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beachmoss
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| Joined: | Mon Nov 13th, 2006 |
| Location: | Simpsonville, South Carolina USA |
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| First Name: | Beth | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Catholic (raised Baptist) |
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Posted: Fri Dec 1st, 2006 12:48 am |
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I have used an Advent wreath for several years now, but I've never blessed the wreath on the first Sunday of Advent.
This year I bought a booklet with prayers, scripture readings, and thoughts to read when lighting the candles. The book says to bless the wreath on the first day, and it gives the words for the simple ceremony.
I would like to know--do I need to sprinkle the wreath with Holy water while saying the blessing, or is this something a lay person couldn't or shouldn't do?
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CajunRick
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
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| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Fri Dec 1st, 2006 01:11 am |
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beachmoss wrote: I have used an Advent wreath for several years now, but I've never blessed the wreath on the first Sunday of Advent.
This year I bought a booklet with prayers, scripture readings, and thoughts to read when lighting the candles. The book says to bless the wreath on the first day, and it gives the words for the simple ceremony.
I would like to know--do I need to sprinkle the wreath with Holy water while saying the blessing, or is this something a lay person couldn't or shouldn't do?
No, you do not "need" to sprinkle the wreath with holy water. Yes, you "may" sprinkle the wreath with holy water. I would. An easy way, especially if you have an evergreen wreath, is to take a few ounces of holy water and place it in a bowl ahead of time, then dip a small evergreen branch into the water and use it to sprinkle the wreath and those present while all make the sign of the cross. You could use words such as "We ask God to bless this wreath to remind us of the coming of the Kingdom of God and our upcoming celebration of the birthday of our Savior, the Son of God. Sprinkle wreath. We also ask God to bless us, to help us to remember the real reason for the season. Sprinkle people while saying: We recall that we celebrate the birth of Christ because of his death and resurrection as we make the sign of the cross, in the name of the Father sprinkle and of the Son sprinkle and of the Holy Spirit sprinkle."
As an option, you could sprinkle the wreath as I mentioned above, then let each person dip their fingers into the bowl and bless themselves rather than sprinkling them, which allows you to bless yourself as well.
In RCIA each year I would bless an Advent wreath by sprinkling it with holy water and, in the process, explain the reason, derivation, and use of the Advent wreath, holy water, and sacramentals in general, as well as the difference between a blessing given by a priest and that given by a lay person.
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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CajunRick
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Posted: Fri Dec 1st, 2006 01:47 am |
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Actually, I've never thought of it before, but there's no reason you couldn't bless your Christmas tree with a similar blessing. I would do it before decorating, perhaps as a ceremony to begin a family decoration. Using the "finger dipping" variation, you could bless it with a prayer like this:
We ask God to bless this tree as a sign of life coming from the death of winter, as our Savior brought eternal life to a sinful world. Cut branch We use this branch dip in water and the water of Easter birth sprinkle all over to remind us of the coming of the Kingdom of God and our upcoming celebration of the birthday of our Savior, the Son of God. Sprinkle wreath. We also ask God to bless us, as we use this tree to help us to remember the real reason for the season. We await the new life of Christmas as we take the water of new life and bless ourselves in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Also remember that Christmas trees can be recycled. In coastal areas they are used to help rebuild wetlands and barrier islands, and they can be chipped and added to compost heaps and used for mulch to help plants survive the winter. However, using tinsel and flocking ruins them and they are no longer suitable for anything but filling up our landfills. Protecting the environment is a Catholic social justice essential, so it's a great lesson for your children.
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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beachmoss
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| Joined: | Mon Nov 13th, 2006 |
| Location: | Simpsonville, South Carolina USA |
| Posts: | 289 |
| First Name: | Beth | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Catholic (raised Baptist) |
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Posted: Sat Dec 2nd, 2006 12:23 am |
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Thanks, Rick!
I really appreciate your replies!! Now for two more questions.
1) You mentioned blessing the tree, which sounds like a great idea. And you mention cutting a branch to use, but we have a fake tree. So what should I do?
2) Do I need any special container to collect the water in, or will any small, clean bottle do?
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CajunRick
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Posted: Sat Dec 2nd, 2006 12:30 am |
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beachmoss wrote: 1) You mentioned blessing the tree, which sounds like a great idea. And you mention cutting a branch to use, but we have a fake tree. So what should I do?
Frankly, I wouldn't bless a fake tree, but if you choose to do so, just cut a small branch from an evergreen tree or any other plant you think is appropriate. You can also use your fingers, or anything else that will dip into the water and sprinkle. I just think the symbolism of using a branch from the same tree is significant.
2) Do I need any special container to collect the water in, or will any small, clean bottle do?
Any small, clean bottle will do. Religious stores sell small plastic bottles very inexpensively that are labeled "holy water" so that you can always have holy water in your house for blessing of various things, like a new car or kids' schoolbooks. The writings of the early Fathers tell us married couples even blessed their beds before going to bed at night!
