimpse that Christmas is near. Everyone’s taste is individual in music. I know mine runs a little more old-fashioned and traditional. Some of our favorite cds are by the Cambridge Singers, Deller Consort, the Chieftains, the Trapp Family Singers, Notre Dame Glee Club, and a bit of Bing Crosby. I also play versions of the Nutcracker Suite and The Messiah and lots of Christmas chant, too.

If you were to ask me my ultimate favorite cd it would be by the Deller Consort, “Hark Ye Shepherds”. Unfortunately the individual cd is not available, but the fabulous collection Complete Vanguard Classics: Music For The Christmas Season Alfred Deller has been reissued. Ask any of my 6 siblings – we LOVE the version of People Look East. None surpasses this.

Some other of our favorite recordings that we listen to over and over:

• Christmas With the Trapp Family Singers
• The Sound of Christmas with the Trapp Family Singers
• Cambridge Singers Christmas Album
• Christmas Star, Cambridge Singers
• Christmas Night: Carols of the Nativity, Cambridge Singers

So that’s my music plan.

1. Emphasize more Advent chants and hymns to sing and to hear during the Advent season, to more closely unite our domestic church with the Church’s Advent Liturgy.
2. Hold off on Christmas carols until Christmas, or closer to Christmas.
3. The carols and Christmas music will be deliberate, beautiful choices.

May your Advent and Christmas season be filled with beautiful music to help raise your hearts to God.

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Our 2009 Advent Catechesis Wednesday, Nov 18 2009

I mentioned in my long Advent pondering post that our main Advent catechesis will be using three key books by Inos Biffi and illustrated by Franco Vignazia. They are available for sale at Family-Centered Press. The Advent Book Package is an excellent deal!

These books explain so clearly the Liturgical Year and the liturgical seasons of Advent and Christmas; they are the perfect catechesis for both children and adults. The text is wonderfully supported by the rich flowing illustrations

I’m crazy about the illustrations by Franco Vignazia. The images themselves are catechetical in nature — just like the old illuminated manuscripts and stained glass windows that even young children and illiterate faithful could learn and contemplate great mysteries of the faith. Vignazia’s is reminiscent of various methods, like religious icons and illuminated maniscripts. My sons have loved just to gaze at the beautiful illustrations for long periods.

We will begin with An Introduction to the Liturgical Year by Inos Biffi, as this is the beginning of the new Liturgical Year. We will read the Part One: Advent and Christmas Seaons during the first two weeks of Advent.

Advent Reading 2009 is a Word document, so you can tweak to what works for you.

I decided to break the books down so that they would last through Advent. I know there will be days we’ll add and subtract. The sections are short, but meaty. I’d like to keep them smaller for the most part to leave time to soak in the richness. We’ll begin on the First Sunday of Advent, November 29. I’ve broken down our reading into small chunks, skipping Saturdays, but including Sundays. Looking ahead to the Christmas season, I know we won’t be doing much formal studying, so I’m going to include reading about the Christmas season in Advent.

For a few years now we have hung a round liturgical calendar in our kitchen, discussed, and tried living the liturgical year in various ways. Every liturgical year cycle we are called to go in deeper into the Paschal Mystery, to understand more so that we can love and serve God even more. An Introduction to the Liturgical Year is the next step in understanding the symbolism and meaning of the various liturgical seasons and feasts.

On the Third Sunday of Advent we will begin The Way to Bethlehem by Inos Biffi which covers similar items as the first book, but a little more detailed at the Nativity story. On December 8, we take a break to view The Life of Mary. I’m finishing up the school year on the 23rd.

I’ve added a few readings from Ethel Marbach Pochocki’s Saints of the Season for Children (or Saints in Waiting, both out of print) and her Around the Year Once Upon a Time Saints. These will be used as extra reading on the saints’ days in Advent, and reading for the key Advent figures (Isaiah, John the Baptist, and St. Joseph).

If there’s interest for fun reading, we’ll read along daily Destination Bethlehem by Sharon Altman and Christine Winkelman.

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Prepare the Way of the Lord! Wednesday, Nov 18 2009

I have an internal struggle as I see all the posts and reminders of Advent and making Advent plans. I rebel interiorly, as I don’t like to overplan, especially for Advent. But as I’m thinking through what our family will do for Advent, I realize I need to solidify my goals, streamline my vision, and make plans. I have to plan a little so I can keep it simple. It seems a little contradictory, but it does make sense to me. If I don’t have some goals and plan in mind, we can be hit willy-nilly with all sorts of attractive activities, busyness of preparation, and then I will lose sight and control and be in the situation I always dread – over my head and just barely treading water. This is a pondering post, not one with lots of crafts and ideas.

