Elder Grace

The Season of Advent 2020

Most Blessed Sacrament Parish

Growing in Wisdom Age

and Grace

Dear Elders,

At our Liturgies during the Season of Advent we will hear

Since last Advent many of us have experienced living in a

wilderness. Unlike the vast barren wilderness of the

outdoors, in many instances out wilderness has been

contained within our home or one tiny room. Covid19 has

given our voices a cause to cry out in fear, in anxiety, in

loneliness, in frustration, in disappointment and in prayer.

Come Lord Jesus! Save Us!

Sometimes God answers our prayer immediately. At other times it feels as if we are still waiting for that answer. And, sometimes, the answer from God has not been the answer we hoped for. Nonetheless no matter how desperate our situation is we can always spread out our hands in prayer. During this Advent season you are invited to “cry out” in prayer each day using a different name for Jesus. There are over 200 names for Jesus in the Bile and each one bears an image through which we see Jesus more clearly and come to know Him more deeply. Knowing Him better helps us to reveal Him to the world around us Of those 200 names of Jesus in the Bible, I have selected 26, some of which some are my favorites and others that reflect the Jesus of Advent, Who comes among us.

Cover Artwork by Lisa Dorschner

The First Sunday of Advent November 20

One candle burning bright, Chasing away the darkness from light.

One Candle burning bright, The blessing of God, giving new light.

The Advent Wreath came into use around the 16th century, but the wreath as we know it today, actually is attributed to a German school teacher Johann Hinrich. During Advent his students would often ask if Christmas had arrived so one day he took an old cartwheel and added 20 small red and 4 large white candles. A small candle was lit successively every day during Advent. On Sundays, a large white candle was lit. Becoming popular in the Protestant churches in Germany it began to evolve into the smaller wreath with four candles known today. Roman Catholics in Germany began to adopt the custom in the 1920s, and in the 1930s the use of the Advent wreath began in the United States. Through the centuries each candle has been given a name. The first candle we light is the Prophets Candle of Hope, representing the prophets, in particular Isaiah, who predicted the coming of Jesus and the hope that we hold that Jesus con-tinue to come among us each and every day as our Savior and

A Prayer to Begin Advent Jesus, come to me and be my light. May my mind and soul stay awake that I may see the blessings you bring me each day. May any anxious feeling I have be covered by your grace. In Your Holy Name I pray. Amen

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prophets_in_Judaism

November 30 The First Monday of Advent

Jesus The Word "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John 1:1 I make my prayer to you, Oh Holy Word. You have been with me all the days of my life. May I receive you again as the Word of life in my soul. May all I say and do during these days of Advent proclaim you as Word to those around me. Amen.

December 1 The First Tuesday of Advent

Jesus The Messiah "The woman said, 'I know that Messiah is coming. When he comes, he will tell us all things.' " John 4:25 I make my prayer to you, O Holy Messiah. Like the woman at the well, I proclaim that you are my savior and in you I move and have my being. May my faith in you never falter May you reveal to me those things my heart most longs to hear. Amen

December 2 The First Wednesday of Advent Jesus The Deliverer "And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, 'The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob';" Romans 11:26 I make my prayer to you, O Holy Deliverer. Come among us that the poor, the suffering and the immigrants may be deliv-ered from all circumstances that oppress them. May you turn their tears into joy. Amen.

December 3 The First Thursday of Advent

Jesus The Light of the World "Jesus spoke, saying, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” John 8:12 I make my prayer to you O Holy Light of the World. Shine in the hearts of your people. Shine in us through Your Holy Word and Your Holy Eucharist. Shine ord Jesus that we might rise up and follow you. Amen.

December 4 The First Friday of Advent

Jesus The Morning Star “Pay attention until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.” 2 Peter 1:19 I make my prayer to you O Holy Morning Star. Rise again in my heart this day, that my life may be filled with joy this day and forever. Amen.

December 5 The First Saturday of Advent

Jesus The Way Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 I make my prayer to you O Holy Way. In you may my life be made holy and my mind, body and soul be kept sound now until the day of your coming again. Amen.

The Second Sunday of Advent December 6

Two candles burning bright, Chasing away the darkness

from light. Two candles burning bright,

The blessing of God,

giving new light.”

