Today is Candlemas...and Why It Matters

Photo: Lawrence OP, click for license

Today, Feb. 2,  is the fortieth day after Christmas.  Upon the fortieth day following birth, devout practicing Jews, like Mary and Joseph, presented themselves in the temple for the ritual purification of the new mother, and to redeem the first born son, who by rights, belonged to God. While Epiphany-tide may last a bit longer depending on the date of Easter, the Christmas season ends, completely, today.

Upon Jesus' presentation in the temple, he was encountered by two rather significant people, the aged and devout Simeon, and the very aged prophetess Ana.  They each had been waiting a long time for this.  They knew his worth, and, the world changing event which had occurred with his coming.

Simeon's song upon experiencing this meeting is well known, and is part of the evening prayers of many liturgical Christians:

"Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, 

according to thy word;

for mine eyes have seen thy salvation

which thou hast prepared before the face of all people,

to be a light to lighten the Gentiles,

and to be the glory of thy people, Israel."

~Luke 2: 29-32

Imagine their joy, upon meeting their Lord.  It could be our song, couldn't it?  Each of us. Redeemed and overcome with peace.

PD {1923}

As the days lengthen, and the light returns, we have this day to recognize the true light among us, and rejoice.  Meditate upon his priceless worth today, and welcome him, will you?

~~~~~~~~~

Soon, Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) will be upon us...a last hurrah of Epiphany-tide.  The next day will be Ash Wednesday, our entry into the solemnity, introspection, re commitment, and self-renewal of Lent...which is observed in preparation for the Holiest Feast of all, the Feast of the Resurrection of our Lord.  We have much to anticipate.

Pax Christi, Friends,

~Michelle

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Twelfth Night

Have the wise men from your nativity set been traveling gradually through the rooms of your home, steadily approaching the location of the Christ Child?  If so, today they must be very close, because technically, Epiphany begins January 5, Twelfth Night, at sundown.  The shepherds of course, have been packed cozily in their box for a few days now.  Their time in the Christmas story has passed.

 Viewed literally, it may have taken the wise men up to a couple of years to reach Jesus.  They actually met him in a house, not the stable.  But, literalness aside, our wise men are in the same room as Jesus now, and will arrive on Epiphany, January 6, to worship him as he rests in his manger.

Twelfth night is two things:  The last day of Christmas and the start of Epiphany.  It is double cause to celebrate.  Of course Shakespeare made it famous with his play of the same name, but for the most part, Americans likely do not even know what Twelfth Night is...particularly with the secular compulsion to celebrate "Christmas" during Advent, and to pack the whole jubilee up the next day.  But, we walk the seasons here, and stubbornly so.

In Colonial America, edibles such as fruits were removed from Christmas decorations on the Twelfth Day of Christmas, and eaten.  The decorations, of course, were then packed away, for on this day, we say a festive goodbye to the Christmas season, and a warm hello to Epiphany.

Wassail and King Cake are often on the menu on this night.  In some families, the King Cake is baked on Twelfth Night and eaten on Epiphany.  As is evident from Shakespeare's play, Twelfth Night celebrations could get pretty raucous in Medieval times.  Our family is not quite so rowdy, but nonetheless, we are exiting the Christmas feast and entering into the last hurrah (the Epiphany season) before the contemplative period of Lent.  I believe that keeping the observances of  the church year guides us toward immersing ourselves in all aspects of the gospel and Christian living, rather than allowing us to simply focus on the ones that feel good or are easily entered into.

So then, tonight, with our eye on the star, we feast!

Revel heartily friends!
Blessings,
~Michelle

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Happy Epiphany: Chalking the Door.

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Last Few Days of a Small Town Christmas

A very merry Ninth Day of Christmas to you and yours!  The season is winding to an end; the magi are on the brink of discovering our Lord; Epiphany stands at the ready.

We are cleaning our carpets today.  I can't help but start thinking ahead to the Lenten house cleaning at this time of year.  After all, the last day of the Epiphany season is Mardi Gras, which leads immediately into Lent.  I'm determined to get every nook and cranny of the house cleaned by Lent...so that we are free to do the personal and spiritual housecleaning that Lent brings.  

But, I'm getting way ahead of myself.  Today, it is still Christmas, and the town is still cheery.  I love the simplicity of a small town Christmas.  I'm sure that big city Christmas trees are amazing to behold, but our little town tree suits me just fine.

 On Thursday night, we'll be making a King Cake for Friday's Epiphany celebration.  We'll also be taking a look at the meaning of Epiphany, and the application of the fruits of the season to our lives. 

Beginning Epiphany, January 6, we'll be joining Frugally Sustainable for the 23 Day Frugal Living Challenge.  I am looking forward to sharing some of our family's frugal living strategies, and learning about yours.

There is a giveaway, of one of the veils from Liturgical Time Veil Shop, in the works .  The giveaway will take place on The Catholic Young Woman.  The veil that will be given away is still a secret!  Watch for the "unveiling"...(sorry, couldn't resist)!  The Catholic Young Woman is a marvelous blog for young women.  You can find it here:

In the meantime, the veil giveaway that we are hosting here on Liturgical Time continues, so don't forget to enter!  You'll find that giveaway here:

Thanks so much for participating in the poll on the sidebar; your opinions are very helpful in planning and decision making for this site.  We have had communication from so many women who love headcovering / veiling, at prayer and worship, and/or in daily life.  Don't be shy about letting us know if you are not interested in headcovering content on this blog.  We want to know everyone's opinion, and your responses are anonymous.  You can even mark the "nutty" option, and we won't mind at all!

 For those of you who love snoods, I cannot make a better recommendation than the shop of Cam at A Woman's Place.  Her blog is delightful and her shop has so many lovely snoods that it is a feast for the eyes.  I heartily encourage you to visit both.  You'll find her shop here:

We're looking forward to a wonderful Epiphany 2012!  Until then, enjoy the last few days of Christmas, and thanks for joining us on Liturgical Time!