Last edited on Sat Dec 2nd, 2006 12:31 am by CajunRick
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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Ruthie
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| Joined: | Mon Nov 13th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houston, Texas USA |
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| First Name: | Ruthie | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | nominal Presbyterian, aetheist, evangelical Christian/Episcopalian, Catholic |
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Posted: Sat Dec 2nd, 2006 12:39 am |
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Since you mentioned Christmas trees, do Catholics keep their trees up until the Day of Epiphany? We did that in the Episcopal Church but it seems like the rest of the world take down their trees on New Year's or thereabouts. I really like the custom of leaving the tree up until January 6, the 12th day of Christmas. My Lutheran neighbors take their tree down early and had never heard of waiting until January 6th.
In Houston, where I live, the city collects the trees to recycle earlier than I like to take mine down. I leave it out at the curb and they take it eventually but it's too late to recycle it then.
I knew of one family that had a large sized nativity scene. They kept the three kings on their camels at a distance and advanced them slowly day by day until they finally reached the manger on January 6. Their kids and grandkids loved that.
Ruthie
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Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it. (NRSV, Luke 18:17)
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CajunRick
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Posted: Sat Dec 2nd, 2006 12:48 am |
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Ruthie wrote: Since you mentioned Christmas trees, do Catholics keep their trees up until the Day of Epiphany?
In the United States, the Feast of the Epiphany is not a Holy Day of Obligation, so the observance has been transferred to the Sunday after New Year's Day (the Solemnity of Mary). It can be as early as January 2, and as late as January 7.
I live in Southeast Louisiana, and they don't even start picking up the trees until after Epiphany. There are probably some people who take down their trees and decorations before Epiphany, but it is rare.
Catholic churches usually leave their decorations up until the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which is the end of the Christmas season.
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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beachmoss
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Posted: Sat Dec 2nd, 2006 12:49 am |
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Rick, once again, thank you!
Ruthie, I leave my tree up until Epiphany (or beyond!). My mother (a Baptist) always had a superstition about leaving the tree up past New Year's. She would usually be scrambling to get it down just before Dick Clark would announce the ball was dropping. I always thought that was silly. Even before I became a Catholic I understood what Epiphany was and the reason for leaving the decorations up.
And about the Magi--I do that too. In fact I was lamenting the fact that my big, plastic, outdoor wise men are in storage 180 miles away. Then I realized that when the hectic rush before Christmas is over I can drive down, get them, and then place them in the scene!
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Talithacumi
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| Joined: | Sat Sep 30th, 2006 |
| Location: | Eastern Ohio, USA |
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| First Name: | Cheri | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Cradle Catholic - Latin Rite |
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Posted: Sat Dec 2nd, 2006 07:02 pm |
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Ruthie wrote: Since you mentioned Christmas trees, do Catholics keep their trees up until the Day of Epiphany? We did that in the Episcopal Church but it seems like the rest of the world take down their trees on New Year's or thereabouts. I really like the custom of leaving the tree up until January 6, the 12th day of Christmas. My Lutheran neighbors take their tree down early and had never heard of waiting until January 6th...
Ruthie
Ruthie,
Hope you don't mind me jumping in and throwing in my two-cents'. (I'm kind of curious myself as to others' responses on this regarding the Catholics in their own areas...) Around this part of Ohio, it varies from family to family or from town to town, as I suspect it does around most of the country. Most people in our area - even Catholics - take their trees down on or around New Years'. But I have always kept mine up until at least the Epiphany. However, for the last several years I've started to wait until the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. It seems to have more significance somehow, since the Church considers that day the official end of the Christmas Season.
JMJ
- Cheri
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Truthseeker
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| Joined: | Wed Oct 4th, 2006 |
| Location: | Costa Mesa, California USA |
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| First Name: | Laura | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | lapsed and returned CATHOLIC!!!!!! |
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Posted: Sun Dec 3rd, 2006 02:45 pm |
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I take mine down early because I'm afraid of fire hazard. I feel so SECULAR! I am going to bless my tree this year, as I am looking for short quick ways to bring Christ into our family moments. I could never get away with family prayer time or anything that could be a remotely scheduled thing that might interfere with "personal" desires at my house. As it is, blessing the tree wil make my oldest think I'm stupid and make my husband think I'm "taking over" the real holiday and making it "holy roller".
Maybe, I can take down the tree and use something else to commemorate the rest of the season? Any suggestions? Also, I put up a cross behind my yard manger scene. I love adding that bit of holiness. I put it up at Easter, too.
Love ya all-
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Lord, please make my will your Will!
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CajunRick
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Posted: Sun Dec 3rd, 2006 05:14 pm |
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Truthseeker wrote: I take mine down early because I'm afraid of fire hazard.
We always put ours up late and keep it full of water, so that's not a problem. However it is certainly a concern, especially if you live in a dry climate. It is less of an issue where we live because it's so humid all the time.
I am going to bless my tree this year, as I am looking for short quick ways to bring Christ into our family moments. ... As it is, blessing the tree wil make my oldest think I'm stupid and make my husband think I'm "taking over" the real holiday and making it "holy roller".
Tell 'em you're blessing it so Santa will bring better presents in honor of his Savior's birth. After all, the holiday isn't called Santamas, it's Christmas
Maybe, I can take down the tree and use something else to commemorate the rest of the season? Any suggestions? Also, I put up a cross behind my yard manger scene. I love adding that bit of holiness. I put it up at Easter, too.
An evergreen wreath and a nativity scene certainly commemorate the real reason for the season.
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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