Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 6—The Georgia Bulletin, November 27,1980
Advent Traditions — Simplifying The Season
BY THEA JARVIS
Advent is a time of prayerful introspection.
As the season advances, a sense of mystery prevails.
Families gather around communal tables, sharing
Christmas memories and dreams. Warm, smiling faces
gladden the faces of children and an aura of peace and
tranquility reigns . . .
Who says???
More often than not, the time before Christmas is our
season of annual excess - too many presents, too much
food, too many things to do, too many places to go.
Pressure is the password of the people.
We meet ourselves coming and going on a round trip to
fatigue - the prime affliction of those celebrating Advent
and getting ready for THE BIG DAY.
But “the big day” is often a big letdown. All this
preparation for a 24-hour fling into frivolity - and then it’s
over.
For those who prefer the simplified season,
Immaculate Heart of Mary Church this past Sunday
hosted a series of Advent workshops designed to help
families - large and small, extended or nuclear, blood-tied
or frienship-tied - approach the waiting time of Advent in
a moderate, thoughtful way.
The workshops included a variety of ideas guaranteed
to lend meaning to the Advent season:
MAKE A “BETHLEHEM TREE” by fashioning
ornaments based on the New Testament Christmas story.
The star, the dove, the shepherd’s crook, the three gifts,
and many more are found in Mary Louise Tietjen’s
practical guide, “The Bethlehem Tree: A Family Advent
Resource Book.”
For those unable to get the book, which is available at
Notre Dame Bookstore, use some imagination and any
felt, glue, cardboard and glitter around the house. Go to
town making family symbols of the REAL Christmas
tradition.
FIND A LONELY, LEAFLESS TREE in the backyard
and decorate it in Advent style with the symbols of the
Jesse Tree. The Old Testament ancestry of Jesus is easily
adapted to ornament: Noah’s ark, Joseph’s coat of many
colors, the tablets of the law (10 Commandments),
David’s harp, Jonah’s whale, and other symbols can be
hung on the family Advent tree. Parish schools of religion
generally have full instructions for Jesse Trees in the
home.
DECORATE THE FAMILY TABLE with an advent
wreath. Using greens (everlasting life), four candles (Christ
the light of the world and the four weeks of Advent), and
simple prayers, families can hold weekly reminders that
Christmas is near. As the season progresses, more candles
are lit and anticipation grows. Specific prayers to be used
with the advent wreath can be found in parish education
departments and religious bookshops.
KRISTKINDL, A GERMAN CUSTOM WHICH
TRANSLATES “CHRISTCHILD” allows family members
to do something special for one another during the
Advent season. Once a week at mealtime, names are
Blessing Of Christmas Tree
LEADER: Then shall all the trees of the forest rejoice before
the Lord, for He shall come, for He shall come to rule the earth.
ALL: He shall rule the world with justice and the peoples with
His constant love.
LEADER: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the
Holy Spirit
ALL: As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be.
LEADER: A reading from the prophet Isaiah: The Lord said:
The land that was desolate and impassable shall be made glad and
shall rejoice with joy and praise. The glory of Lebanon is given to
it: the beauty of Carmel, and Sharon. They shall see the glory of
the Lord and the beauty of our God.
ALL: Thanks be to God.
LEADER: And there shall come forth a rod out of the root of
Jesse.
ALL: And a flower shall rise out of his root.
LEADER: O Lord, hear our prayer.
ALL: And let our cry come to you.
LEADER: Let us pray. O God, who has made this holy night to
shine forth with the brightness of the true light, bless this tree
which we decorate with lights in honor of Your Son, who has
come to enlighten us and make our lives fuller with His life.
Father, we thank you for the gift of Your Word made flesh, your
Son. May we continue our thanksgiving by making our actions
more loving.
ALL: Amen.
drawn so that each person is responsible for acts of
kindness toward a family member for the coming week.
Doing for each other is emphasized rather than buying.
ATTACH A CHAIN OF 24 LINKS to a bedroom,
family room or front door. Each evening before
Christmas, a link can be removed, signifying closeness to
the Christ-birth. Scripture verses might be written on each
circle if desired, and the chain may be made from felt,
construction paper, burlap, etc.
HOLD A FAMILY PENANCE SERVICE during
Advent to ready the family for Christmas and the new
year. Reflect upon the past and set some goals, limits, and
resolutions for the future. Simple prayers and scripture
readings can add to the spirit of the service.
INSTEAD OF COLLECTING ALL THE CHRISTMAS
CARDS in a big basket and forgetting them, let family
members take turns reading the cards, and their happy
messages, during the evening meal. This could also be
done as a part of the blessing before the meal.
THE SPANISH CUSTOM OF LAS POSADAS sets
aside nine nights for a re-play of the Christmas story. Half
the group stands outside with lighted candles and asks
those inside the house if they might come in. The
question, with singing on both sides, is repeated until
those inside understand that it is the child Jesus who
remains outside, with his Virgin Mother and Joseph. They
are welcomed and received with food and fellowship.
Advent can have more meaning than the lights at the
shopping malls would like to give us. Try using some
advent customs at home and enjoy the simplified season.