He is born!  Let us glorify him!

Pax Christi,

~Michelle

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Fifth Night (of Christmas) on the Mountain

The wood stove is glowing. Papa is making dinner; he won't tell me what it is. I trust that the Ukrainian in him will not try to feed me headcheese. Please pray for me in this regard.

 We went into town today.
 The sewing machine needed a tune up. At 50 years old, it is entitled, I suppose.

We got to see Elyse, which was a highlight. She'll be coming home from Grandma and Grandpa's on New Year's Eve.


 We bought some fixings for an Epiphany Season door wreath.






 It's still awfully quiet around here. Two middle aged people with no kid and no dog pack. We're not entirely sure what to do with ourselves. There was a beautiful sunset tonight. The mountains are good for that.

It is fifth night.  Tomorrow will be the sixth day of Christmas...halfway through the season.

The three kings are on their way; they've almost found him. They will arrive on Epiphany, when we celebrate the revelation to the world that God has manifested himself to us in the person of Christ Jesus.

For now, we are still in the midst of the Christmas season. We revel in his birth; in his coming into our hearts; in his coming again.

 He is born! He is with us...and we are at peace.

Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel.... (God with Us). ~Isaiah 7:14 (Parenthetical remark mine.) 

 Update: Dinner is the most beautiful beef stew ever.

Twenty-two years of marriage, and I've still managed to successfully evade the dreaded headcheese.

Christmas Joy Dear Friends,

Pax Christi,

~Michelle

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The Second Day of Christmas, All is Well

It's the second day of Christmas. Our home is quiet tonight.  Elyse has gone to stay with my parents for several days.  Candles are lit; the house smells like sugar cookies and mint chocolate truffle.  Not because I'm baking, but because I'm addicted to scented candles. I've just finished the dishes and have settled in with a hot cup of mocha cappuccino.  I will probably be up all night, after this indulgence, but for now, I am content.

The wise men have made their way to our family room.  They haven't reached the baby yet. It's not yet their time.  They are holding their gifts ... gold, frankincense, and myrrh... extravagant gifts in those days.

*Gold has obvious worth across ages and cultures.  This baby that they sought was to be a King.

  

*Frankincense, with its soothing and restorative qualities, was used to treat depression in that era.  When burned as incense, it was believed to carry prayers to heaven.  This child was to be a Priest.  

*Myrrh, with its strong antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, was used to heal wounds.  It was also used as an embalming agent, and was one of the spices used in Jesus' own burial.  This child was to die in order to heal his broken people; this child was to be a Savior.

The magi will essentially be with us throughout the Epiphany Season, which runs from Jan. 6, until Mardi Gras, (February 21 this year).  The three kings will have their last hurrah on Mardi Gras, (the last day of the Epiphany season), in the form of the beads that we are all familiar with...green for Frankincense, purple for myrrh, and ...well...the gold is obvious.

Did you know that there is a connection between the Three Wise Men and Mardi Gras?  There's more, but we'll get to that later.  All good things in their season.

For now, they are searching.  Searching for the child who will be, ..the child who is,... King, Priest, and Savior. They need him.They are broken, human, mortal.  They are not liberated ...and so, they search.



They are not left without guidance. They have a star to follow. It is no dim star either.  Bright and clear, it is a significant abberation from the normal, work-a-day, night sky.  They have been given direction.  Taken together with the prophecies, it is a clear indication of where their path should lead.  They are not alone; they have the Word of God.

The child waits.  He'll have a bit of waiting to do, but eventually, they will arrive and fall down to worship him.  They will drink from his strength, Kingly power, and healing.  He is worth the searching.

They will arrive on Epiphany,... in our liturgical drama,... and the season of Epiphany will begin to unfold.

We are searching too, aren't we?  Searching for a closer relationship with him?  Searching for ways to conform our lives to his will?  Don't we wish to worship him, glorify him?...To give him the gift of a Christian life lived well?  The gift of our hearts in allegiance to his perfect will?

Our walk with Christ this Liturgical year has only just begun.  Put on your walking shoes. Choose comfortable socks, make sure you have a durable carrying bag for your Bible, and hold tightly to your companions..it's a rousing journey!

Praying You Blessings,
Pax Christi,
~Michelle

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"I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day"

He is born!  Let us Rejoice and Glorify Him!

Dear American friends,
Because we are sorrowfully deprived in this area,...... (except at a few churches including our own; thank you St. Paul's for pushing the envelope with the neighbors!).....
I give you what Christmas is supposed to sound like:

Enjoy, and let us join in the global celebration!

"For Unto Us A Child is Born!'

In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."

    Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."

    "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"

    The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God."

    "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.

    At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"

    And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me--holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers."

    Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

     In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.

    So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

    And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

    Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

    When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

    So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

    On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived. When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord"), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: "a pair of doves or two young pigeons."

    Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."

    The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too."

    There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

    When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

        --Luke 1:26 - 2:40 New International Version

