Schmandi Posted November 20, 2003 Share Posted November 20, 2003 (edited) OK, this is the first time i have ever started a topic on open-mic. I'm nervous, but i have a question i'm struggling with. Last week I was sitting at a staff calendar meeting here at work (i work at a catholic parish) and as we approached the the 2nd week in Dec. all the "Christmas" parties began to pop up. One this day, and one the next, etc... Then, all the sudden, our pastor drops his head in his hands - it was a very dramatic moment. The room goes silent. All eyes were on Father, and he says, "We have lost the patience of Advent." Everyone is in such a hurry for Christmas to arrive, we forget to participate in the anticipation. There is a "waiting" and a "preparing" associated with Advent that was probably put there for a reason. Have we allowed ourselves to justify our impatience b/c of the standards society has put on us? :blink: Edited November 20, 2003 by Schmandi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JuCa Posted November 20, 2003 Share Posted November 20, 2003 Wow Schmandi! I am glad he spoke of that. I, at times, get caught up in all of the secular Christmas moments. What did the others at the meeting say about it? I think that most of us (as in people in general..not us US, ya know?) have grown impatient because of society. Advent was made to be a time of preparation. It is a great moment that we need to prepare for...instead we prepare for other things such as gift giving, ect. Which giving is definitely a good thing....but it has been secularized. Most just give give give and want want want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schmandi Posted November 20, 2003 Author Share Posted November 20, 2003 What did the others at the meeting say about it? Well, JuCa - it was a weird response. At first, they were slightly defensive, then after a short time they responded with an obedience to what Father (or the Holy Spirit, how ever you look at it) was saying and began to explore options of having "Advent" Parties instead of "Christmas" Parties. Eventually I believe we settled on making an effort of not labeling them "Christmas" Parties and trying to focus the parties away from the traditional "get a gift for everyone" and more on a collaboration of efforts and gifts for a needy family in the parish or community. (aka - adopt a family). Although I went along with the suggetions, a part of me was not satisified with with our solution. This is why i have proposed the question. I think over all, Father has recgonized a mentality that is being imposed upon our people by society that is directly contradictory to our Catholic belief. (You could even say, our Catholic mentality, our Catholic Faith, or our Catholic traditions) I don't know what to do about it. This is why i really need to hear other ppls thoughts on it - especially those faithful the the Catholic Church. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emalouhow Posted November 20, 2003 Share Posted November 20, 2003 Ok, I really should be working on my homework for my night class, but I just had to respond to this! You’re RIGHT ON, Schmandi!!!! I am getting so frustrated with the bombardment of Christmas and it’s not even Thanksgiving. Today, I heard a Christmas song on the radio and all I could say was BOOOO!!!! Quit rushing it people! I love the anticipation of Advent. We wait, and we hope, and then…..then…….then………..it happens!!! It’s the anticipation that makes the event that much more beautiful. Concrete example: I have been highly anticipating the release of The Return of the King! Ever since I saw the 2nd movie, Two Towers, I have been so excited about finding out who this “her” is that Gollum talks about at the end of the movie (No...I haven’t read the books). So I have been just waiting and waiting, and the anticipation has just been building. But then, I was watching the movie with my brother the other day, and I made a comment about how I can’t wait to find out who “her” is, and HE TOLD ME!!!!! I was so mad! It was almost as if he had killed part of the beauty of the experience before it has even happened. This is how I relate to the question of Advent. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FX2 Posted November 20, 2003 Share Posted November 20, 2003 i admit i have been too caught up in the secular Christmas that i havent even thought about that. But now that you have pointed that out, you are right on! I mean so many people are getting ready for the "Christmas Season" and all the hussle and bussle is over presents and decorations. The Christmas season (which to Christians should be called "The Advent Season, but for some reason ew dont") should really be a time for preperation and meditation over the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. I pretty much said what you all said, but hey im just agreeing with all of you 100% Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil Red Posted November 20, 2003 Share Posted November 20, 2003 i agree with you, but sometimes it's hard for us to get our co-workers to listen. schmandi, i too, work in a Catholic parish, and it is hard (especially since not everyone gets along). I have been struggling with this, but concrete