The second candle we light is the Bethlehem Candle of

Faith. Joseph and Mary journeyed to Bethlehem to fulfill

the words of the Prophet Micah that the Messiah would be

born in Bethlehem, which is also the birthplace of King

David.

Life Is an Advent Season CONNECTIONS, 11-28-93

"Life is a constant Advent season: we are continually waiting to become, to discover, to complete, to fulfill. Hope, struggle, fear, expectation and fulfillment are all part of our Advent experience.

"The world is not as just, not as loving, not as whole as we know it can and should be. But the coming of Christ and his presence among us—as one of us—give us reason to live in hope: that light will shatter the darkness, that we can be liberated from our fears and prejudices, that we are never alone or abandoned.

"May this Advent season be a time for bringing hope, transformation and fulfillment into the Advent of our lives."

December 7 The Second Monday of Advent

Jesus The Prince of Peace "For to us a child is born, a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, his name shall be called Wonder-ful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6 I call upon you O Holy Prince of Peace. At times my heart struggles to find peace with the life I am living. In those mo-ments when my heart beats with fear cover my restlessness with your holy peace. Amen.

The attack on Pearl Harbor on Sunday December 7, 1941, at the time, was the largest enemy assault on United States territory. By the end of the day, more than 2,000 individuals had lost their lives. Today, we thank those that gave their lives that day, those who defended our home and who would continue the fight throughout World War II.

LORD Jesus, Prince of Peace, on this Pearl Harbor Day, pour upon this Country, divided by strife, your blessing and guidance. Make us a people courageous in living out the principles of faithful citizenship for which so many brave men and women sacrificed so much. May we protect and cherish the bounty that these United States provide and preserve that inheritance for the countless generations yet unborn. May this country strive to become a haven of justice, freedom, and brotherhood. I long for the day "Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore." Amen

December 8 The Feast of the Immaculate Conception

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, December 8, is a Holy Day of Obligation in the Catholic Church Many Catholics believe this feast celebrates Jesus’ conception through the power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of Mary. However, the Feast actually celebrates that Mary was born without the stain of original sin on her soul.

This Feast day actually began around the 5th century in the Monasteries of Palestine in the Eastern Church. Since they are very elaborate in all of their rituals the feast was called “Feast of the Conception of the Most Holy and All Pure Mother of God .” The feast took a long time to develop and be accepted in the Roman Catholic (Western) church and has been held as a First class feast in the United States only since 1847. Mary under the title of the Immaculate Conception was declared the Patroness of the United States in 1846 by the Bishops of the United States. The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception – the largest Roman Catholic Church in North America stands in Washington D.C.

Photo by Fr. Lawrence Lew, O.P.

December 9 The Second Wednesday of Advent

Jesus The Lamb of God "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" John 1:29 I make my prayer to you OLamb of God. Like John the Baptist who anouced your coming may I make a clear path in my heart to receive you. Open my eyes to see your coming on a dauly basis and to live a life always seeking yiru presence. Amen.

December 10 The Second Thursday of Advent

Jesus The Alpha and Omega " I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." Revelation 22:13 I make my prayer to You, O Holy Alpha and Omega. I give you thanks and praise for you were with me the moment my life negan and you will br ith me when I take my final breath. May my time “in between” be spent in loving and serinv You. Amen.

December 11 The Second Friday of Advent

Jesus "She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.' " Matthew 1:21 I make my rayer to the Holy Name of Jesus. I long for your coming. I bw my head in reverence to your promise of new light. I bend my knee that you may pProtect me from dan-gers and lead me through all anxiety to joy that can only be found in You.

December 12 The Second Saturday of Advent Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe for Protection from the Coronavirus

Holy Virgin of Guadalupe, Queen of the Angels and Mother of the Americas. We ask you to intercede for us with your Son, as you did at the wedding in Cana. Pray for us, loving Mother, and gain for our nation and world, and for all our families and loved ones, the protection of your holy angels, that we may be spared the worst of this illness.

Hear the cries of those who are vulnerable and fearful, wipe away their tears and help them to trust.

In this time of trial and testing, teach all of us in the Church to love one another and to be patient and kind. Help us to bring the peace of Jesus to our land and to our hearts.

We come to you with confidence, knowing that you truly are our compassionate mother, health of the sick and cause of our joy.

Shelter us under the mantle of your protection, keep us in the embrace of your arms, help us always to know the love of your Son, Jesus. Amen.