My thought process: What will be my focus or main meditation during Advent? And what will our family’s main focus be during Advent? What are the main points to be then be interiorized?

Advent comes from the Latin word Adventus, meaning coming. This is a two-fold coming, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church explains:

When the Church celebrates the liturgy of Advent each year, she makes present this ancient expectancy of the Messiah, for by sharing in the long preparation for the Savior’s first coming, the faithful renew their ardent desire for His second coming (No. 524).

Advent is a separate season from the Christmas season in the Church’s liturgy. Advent is a time of hope, a time of preparing, a time for patiently and prayerfully waiting. It is not technically a fully penitential season, but purple as the seasonal color indicates celebration has not begun. The Advent Masses omit the Gloria, but retain the Alleluia. Christmas carols aren’t sung until Christmas. Christmas has an octave – eight days each one being another Christmas, and then the season lasts until January 10, the Baptism of our Lord. That is 17 days to celebrate the mystery of the Incarnation. The 26 days of Advent is the time to prepare.

I want to convey that contrast in my home. Christmas doesn’t happen until December 25. Will we be “Christmased” out when it does arrive? It’s an uphill battle, because we are faced with the secularism of Christmas, or “Happy Holidays” before Halloween is over. We will have outside invitations and activities that mark Christmas celebration before the 25th. We will be hearing Christmas carols and seeing Christmas decorations and all those delicious-but-fattening Christmas goodies all through Advent. We aren’t trying to become hermits, living an austere life with no celebration. No, what we’re aiming to do is simplify and pace our family so that we will have energy for the true celebration of Christmas and the Christmas season.

Our family needs to imitate Mary, in her preparation for Christ’s coming. Can we turn off the mindless hustle and bustle and replace it with Mary’s active contemplation? She visited and helped Elizabeth, and then went home to prepare for Christ’s birth. At that time there weren’t gift registries or a baby’s bedroom to decorate, or a long list of items needed for an infant layette. Mary would have been weaving the cloth and sewing the swaddling clothes and diapers and blankets – all activities that are active work, but allow for contemplation. Can we imitate Mary’s spirit, even though we might have busier preparations happening? Can we imitate her humilty – staying quiet and hidden, keeping all thoughts towards Him while Jesus grew in her womb? And how about imitating her spouse’s humility?

What messages to convey during this Advent to my family?

1. Gifts – Giving, not about receiving. Charity for neighbor; practicing corporal and spiritual works of mercy for others.
2. Humility – Who was Jesus? Humility is the basis of all virtue, and we can observe and contemplate it from the moment of Incarnation, also imitating Mary and St. Joseph. (Humility is the area that I will be personally meditating on especially this Advent. I need a lot of it.)
3. Advent, not Christmas – It is not Christmas yet. Christmas is celebration of Christ’s birth, Advent is preparation.

The main thrust of our Advent traditions will include a new liturgical calendar, an Advent countdown calendar, preparing the manger, the Advent wreath with the four key figures of Advent with a little tweaking for this year. All these are simple and traditional, but always enjoyed.

I have a few child friendly Nativity sets that I put out during Advent. Except for the Fisher Price Nativity, Baby Jesus will be absent until Christmas Eve. An activity we will add this year will be some of our crèche figures (Jesus and Mary and the Three Kings) traveling throughout Advent. We normally don’t decorate the house for Christmas until the 3rd or 4th Sunday of Advent, and we keep the Christmas carols and shows at a minimum until that point.

The anchor will be the Liturgy from the four Sundays of Advent. Each Sunday in Advent will have a theme that we will try to keep throughout the week, incorporating it with our Advent wreath. The Liturgical Year pivots on the Paschal Mystery, which is commemorated every Sunday. Sunday “is the foundation and kernel of the whole liturgical year.” (Sacrosanctum Concilium, no 106). This is my main motivation, to reiterate that message that Sundays take priority.

The fixed dates for the Optional Memorial of St. Nicholas and Memorial of St. Lucy fall on Sunday this year, so they are superseded by the Sunday Advent liturgy. I’ve already had questions from my son as to why St. Nicholas isn’t on the calendar this year. I do find this a teachable moment to explain the order of precedence for feastdays in the liturgical year. But since we do love these saints and the customs are part of our family tradition, I’m moving some of our reading and celebration of these two saints earlier in the week, so they don’t override our Sunday activities.

We’ll continue doing school days, as we’ve fallen behind a bit with sickness and traveling. The main thing we’re adding to our lessons for Advent is reading, and some of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd presentations (Advent prophecies, the Annunciation, the Visitation, etc.), and Advent hymns, especially chant. I hope to post separately on both of those.