suggestions on how to be more "Adventy" than "Christmassy"? I don't know. I truly don't. I wish sometimes we would wait to have Christmas parties until the Christmas season, instead of the Advent season. BTW, i LIKE listening to Christmas music, because it gets me in a mood of anticipation for Christmas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paladin D Posted November 20, 2003 Share Posted November 20, 2003 I've been listening to Christian music, is that wrong? Btw, what is Adventy and what is Christmasy? I just never thought like that before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marielapin Posted November 20, 2003 Share Posted November 20, 2003 Paladin, Advent is to Christmas as Lent is to Easter. It is the time of preparation and penitance before the big celebration. The dictionary defines Advent as: The liturgical period preceding Christmas, beginning in Western churches on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and in Eastern churches in mid-November, and observed by many Christians as a season of prayer, fasting, and penitence. But what do most people do in the weeks prior to Christmas? They have huge parties, eat lots of food, and scramble around for gifts. It resembles nothing like Lent. The Christmas season starts on Christmas Day and ends as Epiphany. Yes, Christmas ends in January. Yet many people have taken down their trees before day 5 of the Christmas season. There is no Advent anymore. Chrismas has been moved up to include all of December, and the real meaning of Advent and Christmas (Christ's Mass) has been forgotten in all the secularism. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paladin D Posted November 20, 2003 Share Posted November 20, 2003 So Christmas is the 25th to January 1st? Thanks for explaining, I'll have to make some adjustments. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marielapin Posted November 20, 2003 Share Posted November 20, 2003 So Christmas is the 25th to January 1st? Thanks for explaining, I'll have to make some adjustments. :D No, Christmas is from December 25th to January 5th or 6th (I don't have a calendar handy) - the feast of the Epiphany (the Three Kings) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nikkan_hanil Posted November 20, 2003 Share Posted November 20, 2003 I'm tired of people putting the damned mainstream frosting all over the true meaning of Christmas. They see it as a marketing oppurtunity, shopping, and feasts of turkey. To us, it's a holy day. Get with it people! <_< Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schmandi Posted November 20, 2003 Author Share Posted November 20, 2003 Paladin D - i think you hit it right on the nose... I'll have to make some adjustments. This is what i'm getting at...how do we make adjustments? Think about it, if everybody in the Catholic Church "made adjustments" according to how things should be done, then what a huge change there would be in everything we do.....schools, economy, advertising, etc... Could this even be possible - logically? :blink: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmotherofpirl Posted November 21, 2003 Share Posted November 21, 2003 It is really not hard to make adjustments once you make up your mind to do so. THat is the hard part. You simply go on with your normal life. You light your Advent Candles and pray, you go to Advent penance service and confession. You put your ornaments on your Jesse Tree. If you are forced (and I mean forced) to attend a Christmas party buy the present right after thanksgiving, wrap it and put it away. After the 4th Sunday of Advent you do your Christmas shopping. Each child gets one main present and several smaller ones. You open a bottle of wine and have a wrapping party. You decorate during the 4th week and do any advance cooking that needs done. If you are a Christmas baker you do your baking every Saturday during Advent. Pick out to reciepes, bake and freeze. You go to Midnight Mass and celebrate. Christmas in my house lasts until Candlemas. Yes this takes an attitude adjustment. You do not have to buy a present for every single person you know, or send a card to every person in town. You do not have to fill up peoples houses with useless presents to show them you love them. Grandma does not need another statue, knickknack etc. Give her a gift certificate for a spa day or a good restaurant You do NOT have to participate in the insanity if you don't want to. You can choose how to live your Catholic life. PS I have done this this way for over 20 years and do have children, and inlaws and friends who are finally seeing the light. I also have a party every Christmas eve after Mass for everybody's family and friends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schmandi Posted November 21, 2003 Author Share Posted November 21, 2003 cmotherofpirl - i am officially adding you to my list of personal heros. rock on sister! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paladin D Posted November 21, 2003 Share Posted November 21, 2003 Nice Cmon, before reading this thread... I already bought a Christmas gift for my younger brother though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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