What is Advent again?

            Since October, stores have been showing the signs of a modern Christmas.  "Sales of the Season" abound hoping to entice holiday shoppers into purchasing gifts and accumulating debt; Christmas music plays through the speaker system on constant repeat, effectively eliminating any Christmas cheer (and sanity) that shoppers might have had; Gift-Wrapping stations are scattered throughout shopping malls for those not skilled in the ancient art of origami.

            The little period before Christmas though, Advent, is often overlooked and seen simply as the time to buy the gifts, prepare for Christmas parties, and find at least one radio station that does not have Christmas music 24/7.  But Advent is far too important and valuable to be skipped over.  As defined by the Google dictionary, an advent is "the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event."  For Christian denominations celebrating Advent, this arrival of a "notable person" is the coming of Jesus Christ Himself!

            The purpose of Advent is to prepare our hearts to receive Christ Incarnate (Latin for "be made flesh").  Christ, the Lord and God of the Universe, will walk among humans, talk with them, and be with them in actual human flesh.  Imagine how incredible that would seem to the Jewish people awaiting the birth of the Messiah!  Imagine how incredible, striking, and compelling it should be to us!

            Is it possible to have family (and Christ) over for Christmas and only start preparing the night before?  No.  You buy the turkey at least a week early so it can sit in the fridge to thaw before you can even cook it.  But of course, you cannot just have turkey.  You make sure that there is enough pasta salad, fruit salad, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, gravy, bread, pie, cookies, treats, rice dressing, sweet potatoes, corn, green bean casserole, veggies, fruit, and cooked carrots for everyone.  But of course, you cannot just have food.  The construction company is called to build an addition onto your home to hold all the relatives from the woodwork.  Then, your home is vigorously scrubbed and cleaned because you must not let anyone see what your house really looks like.  But then, because it is Christmas, you cannot just let people visit and enjoy each other's company.  You buy gifts and make sure that not one person, "not even a mouse" (to quote the story that you read to the little children to carry on tradition), is left out.

            And yet, for the birth of Jesus Christ, God Incarnate, Emmanuel, a Christmas Mass or Service the night before, or even the day of, is enough preparation.  The above things are important and definitely contribute to the joys of the holiday season.  However, it is absolutely essential for Christians to make proper use of the Advent season.  Slow down, breathe, and pray (Click here to find out 50 Ways to Talk to God).  Prepare for the coming of the King!  Where will Christ dwell if He cannot fit inside your heart?

Watch this video by Fr. Robert Barron for more information on what Advent is all about!

What Does A Guardian Angel Do?

   

          Angels appear everywhere in our world, from books to Victoria’s Secret advertisements, tattoos to movies.  There are many believers in these mysterious, spiritual beings, but not everybody knows what an angel exactly is.

     The Catholic Church defines angels as pure spiritual creatures of God who have no bodies, cannot die, and are usually not visible.  They have understanding and can convey God’s will and protection to men. (Check out the Catechism of the Catholic Church for more info)

     No matter how we imagine angels, from the smiling cherub with two wings and a shiny halo on a Precious Moments card to the scantily clad beauty with fluffy wings in a magazine ad, they are not human.  Furthermore, humans cannot become angels when we die, but we can become saints!  Whether you believe in them or not, angels are mentioned many times throughout the Bible.  Psalm 91:11-12 says,

“For he will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways.  On their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.”

     Angels exist solely to praise God and carry out His will.  God gives every person a guardian angel, a spiritual being that burns with love for Him and serves Him day and night.  We can pray to our guardian angel for ourselves and for others, and with confidence we can know they will bring our love, messages and prayers to those of whom we are thinking.  We must ask our angels, though, because they cannot read our minds.

     A guardian angel is an amazing gift from God to you.  They are always with you and yet still with God, and are sources of His power.  Your guardian angel is waiting for an invitation to pray with you, help you to stay focused on God and to watch over you.  Think of them as a heavenly police force, on duty to protect you and to serve God! (Read the article that inspired this post here)

Guardian Angel Prayer

Angel of God, my guardian dear,

To whom God’s love commits me here,

Ever this day be at my side,

To light and guard, to rule and guide.

Amen.

How Should I Pray?

    Have you ever wondered how you should pray?  If you have, you are not the first person to do so!  In Luke 11:1, one of the disciples asks Jesus to teach him how to pray, and Jesus responds by teaching him the Our Father.  Blessed John Paul II said,

    "By teaching us the “Our Father” Christ establishes the pattern for all prayer. He explains our relationship with God and with one another: God is our Creator. He is our Redeemer. With him as our common Father we are brothers and sisters to one another." (JPII Homily)

    As Christians, it can be hard to find time to develop and nurture a strong prayer life. There are lots of recited prayers, such as the Our Father, St. Michael prayer and the rosary, but how should you pray if you just want to talk to God?  Lifeteen, a Catholic organization that works with youth ministry, lays out six tips for prayer in an article.

    1.  Say hello!  To begin prayer, we must acknowledge that we are in God's presence.
    2.  Be yourself.  God wants to be in a relationship with us just as we are.  He wants us to grow in holiness through Him so that we can radiate His love wherever we go.
    3.  "Teach us to pray"  Even the Apostles, who spent so much time with Jesus, did not know how they should pray.  So they asked Jesus to teach them how to pray.  Ask God to help you, and remember that He is always listening.
    4.  Hit the brakes!  There is so much in the world that is constantly surrounding us and keeping us busy.  Take a break from something you do everyday, (the internet, tv, etc.) and spend even ten minutes praying instead.  Keep God as the center of your heart and mind.
    5.  Keep it alive.  If you keep your prayer life strong, this will reflect into other areas of your life.
    6.  Let it transform you.  The only way to perfect your prayer life is to practice it.  Take time to enter into prayer, let God speak to you, and be amazed by the ways it will effect your life!

    There are many ways of praying, and each one has its strengths.  Each person can discover and use the form of prayer that suits them best.  Just as the disciples did, ask God to teach you how to pray.

    To read the full Lifeteen article on prayer, click here!

On The Anniversary of 9/11...

This September marks the 12th anniversary since the infamous terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers.

In the morning of September 11, 2001, two large airliners piloted by terrorists flew into the Twin Towers in New York City, one after the other. After burning for about an hour, each of the towers collapsed, killing thousands of people. This month and particularly the 11th we remember the souls of all those who have died in the attack, and those who died trying to save others in the mayhem.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has a page on their website to commemorate the lives lost 12 years ago. It also includes stories of brave firefighters and police officers who responded to the attack on the towers. Please visit the USCCB's website here http://usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/september-11/index.cfm to view liturgical readings, reflections, and true stories about survivors. As faithful Catholics we should remember the souls of those who died in our prayers.