Our main read-alouds throughout Advent will be books by Inos Biffi:

We will begin with An Introduction to the Liturgical Year by Inos Biffi, as this is the beginning of the new Liturgical Year. We will read the section on Advent in Part One during the first two weeks of Advent.

The Way to Bethlehem by Inos Biffi will be for the second half of Advent, as we get closer to the actual feast of Christmas.

Both books cover the richness of the season reflected in the Advent liturgy.

I also will include The Life of Mary for the feasts of Mary, particularly December 8, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, and during the Fourth Week of Advent, when we’re contemplating Mary.

These books explain so clearly the Liturgical Year and the liturgical seasons of Advent and Christmas; they are the perfect catechesis for both children and adults. The text is wonderfully supported by the rich flowing illustrations by Franco Vignazia. I am so excited that these books are back in print. Michele shares my enthusiasm for these treasures, and is offering these books for sale at Family-Centered Press, which is extremely helpful since Way to Bethlehem is not available in the US. Having bought my copies piece-meal from different suppliers, paying shipping for each book, the Advent Book Package is an excellent deal!

We will read a bit
For some of the Old and New Testament saints, I’ll be using Ethel Marbach Pochock’s Saints of the Season for Children (or Saints in Waiting, both out of print) and her Around the Year Once Upon a Time Saints. These will be used as extra reading on the saints’ days in Advent, and reading for the key Advent figures (Isaiah, John the Baptist, etc.).

I did purchase Destination Bethlehem by Sharon Altman and Christine Winkelman and really love it. It’s a wonderful read-aloud for each December day of Advent. It’s a story based around a central fictional character Isaac, as he walks through the historical events surrounding Christ’s birth. The book presents a good example of beginning discursive meditation, as the reader can be the main character. This approach was encouraged by St. Josemaria Escriva, “”Have you…every contemplated these mysteries? Become little. Come with me and — this is essence of what I want to tell you — we shall live the life of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.” And elsewhere he said:

Do you want to accompany Jesus closely, very closely?… Open the Holy Gospel and read the Passion of Our Lord. But don’t just read it: live it. There is a big difference. To read is to recall something that happened in the past; to live is to find oneself present at an event that is happening here and now, to be someone taking part in those scenes.

Then, allow your heart to open wide; let it place itself next to Our Lord. And when you notice it trying to slip away —when you see that you are a coward, like the others — ask forgiveness for your cowardice and mine.

I also like the historical/cultural information given at the end of each chapter. Depending on interest and time, we’ll read this daily, but we might save it for next year.

I’ll post more on my plans and my reading plan for our picture books. This is already so long!

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The Blessing of Sickness Monday, Nov 16 2009

I’m going to sound like a Pollyanna today. I’ll start with one complaint — I miss my little boys. Someone should list as the symptoms of H1N1 total change in personality — grumpy, stubborn, and any other adjective that fits.

But while I personally have been hit like a ton of bricks, my brain is still going one thousand miles an hour. I’m not able to sleep much at night because of caring (or listening) for the needs of the little ones, but during the day I can’t sleep much either. Dave is a little over halfway back on his energy (I get percentage reports. Friday he was at 50%, yesterday was 60%, today is 65%. Gotta love a numbers man.) but he has really helped when I’ve had to go down.

And my laptop is one of the greatest inventions. I can’t seem to sleep, although I really want to — my mind is just racing. I was able to order a few Christmas and birthday gifts.  I was also able to give larger amounts of time to thinking and writing my Advent plans than I ever thought imaginable. Being quarantined does have its advantages.

And because of that time for thinking…watch out. An extremely long post is coming. I guess I’m verbose in the written word when I’m sick and can’t talk much.

Another positive/negative thing is being made quite aware of where I’m not getting things done. All those projects, all the cleaning, all the schoolwork, all the organizing — there they are staring at me in the face. I remember having this during pregnancy while on bedrest and postpartum recovery from the c-sections. The brain is active, but physically I can’t do it. But it is nice to have this time to mentally calculate and plan to implement some changes. There needs to be some major changes. And because my MIL is visiting during the Christmas holidays, I think cleaning and organizing might be priority. Purging stuff sounds really good right now.

But you know, while I am aware of these failings on a daily basis, it does help to have that downtime when all I can do is think. I couldn’t and didn’t have the regular routine distracting me, so I can see things face on.

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FYI… Sunday, Nov 15 2009

I had mentioned I had uploaded my talk on living the liturgical year.

