Catholic Fire

The liturgical season of Advent begins on the first Sunday in Advent, opening a new year in our Church's Calendar. The word Advent is from the Latin adventus, which means "coming" and is associated with the four weeks of preparation for Christmas. Advent blends together a penitential spirit, very similar to Lent, a liturgical theme of preparation for the Second and Final Coming of the Lord, called the Parousia, and a joyful theme of getting ready for the birth of Christ. During Advent, we are called upon to: 1) prepare ourselves to worthily to celebrate the anniversary of the Lord's coming into the world as the incarnate God of love, 2) make our souls fitting abodes for the Redeemer coming in Holy Communion and through grace 3) make ourselves ready for His final coming as judge, at death and at the end of the world ~from New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia Advent is a season of waiting, a season filled with hope. Here are ten tips that will help you and your family keep ...

As the following examples indicate, the war on Christmas is not over : · After one person complained about a nativity scene in Shawnee State Park in Ohio, the state parks’ chief ordered a ban on crèches from all parks. It took the governor to overturn this decision. · In Wesley Chapel, Florida, Jesus was banned from a holiday display. · The mayor of Cranston, Rhode Island censored all religious displays. · Government officials in Tehama County, California tried to ban Santa in office displays but had to reverse their decision after a protest. · A nativity scene in Olean, New York was removed from the City Hall lawn after Wiccans placed the pentacle alongside it. · A crèche was banned from Triangle Park in Manistique, Michigan. · After a Catholic sued and won demanding a crèche alongside a menorah in Briarcliff Manor, New York, local officials banned both the Christian and Jewish symbols And there's more. What are you and your family doing to fight back? Let's all do something p...

Godzdogz has a great Advent video here and a reflection for today here. Marcel at Aggie Catholics shares some great finds in Advent Stuff. Julie D. at Happy Catholic shares A Thought for Advent. Karen Edminston offers some great tips at Prayers Around the Advent Wreath. Esther at a Catholic Mom in Hawaii describes Books We Will Be Reading During Advent . Lots of great reading here! There are a lot more wonderful posts out there, but I'm running out of time here. Be sure to check out those at this weeks' Catholic Carnival , too.

The liturgical season of Advent begins on the first Sunday in Advent, opening a new year in our Church's Calendar. The word Advent is from the Latin adventus, which means "coming" and is associated with the four weeks of preparation for Christmas. Advent blends together a penitential spirit, very similar to Lent, a liturgical theme of preparation for the Second and Final Coming of the Lord, called the Parousia, and a joyful theme of getting ready for the birth of Christ. During Advent, we are called upon to: 1) prepare ourselves to worthily to celebrate the anniversary of the Lord's coming into the world as the incarnate God of love, 2) make our souls fitting abodes for the Redeemer coming in Holy Communion and through grace 3) make ourselves ready for His final coming as judge, at death and at the end of the world (from New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia) Advent is a season of waiting, a season filled with hope. Here are ten tips that will help you and your family keep...