By Mary DeTurris Poust
As I sat down to write this Advent post, I realized that I am way behind where I normally am at the start of the new Church year. We have not yet made our pink and purple construction paper Advent chain that hangs in our kitchen and gets shorter as we get closer to Christmas. We have not moved the Holy Family out onto the front porch, as we usually do to mark the start of Advent. I have not yet blessed our Advent wreath or even wrapped the candle bottoms with tape so they don't wobble and stand all askew for the next four weeks. The wooden Advent calendar is still in its box.
Amid all the hubbub of this holiday weekend, it's been hard to settle into the quiet space I want for the start of Advent. But we're heading to 5 p.m. Mass in a few minutes, and the Advent wreath will be lighted tonight before dinner, so ready or not, our season of preparation begins.
If you're looking for some inspiration as you get started with your own journey toward Christmas, here are some links to columns, radio shows, prayer books and more to help you settle into the rhythm of this beautiful season of contrasts -- the lights of our candles against the dark of winter, the silence of our Advent prayers against the insanity of the secular version of this season, the somber tone of the readings warning us to "stay awake" against the Christmas carols that blare from speakers everywhere we turn.
Head over to Fathers for Good for a lovely Advent reflection by one of my long-time friends and colleagues, Patrice Athanasidy. Her family's Advent rituals are very similar to those at our house, so this post really struck a chord. Click HERE to read the first of her Advent series of columns: "Advent: A Time of Blessed Patience." Check back each week to see what else she has to offer us for the journey.
If you're looking for a way to transform some of the typical sounds of the season into a call to prayer, head over to The Evangelist and read this reflection by Father John P. Rosson, pastor of St. Mary's/Our Lady of the Lake in Cooperstown, New York. Father Rosson recommends ringing a special bell on the days of Advent to counter the harried sounds of everyday life and announce a time for prayer -- he suggests the Angelus. Click HERE to read his other suggestions.
Over at The Catholic Channel on Sirius Satellite Radio 159/XM 117, several new shows will debut this weekend to herald the Advent season and provide us with spiritual touchstones throughout the coming weeks.
Cardinal Edward Egan, retired archbishop of New York, will be hosting "The Spirit of Advent: In Scripture, Story and Song," a Catholic Channel exclusive five-part radio series that will combine Scripture with personal stories and powerful song "to inform and inspire in a new way." That show will air on Saturdays at 9 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Eastern time and again on Sundays at 8 a.m. noon, 2 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Also on The Catholic Channel, Father Leo Patalinghug, author of Grace Before Meals and winner of a Food Network "throw down" against iron chef Bobby Flay, is bringing his own brand of food-focused theological teaching to radio. He will be hosting a new show called "Stirring the Pot," which will air on the Sundays of Advent from 7 to 9 p.m. Eastern time.
And for something more traditional to help you through Advent day by day, you can always turn to Magnificat's Advent devotional with daily reflections on the readings of the day. Click HERE for more information.
If you're looking for some inspiration as you get started with your own journey toward Christmas, here are some links to columns, radio shows, prayer books and more to help you settle into the rhythm of this beautiful season of contrasts -- the lights of our candles against the dark of winter, the silence of our Advent prayers against the insanity of the secular version of this season, the somber tone of the readings warning us to "stay awake" against the Christmas carols that blare from speakers everywhere we turn.
Head over to Fathers for Good for a lovely Advent reflection by one of my long-time friends and colleagues, Patrice Athanasidy. Her family's Advent rituals are very similar to those at our house, so this post really struck a chord. Click HERE to read the first of her Advent series of columns: "Advent: A Time of Blessed Patience." Check back each week to see what else she has to offer us for the journey.
If you're looking for a way to transform some of the typical sounds of the season into a call to prayer, head over to The Evangelist and read this reflection by Father John P. Rosson, pastor of St. Mary's/Our Lady of the Lake in Cooperstown, New York. Father Rosson recommends ringing a special bell on the days of Advent to counter the harried sounds of everyday life and announce a time for prayer -- he suggests the Angelus. Click HERE to read his other suggestions.
Over at The Catholic Channel on Sirius Satellite Radio 159/XM 117, several new shows will debut this weekend to herald the Advent season and provide us with spiritual touchstones throughout the coming weeks.
Cardinal Edward Egan, retired archbishop of New York, will be hosting "The Spirit of Advent: In Scripture, Story and Song," a Catholic Channel exclusive five-part radio series that will combine Scripture with personal stories and powerful song "to inform and inspire in a new way." That show will air on Saturdays at 9 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Eastern time and again on Sundays at 8 a.m. noon, 2 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Also on The Catholic Channel, Father Leo Patalinghug, author of Grace Before Meals and winner of a Food Network "throw down" against iron chef Bobby Flay, is bringing his own brand of food-focused theological teaching to radio. He will be hosting a new show called "Stirring the Pot," which will air on the Sundays of Advent from 7 to 9 p.m. Eastern time.
And for something more traditional to help you through Advent day by day, you can always turn to Magnificat's Advent devotional with daily reflections on the readings of the day. Click HERE for more information.