~~~~~

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Almighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace!"

~Isaiah 9:6

~~~~~

Merry Christmas Dear Friends.

Savor the Gift!

Alleluia!, Pax Christi,

~Michelle

Remembering Whose We Are

Our store bought Christmas tree has a pine cone on it.  

Can you see it there?  We have never had that happen before.

Our tree remembers.

It remembers where it came from; it remembers what it is.  In the midst of Christmas celebration, commercial and otherwise...with the prospect of tinsel, and sparkling lights, and man-made ornaments coming its way, it remembers the forest...or at least the tree farm.

 It knows it is a pine tree.

~~~~~

Do we?  Do we remember what we are?  Whose we are?  In the middle of a secular culture, a culture that elevates physical appearance and money and earthly acclamation over things that matter, do we remember what we are called to be?  Do we remember what really matters?

Will we hang on, like that single, solitary pine cone,  for dear life... in spite of being tossed about by the trappings and the trials of this world,... to home...to our maker...to Our Lord?
For dear life?

So that we might bring Him glory?

"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!  And that is what we are!  The reason the world does not know us, is that it did not know him."

~1 John 3:1

Rest in him.  Nativity is only days away!

Pax Christi,
~Michelle

Oh, and don't forget our headcovering giveaway.  We're excited!   We hope you are too!
~~~~~
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Christmon Three: The Keys

The third Chrismon symbol is now on our tree.  The third symbol is the keys.

You will note that I have put off posting the symbols for a few days.  I have put this one off a bit, because this blog has a rather diverse Christian readership, among whom would be a variety of positions regarding authority in the church.  Some regard the Pope at Rome as having primacy, others consider all Bishops to have equal authority, and still others would consider the priesthood to lie solely with all believers, and would consider the Bible, alone, to hold authority.

I suppose that I offer the keys, which represent authority in the church, for your consideration, in a spirit of respect, ...and ask that you consider that, regardless of the Christian neighborhood in which we reside, we all call Jesus 'Lord'…and that,…is the key.

I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven,

 and whatever you bind on Earth will be bound in heaven, 

and whatever you loose on Earth will be loosed in Heaven. 

~Matthew 16:19

Pax Christi,

~Michelle

Honoring Christ in Christmas: Making the Chrismons

Image in the public domain

First, before we start crafting, a little background:

The Chrismon tree is a variation of the standard decorated Christmas tree. 

~~~~~

A visit to the website of the church where Chrismons originated in 1959 will reveal a beautiful Chrismon tree, as well as a history of Chrismons. (Click on the link and  scroll down a bit.)

A Chrismon is a “Christ monogram”, or symbol of Christ.  

Chrismon trees are evergreen, for everlasting life.  The ornaments are generally  white, for peace and purity, with gold trim to represent Christ, our King.

~~~~~                
We made our Chrismons this year using foam sheets, Sparkle Mod Podge, glitter glue (gold and some silver), and metallic plastic canvas cord.

First, we printed out symbol templates.  Some can be found here and here.  

We cut the templates out, turned them upside down on a piece of foam, and traced around them.  We then carefully cut the symbols out the foam.

We painted the foam symbols with the Sparkle Mod Podge.  Once they were dry, we decorated them with glitter glue.

Using a large needle and the metallic plastic canvas cord, we made hangers.

In the coming days, we will be featuring our ornaments, along with brief descriptions of each ancient Christian symbol’s history and meaning.

For part two of the Chrismons series click here.

Pax Christi,

~Michelle

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