I did upload my Powerpoint presentation here. It is mostly images and photos. There is very little to follow in my speech as I ad-libbed, but maybe a few visuals would be helpful to you. I made it read-only, and it is a large file, so it might take some time to load.

Thanks for the prayers and well-wishes. We’re still in the throes of sickness, with all of down for the count. I’ve had too many sleepless nights but still functioning. I’m praying that 2 weeks will be enough time for recovery and no more other secondary infections. We already had a bad ear infection for the little one, and he was croupy for two nights in a row. But we’re surviving. Thankfully, it’s nothing too serious.

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Sickness and Death Friday, Nov 13 2009

I know, morbid title. It’s just that with November and Advent thoughts on death preparation and being sick, that’s as original as I could get. It covers the bases.

We’re surviving in the Miller household. Still only 2 down. I’m having mild symptoms, the oldest son is stir crazy but definitely not sick.

While we’re having sick days here, learning still goes on, just more spontaneous and organic. G’s latest thing is lining up everything in history. I read about St. Frances Xavier Cabrini this morning, and he immediately go out his US Presidents placemat, to find out who were the presidents when she was born, came to America, and when she died. He also likes seeing real photographs of saints — so the ones that live closer to his century get him really excited. Now he’s reading a book about “On This Day in American History”.

I read something interesting in today’s readings in In Conversation with God by Francis Fernandez, volume 5, pp. 460, 461 and 462. The thoughts were on death, but these sections made me think of all the hype and negativity on suffering, and on being sick. This was a lot to chew, because how many times do I get mad or frustrated when we get the sniffles or sickness? It’s so inconvenient, because I have other things to do. But I obviously don’t have my priorities in order….

Death is the enemy of the natural life of man. Christ has converted it into our friend and sister. Though the human person suffer defeat at the hands of this foe, he or she can in the end be trimphant thanks to Christ’s immortal sacrifice. For a materialistic society in which pleasure and comfort reign supreme, death and even life itself are devoid of lasting value. Those who adopt a pagan life-style behave as if suffering, failure and death were curses to be avoided at any cost. Such people act as if Chrsit never achieved the Redemption….

Death also teaches us to make good use of each and every day. As the ancients would say, Carpe diem, make the most of the present moment. It is a pagan maxim, but we can impart a Christian meaning to it by living each day with joy as if it were our whole life. It is a chance that will never be repeated. During our examination of conscience we can please Almighty God with the quantity of our acts of love, aspirations, dealings with our Guardian Angel, favours on behalf of others, the quiet fulfilment of our duties, our struggle to be patient, perhaps…The Lord will convert these deeds into splendid jewels of eternal worth. Death ends our time of meriting. Let us not waste the days that remain to us in our life….

…Let us take to heart the wise observation of Seneca, written almost twenty centuries ago: It is not that we have so little time, but that we have wasted so much of it.

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Going Down… Wednesday, Nov 11 2009

Yesterday was a wonderful day! We spent it in Lancaster (and in the car) with Michele and her lovely family.

I spoke to the St. Mary’s Mothers Group in the morning (although I had to cut my speech a bit short because I was late). I uploaded the whole speech here and included the handouts, also. I haven’t put the PowerPoint presentation online, though.

We got home pretty late, around 8:00. Dh was already home, in bed, sick. And there he stayed all day today.

Now the little one is sick, and I think it’s just a matter of time. Our weekend plans are out the window. I suspect it is H1N1.

Prayers would be appreciated.

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November Thoughts Tuesday, Nov 3 2009

It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins (2 Mach. 12:46).

I love November, yet it is a bittersweet love. This is the time of the Liturgical Year when the Liturgy is focused on the Four Last Things: Death, Heaven, Hell, and Final Judgment. This is a time when I contemplate my mortality. Am I ready to die? Am I ready for my Final Judgment? This month I’m taking a particularly close look.

This is also a time that I am reminded of being part of the Mystical Body, the Communion of Saints, and I should be praying for the Faithful Departed. Even though All Souls’ Day was yesterday, praying for the dead continues. During November the Church also focuses on our Faithful Departed, and Purgatory.

There are many near me that have lost loved ones, and some very recently. I attended a funeral on Friday of a schoolmate from high school, who died suddenly. Two other friends just lost one of their parents on All Saints Day. And many others come to mind, as it was only last year when we lost very dear friends. And then those online friends who have suffered great losses in the past months. My thoughts frequently turn to those friends who are left with that hole in their heart and in their daily lives. I pray for their comfort, and that their family member may quickly go to Heaven, if they aren’t there already.