Archbishop Jose Gomez

The Third Sunday of Advent December 13

Three candles burning bright, Chasing away the darkness

from light. Three candles burning bright,

The blessing of God, giving new light.

The Third Candle we light is the Shepherd’s Candle of Joy.

To the shepherd’s great joy, the angels announced that

Jesus came for humble, unimportant people like them.

Often at Liturgy today the color Rose is used to our joy that

Christmas is drawing near.

The Joy You Give John Greenleaf Whittier

"Somehow, not only for Christmas But all the long year through,

The joy that you give to others Is the joy that comes back to you.

And the more you spend in blessing The poor and lonely and sad,

The more of your heart's possessing Returns to you glad."

December 13 The Third Monday of Advent

Jesus The Good Shepherd "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." John 10:11 I make my prayer to You, O Holy Good Shepherd. Cradle in the safety of your arms those who are experiencing loss this Adcent through the death of a loved one, finincal loss or loss of health. Shepherd them gently trough the dark shadows.

December 14 The Third Tuesday of Advent

Jesus The King of Kings "I charge you keep free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings." I Timothy 6:13-15 I make my prayer to You, O Holy King of Kings. Your Kingdom has no limits, you rule over the sun and the moon and set the stars in motion. You tell the ocean where to stop and the snow when to start. All that was, all that is and all that is to come, belongs to You. I praise you my Lord. Amen.

December 15 The Third Wednesday of Advent

Jesus, Immanuel "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14 I make my rayer to You, O Immanuel. Restore in me the won-der that came with your birth, Thank-you for leaving the riches of Heaven and wrapping Yourself in the rags of earth. That you might be our Immanuel, God with us. Amen.

December 16 The Third Thursday of Advent

Jesus The Bread of Life "Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger.' " John 6:35 I make my prayer to You, O Holy Bread of Life. I feel my heart hungering for you and I sense that you are inviting me to enter more deeply into a relationship with you. As you provide me with the grace of my daily bread may I make of my life a blessing to others. Now and always.

December 17 The Third Friday of Advent

Jesus The I AM "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.' " John 14:6 I make my prayer to you O Holy I AM. I honr you because one day you will come to me at my end. You will be with me at the hour of my death. When the history f my life has run it’s course may you reign supreme in my heart. Amen.

December 19 The Third Saturday of Advent

Jesus The Redeemer "For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth." Job 19:25 I make my prayer to you, O Holy Redeemer. We are a bro-ken people, a suffering world living in comflcir and violene. This is wrong nd we wonder where you are. Come againas our redeemer, come with justie, peace, healing and comfot. Amen.

The Fourth Sunday of Advent December 20

Four candles, burning bright, Chasing away the darkness

with light. Four candles, glowing bright,

the blessing of God, giving new sight.

The Fourth Candle we light is the Angel’s Candle of Peace. The angels announced that Jesus came to bring peace--and draw the human race close to God and to each other again.

First Coming Madeleine L’Engle

He did not wait till the world was ready, till men and nations were at peace.

He came when the Heavens were unsteady, and prisoners cried out for release.

He did not wait for the perfect time. He came when the need was deep and great.

He dined with sinners in all their grime, turned water into wine.

He came to a world which did not mesh, to heal its tangles, shield its scorn.

In the mystery of the Word made Flesh the Maker of the stars was born.

December 23 The Fourth Wednesday of Advent

December 21 The Fourth Monday of Advent

Jesus Wonderful Counselor "For to us a child is born, and his name shall be called Won-derful Counselo…” Isaiah 9:6 I make my prayer to You, O Wondeful Counselor. Bring solace, strength and healing to those with in abusive situations, those with addictions and all who are feeling unending pain and frustrations of all kinds.

December 22 The Fourth Tuesday of Advent

Jesus Christ the Lord "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11

Jesus God with Us "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel' (which means, God with us)." Matthew 1:23

I make my prayer to You, God With Us. Help me to hear your voice. Touch me once again. Give me the courage to be your beloved. Give me courage to choose joy. I need you now this Christmas. Be born in me again. Today. Amen.

