Advent

Advent preparation tips:
Keeping Christ in preparation for Christmas

By Helen Scieszka, Ph.D.

How we prepare to celebrate Christmas says a lot about who we are as Catholics. Do we let the REAL reason for the season guide us, or our American culture of "spend, spend, spend" and competition with the neighbors over the decorations? What message do we give children about what is important? What are we telling our neighbors about the kind of Catholics we are?

	A d v e n t Time of Preparation

A number of years ago, the leaders in the parish where I was pastoral associate decided on a way to share the real message of Christmas with the children. At the Christmas Eve children's Mass, during the post-Communion reflection, you could hear the jingle of bells coming closer and closer.

St. Nick (Santa) entered through the main doors carrying a gift. He walked down the aisle without a word or acknowledging anyone around, even though you could hear children whispering "SANTA! It's SANTA!"

He bowed to the altar and then went to the Nativity scene. He laid the gift by the manger and knelt in prayer for a few minutes, eventually leaving out a side door. The children were awestruck and some of the adults admitted that they had tears in their eyes, as well as now having another way to explain to their children the real meaning of CHRISTmas.

Here are a few other ideas for families on how to celebrate CHRIST as the most important part of CHRISTmas.

• Use an Advent calendar and/or a wreath to mark this time of preparation.
  
  
• Use cards and stamps that portray the CHRISTmas story.
  
  
• Keep outdoor lights & decorations simple, using religious CHRISTmas scenes like the Nativity or a star.
  
  
• Put a Nativity set in a prominent place in your home, but only put out some of the animals. You can put the other statues out, but in another place in your home. Each week, read a little from the Christmas story in Luke's Gospel, and move the statues a little closer. On Jan. 6, Epiphany, read the account from Matthew's Gospel about the arrival of the Three Magi. These will then be the last statues placed in your scene.
  
  
• Have the children place a piece of straw in the manger for each good deed they do during Advent as a gift to the baby Jesus.
  
  
• Play CHRISTmas carols and read CHRISTmas stories.
  
  
• Request radio and TV stations to play carols and CHRISTmas stories.
  
  
• Have children write a letter to Jesus instead of Santa.
  
  
• Let your children know that "Santa Claus" is another name for the real St. Nicholas and tell them his story.
  
  
• Have your children buy a gift to donate to children in need.
  
  
• Invite someone you know who will be alone to celebrate CHRISTmas dinner with your family.
  
  
• Put an electric or battery operated candle in your window so that Jesus knows there is room in your house for Him.
  
  
• On Christmas Eve, if you have candles in your windows, use them and the Christmas tree as the only lighting in your home. Let the peace that only HE can bring enter your home and your hearts.
  
  
• Go to Christmas Mass together as a family, dressed as if you were going to a birthday party. Because you are.

(Scieszka, who has a doctorate in clinical psychology, is family and married life director for the Green Bay Diocese.)