Every year, the window between holidays shortens like the day’s sunlight.
Shopping is constant and the wish lists of Bobby and Sue seem to be a mile
long. With everything there is to do, it’s easy to think of Christmas as just
another holiday.
But it is more than consumerism. That’s what a new book, Celebrating a Merry Catholic Christmas, hopes to show.
Christmas is sacred and there is meaning behind the traditions.
Written by Father William P. Saunders, pastor of Our Lady of Hope
Church in Potomac Falls and episcopal vicar of faith formation, the book
provides the history of Advent and Christmas, as well as practical suggestions
on entering fully into the season. Some of the material comes from Father
Saunders’ past columns in the Catholic Herald,
but also includes new information, updated articles and material from his
homilies.
Father Saunders is frustrated with the commercialization of
Christmas.
“I thought it would be good to have all these resources in one
book that would be available for families, the idea being that families,
especially in the culture in which we live, really need to have a home Catholic
culture,” he said. “Little children need to know the significance of these
great Catholic traditions.”
In our rush to buy presents and usher in Christmas cheer, the
importance of Advent can be overlooked. The book starts with Advent, following
its origins from France’s preparation for the feast of the Epiphany to the
first Sunday of Advent designated by the church as the beginning of the church
year around the ninth century, according to the book.
The section also provides a look at the history of the Advent
wreath, praying with the wreath and suggestions for good Advent preparation —
pray, read sacred Scripture, take time for confession, teach, preach and give.
Borrowing a tradition from his own family, Father Saunders
invites families to have an Advent wreath at the center of the kitchen table,
giving each child a chance to read the suggested prayers or light the candles
of the wreath each week.
Several feast days during Advent, including St. Nicholas (Dec. 6),
the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8), Our Lady of Guadalupe
(Dec. 12) and St. Lucy (Dec. 13), are covered by Father Saunders.
“The feasts are ways to punctuate Advent and really set our
hearts on Christmas,” he said.
The book also highlights St. Joseph’s role in the birth of Jesus.
The section on the octave before Christmas delves into the O Antiphons and
Father Saunders provides detailed meaning behind the 12 Days of Christmas. The
history of the Christmas tree, crèche, candles and carols also are explored.
Beyond Christmas Day, the book looks at the Solemnity of Mary and
continues through the Feast of the Presentation (Feb. 2), which marks the end
of the Christmas season in European countries.
Father Saunders said one key thing is to simplify and focus on
Christmas. “Rather than have the craziness of this entire gift giving, maybe
limit it to three gifts like the Magi,” he said.
Get the book
To buy a copy of Celebrating a Merry Catholic Christmas, go here.