I make my prayer to you, O Christ the Lord. Grant us peace. Peace in our homes, peace in our churches, and peace in our hearts. Thank You that before time began you loved us

December 24 The Fourth Thursday of Advent

On this Eve of Christmas, I call out to you giving You this name that I hold deepest in my heart. My Name for Jesus ________________________________ My Prayer

Watching and Waiting With Mary

Mary the Mother of Advent

The Venerable Fulton Sheen frequently pointed out — that Mary is always the Advent of Christ. Mary guides us to Jesus because through her “fiat” (yes) her life became completely caught up in and oriented toward Christ, and as such she played an indispensable role in salvation history. Christians as early as the second century realized that Mary was the seed that would allow the blossoming of Jesus to break forth as our redeemer and savior. While Jesus Christ was the one who accomplished salvation, Mary played an important supportive role, bringing Jesus into the world. We too are called to live the mystery of Mary, to put ourselves freely into God’s hands that through our “fiat” we may participate in Gods transformation of this world. The song “Mary the Dawn,” written by Fr. Justin Mulcahy, C.P. in the mid-20th century, is a beautiful meditation on the central truth of Advent—that through Mary, the person of Jesus came in fulfillment of all God had promised.

Mary the dawn, Christ the Perfect Day; Mary the gate, Christ the Heavenly Way!

Mary the root, Christ the Mystic Vine; Mary the grape, Christ the Sacred Wine! Mary the wheat, Christ the Living Bread;

Mary the rose tree, Christ the Rose blood-red! Mary the font, Christ the Cleansing Flood;

Mary the cup, Christ the Saving Blood! Mary the temple, Christ the temple’s Lord;

Mary the shrine, Christ the God adored! Mary the beacon, Christ the Haven’s Rest; Mary the mirror, Christ the Vision Blest!

Mary the mother, Christ the mother’s Son By all things blest while endless ages run. Amen.

ADVENT Word Scramble. Can you unscramble these words that are associated with the Season of Advent? ulerpp____________ wdnttvraeaeh ______________ ealdcsn ______________ vgereresne _____________ tiigwan ________________

ADVENT Pro LEVEL WORD deutage _______________

This Christmas—Be the gift of Happiness

-Based on the writng of Normal Vincent Peale

Choose to be a person living in Christ. When you open your heart to Him, he fills it with happiness. A person living

in the path of Christ with reflect deep happiness.

Say to yourself each night: “I shall be grateful for what has been given me by God,” and every morning say, “This is

the day which the Lord hath made; I will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Try to go around spreading happiness, deliberately. Dig down deep for happiness, the more you can find the more

you can share.

As you begin each day simply and sincerely say, “Dear Lord, I surrender my life to you. I open my heart to you, fill it with happiness.” And say it again when work is done.

Live life large. We become small hearted people—when we live in anger, resentment or always being critical. God

intended us to walk the earth large in spirit, being forgiving, understanding and harmonious. How big do you want your life to be?

Do not ever think yourself so old that you cannot become a far greater person. It is in the quiet unobserved, intimate

field of daily experience where greatness is determined, where the battle is fought.

Comparing Santa to Jesus

Santa lives at the North Pole. ..JESUS is everywhere.

Santa comes once a year... JESUS is ever present.

Santa fills your stocking with goodies... JESUS fills your needs.

Santa let’s you sit on his lap... JESUS lets you rest in his heart.

Santa says "Hi What's your name?"… JESUS knew our name before we did. Not only does He know our name, he knows our history and our future.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly.. . JESUS has a heart full of love.

Santa says "You better not cry"... JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you.

Santa comes down your chimney ... JESUS stands at your door and knocks, and then enter your heart when invited.

You have to wait in line to see Santa ... JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

Grandma's Christmas Strategy

One Christmas, a mother decided she was no longer going to remind her kids to send thank you notes. Consequently, the kids’ grandmother never received any thanks for the Christmas checks she sent to the kids. The very next Christ-mas, all the kids stopped by in person to thank their grand-mother for their checks. When asked by a friend what caused this change in behavior, the grandmother replied, “Simple. This year I didn’t sign the checks.”

Elder Grace is compiled seasonally by Lyn Zahorik, the Pastoral Associate of Most Blessed Sacrament Parish. The Editor is Carol Ann Gumz. If you would like to talk with Lyn

about how you are feeling or for Spir-itual Companionship as you live out your faith you are welcome to call her (920) 231-9782 or email her at mbslzahorik@gmail.com requesting that she call you.