There’s something special about this month. I am finding myself with constant reminders during the day to offer extra mortifications and prayers for the Poor Souls. Sometimes it is manifested in episodes that test my patience, and a little voice reminds me “Remember those Poor Souls!”

I find I am more sentimental during this month. Songs I hear transport me back, remembering family and friends that have died. I try to make that a chance to offer a prayer for their souls. It might have been many years since they died, but I am comforted by the fact that there is no time with God, everything is present with Him, and no prayers will go to waste.

The Church provides such extra special indulgences applicable only to the Poor Souls. See the following links:

1. Praying for the Dead and Gaining Indulgences During November
2. Visiting a Cemetery on All Souls Day, Memorial Day, or on the Anniversary of Death or Burial
3. Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy, the section entitled The Memorial of the Dead in Popular Piety

On my sidebar I’ve added All Souls, which is a chapter from The Feasts of Mother Churchby Mother M. Salome, which I found so inspiring. Also don’t miss Karen’s post where she shares my favorite quote from C.S. Lewis on Purgatory.

Last year I gave suggestions for November Requiem Music and talked about All Souls Day. I still haven’t found a cd recording of Dies Irae, but today we were listening to New Liturgical Movement and The Recovering Choir Director for the Dies Irae. After the Exsultet, it is my favorite chant.

On the front of the program for the funerals in our parish is this wonderful quote from St. Augustine.

Of necessity we must be sorrowful when those whom we love leave us in death. Although we know that they have not left us behind forever but only gone ahead of us, still when death seizes our loved ones, our loving hearts are saddened by death itself. Thus the apostle Paul does not tell us not to grieve but: “Not to grieve like those who are without hope.”

Let us grieve, therefore, over the necessity of losing our loved ones in death but with the hope of being reunited with them. If we are afflicted, we still find consolation. Our weakness weighs us down but faith bears us up. We sorrow over the human condition but find our healing in the divine promise (Sermon 172, 1).

Eternal Rest, grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

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Happy Halloween! Saturday, Oct 31 2009

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All Hallows’ Eve Friday, Oct 30 2009

Halloween is tomorrow? Where did October go?

I have to admit, I’m tired, and not in the spirit to do anything for the next three days. Can I admit I was secretly hoping for some excuse to just skip Halloween? I know, I get the Bad Mother of the year award. Although my sons aren’t old, I feel like I’ve been doing this “routine” forever. Looking at my archives, I think I must feel this way every year. And I am eerily beginning to sound like my mother (“I’m too tired”).

I’m one of those moms that celebrate All Hallows’ Eve, or Halloween secular style. If you’re looking for inspiration, it’s not coming from me this year. I enjoyed reading Karen’s and Barbara’s posts — definitely inspiring and fun.

We’re doing jack-o-lanterns tonight, recycling last year’s knight’s costume for older ds and a Nittany lion costume that is a little snug for younger ds (which will be too hot for 70 degree weather). Trick-or-treating will be brief with Daddy, while I man the candy and visitors.

Both posts above link to an older article I wrote with my mother years ago. While I look fondly on those memories, I have to admit I haven’t celebrated an All Hallows’ Eve party in many years. Since I’ve had children we celebrate the triple days — the secular Halloween sans scary, and then All Saints and All Souls. A lot of the years Halloween night has been spent visiting grandmothers or other friends letting them share the joy in seeing our little boys dressed up. So many good memories visiting Grandma on Halloween.

I really loved Sally Thomas’ The Drama of Hallowmas at First Things. I have always seen these three days as a unit. And to me, they fall into the categories of the Communion of Saints. As I wrote before:

The Communion of Saints is the union of all the faithful on earth (the Church Militant), the saints in Heaven (the Church Triumphant) and the Poor Souls in Purgatory (the Church Suffering), with Christ as the Head. They are bound together by a supernatural bond, and can help one another. The Church Militant (those on earth still engaged in the struggle to save their souls) can venerate the Church Triumphant, and those saints can intercede with God for those still on earth. Both the faithful on earth and the saints in heaven can pray for the souls in Purgatory.

Sally’s idea of the unity of three days made me see this connection with the Communion of Saints. All Saints Day is definitely celebrating the Church Triumphant, All Souls’ Day (and all of November) is dedicated to the Church Suffering, and Halloween, even celebrated in secular style, is our day — The Church Militant. Celebrating in a secular fashion fits in with our position as Church Militant. We are all intertwined, praising, praying, and suffering together (depending where we are). It’s beautiful.

So perhaps now I’ll feel a little more inspired and enthusiastic. The big question tonight — how shall I decorate my Pumpkin Moonshine?

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