BY NANCY FRAZIER
NC News Service
Pope John Paul II
wooed and won a skeptical
West Germany during his
visit Nov. 15-19.
In a seven-city tour the
pope confronted such
tough church issues as
Christian unity, priestly
celibacy and theological
freedom and the wider
world themes of
consumerism, peace and
European unity.
When he arrived in
Cologne Nov. 15 the mood
was colder in the
Protestant community and
in some Catholic circles
than the 40-degree
temperatures.
But when Pope John
Paul departed from the
Munich airport five days
later he left behind well
over a million and a half
people who had come out
to see him, a new national
ecumenical commission
and an enthusiastic group
of journalists.
The change in the
media may have been the
best indicator of the
pope’s success in winning
over the West German
people.
One national newspaper
that had been critical of
the cost and preparations
for the papal visit showed
some sympathy shortly
after Pope John Paul
arrived. In a front-page
headline, it expressed
concern that the pope’s
“mammoth program”
would tire him out.
Several other
newspapers described the
visit as “the event of the
century” and the 27 hours
of live coverage of the
pope’s moves by West
German television received
high rating.
Before the visit media
attention centered
primarily on expected
ecumenical clashes at
scheduled meetings Nov.
CHRISTMAS
YOU’RE
IN
BETHLEHEM
THE HOLY FATHER’S MISSION AID TO THE ORIENTAL CHURCH
This Christmas you'll be remembered In the
Midnight Mass in Bethlehem. The celebrant,
Archbishop James J. Beltritti, will offer the Mass
for the members and benefactors of this
Association . . . How better can we say thank
OUR you? In 18 mission countries (where Catholics,
GIFT though few, are mostly of the Eastern Rites) the
TO Holy Father helps millions because you read this
YOU column. Blind boys in the Gaza Strip (not one of
them a Christian) are learning rug making,
basketwork, the ABCs, at the Pontifical Mission
Center for the Blind. Lepers in India are cared for
by native priests and Sisters. The poor have the
Gospel preached to them in Egypt, Iraq, Iran,
Lebanon and Ethiopia . . . This season
especially, won't you remember the missions in
your prayers? Our priests and Sisters depend on
you. They ask the Christ Child to bless you
always!
Dear Mrs. M:
MASSES Yes, priests in the Holy Land will be pleased to
YOU offer soon the Masses you request. Simply send
REQUEST us your intentions.
Msgr. Nolan
If you want your gift credited in tax-year '79, be
sure it's postmarked by Dec. 31. Here are three
gifts of lasting value:
TRAIN A NATIVE PRIEST. It costs only $15.00 a
month ($180 a year, $1,080 for the entire six year
HINTS course), he will write to you regularly, and pray
FOR for you. (A $3,000 Burse trains a seminarian in
CATHOLIC perpetuity.)
SHOPPERS TRAIN A NATIVE SISTER. We'll send you her
photo, and she'll write to you. Make the
payments at your own convenience ($12.50 a
month, $150 a year. $300 for the entire two-year
course).
BUILD A MISSION CHURCH, NAME IT FOR
YOUR FAVORITE SAINT, IN MEMORY OR YOUR
LOVED ONES. We can tell you where it's
needed, its size and location will determine the
cost (from $4,000 up), and the Bishop overseas
will keep you informed.*,$10,000 helps build an
entire parish 'plant —-church, school, rectory
and convent.)
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Dear enclosed please find $
Monsignor Nolan:
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offering
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THE CATHOLIC NEAR EAST WELFARE ASSOCIATION
NEAR EAST
MISSIONS
TERENCE CARDINAL COOKE, President
MSGR. JOHN G. NOLAN, National Secretary
Write: Catholic Near East Welfare Assoc.
1011 First Avenue • New York, N.Y. 10022
Telephone: 212/826-1480
k
17 in Mainz with members
of the Council of the
Evangelical (Lutheran)
Church of Germany and
with representatives of
other Christian churches.
Instead, a Protestant
spokesman said that as a
result of the meetings “the
climate has been changed”
for ecumenical relations in
West Germany. He praised
the pope’s “will and
openness and intention”
to improve relations,
among Christians.
Pope John Paul told
Protestant leaders that he
Bigotry
had come to the land of
Martin Luther and the
birthplace of the
Protestant Reformation
“as a pilgrim.” But he
made clear that
intercommunion, an issue
raised by Lutheran Bishop
Edward Lohse, must await
“Full unity” among
Christian churches.
Later in Fulda the pope
told the West German
bishops to take up “the
urgent task of overcoming
the breach of Christian
ity,” A new ecumenical
study group will begin
discussions in the near
future on as yet
unspecified topics.
About 47 percent of
West Germany’s 61 million
people are Protestants
predominantly Lutheran.
About 45 percent are
Catholics.
Ecumenical tensions
were sharpened shortly
before the papal visit
because of three booklets
published under the
auspices of the German
Catholic bishops. One
described Luther, leader of
the Protestant
Reformation, as a man
“whose uncontrolled anger
and polemics made him
blind to the Catholic
truth.” The bishops later
apoligized for the
reference.
Although ecumenism
was a central issue, it was
not the only topic which
came up repeatedly in
Pope John Paul’s
addresses.
Another goal was to
improve post-World War II
relations between
Germany and the pope’s
native Poland.
“The kiss of German
soil by a Polish pope is an
important sign, since from
this nation, in the past,
there has been so much
injustice and suffering for
the Polish people,” said
Cardinal Joseph Hoffner,
of Cologne, president of
the West German Bishops’
Conference, after the
pope’s departure.
Many of the concrete
steps in that direction will
be up to West German
political leaders. West
German President Karl
Carstens told the pope at a
reception in Bonn that
“the churches of both
countries have led the way
and set a fine example” in
this regard.
Pope John Paul visited
West Germany in
September 1978, shortly
before his election to the
papacy. At the time he
headed a delegation of
Polish bishops.
Representatives of the
German bishops recently
repaid the visit.
There were few
surprises in the pope’s
speeches, which reiterated
the church’s opposition to
abortion, the consumer
mentality and changes in
the current requirement
for priestly celibacy.
But the pope’s talk
Nov. 18 to leading West
G e r m an Catholic
theologians in Altotting
may have implications for
at least one theologian
who was not present.
In an indirect criticism
of Swiss-born Father Hans
Rung, the pope said the
teaching authority of the
church only intervenes in
theological matters when
“the truth of the word of
God...is threatened by
deformations, and false
interpretations.”
Father Kung, whose
authorization to teach as a
Catholic theologian was
withdrawn last December
by the Vatican’s
Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith,
continues to hold a post at
the University of Tubingen
in West Germany under an
agreement worked out
between the German
bishops and directors of
the state-run school.
Under the arrangement
Father Kung teaches
courses in ecumenism
instead of Catholic
theology.
But German Catholic
sources said the papal
speech indicated that Pope
John Paul was not satisfied
with the arrangement.
The last day of the visit
brought a surprise when a
young woman challenged
the church’s stands on
sexual morality and
priestly celibacy.
“For youth, the church
in West Germany is hard
to understand,” said
Barbara Engl, chairwoman
of the League of German
Catholic Youth, in a
departure from the text of
her speech handed out by
press representatives of the
bishops. “One gets the
impression that it
anxiously holds fast to
traditional standards.”
(Continued from page 1)
levels before acting. We cannot do that here, for what is at
stake is the quality of life for all of us - Black and White,
rich and poor, Catholic and Jew and Protestant, believer
and agnostic. To fail to speak and act now would be to
undermine those basic principles so tightly woven into the
fabric of our National soul, namely
* the dignity of every human being, no matter the
details of race, color, creed, sex, national origin or age;
* the sanctity of every human life;
* the opportunity for every human being to enter fully
into every aspect of American life.
What then are we to do? Let us resolve
FIRST, that we will denounce the Klan and what it
stands for, in our hearts and in our lives;
SECOND, that we will pray for those so blinded by
hatred or hardship that they look to the Klan as a means
of expressing their frustration;
THIRD, that we will support all men and women in
their quest for equality;
FOURTH, that we will seek to deal with the forces -
economic and social - which cause the frustration leading
men and women to those groups and enabling them to
prosper;
FIFTH, that we will work with each other to build
families and communities that are faithful to our
Judaeo-Christian heritage which teaches that all of us are
the sons and daughters of the same loving Father. This is
at the heart of our heritage as Americans as well.
This Statement of Concern is addressed to all men and
women of good will. It comes with an expressed hope for
healing in the body of our nation. It comes with an
abiding belief in the goodness of our people. It comes as a
sign of our Father’s constant care for you all and our
prayer that His Peace abide in your hearts.
Thomas A. Donnellan
Roman Catholic Archbishop
of Atlanta
Alvin M. Sugarman, Rabbi,
The Temple
The Prophets —
(Continued from page 1)
During Advent we focus our attention in a
special way on the coming of the Savior. We recall
the expectations of Israel, the unique way in
which Jesus fulfilled those expectations, and the
countless times the Savior has reentered our lives.
He is coming again; it is happening over. If we
want to meet him, we would do well to listen to
the way prophets of Israel have announced his
coming before.
ALFORD’S *,
Framing & Gallery
Creative Framing
l Original Art Works and Reproductions j
CHALLENGING THE POPE - Barbara Engl,
chairwoman of the League of German Catholic
Youth stands beside a bronze bust of Pope John
Paul II. When the pope met with youth in
Munich, Miss Engl in her speech to the pope
questioned church rules on priestly celibacy. The
pope did not reply.
r
I
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Christ said to His followers:
Come with me
Ignatius
quiet place and rest awhile.
A retreat is a time to withdraw from ordinary occupations, a break in routine, a stopping, a place
and time for stillness, listening and learning.
Regular week-end retreats -- open to single women and men and couples - begin with supper on
Friday evening and end after lunch on Sunday. Three day retreats can be arranged for special
groups at other times. Private and directed retreats are provided for individuals who request
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Still open up-coming dates: 5-7 December (Couples); 12-14 December; 9-11 January;
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Suggested dates open for directed retreats: 15 December-22 December; 12 April-18 April.
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