Advent Anew: Week 3

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near.”

Philippians 4:4-5

Gaudete Sunday marks the halfway point in Advent. The liturgical color used at Mass is pink to symbolize the joyful anticipation amidst a time of contemplation and preparation. The priest wears a rose-colored vestment at Mass and the pink candle is lit along with the first two purple candles on the Advent wreath. The faithful are encouraged to wear pink to celebrate.

FEAST DAY OF

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

PATRONESS

unborn

Many miracles have been attributed to Our Lady of Guadalupe. The second time that Mary appeared to St. Juan Diego, she sent him to the local bishop with proof of her heavenly apparition: fragrant Spanish roses gathered atop the frost-covered hill and her radiant image imprinted on his tilma (cloak). Our Lady’s image remains visible to visitors who pilgrimage to Mexico City to see the tilma, nearly 500 years later.

Luke 1:46-48

OF Mexico and the Americas, and of the

“AND MARY SAID: ‘MY SOUL PROCLAIMS THE GREATNESS OF THE LORD; MY SPIRIT REJOICES IN GOD MY SAVIOR. FOR HE HAS LOOKED UPON HIS HANDMAID’S LOWLINESS; BEHOLD, FROM NOW ON WILL ALL AGES CALL ME BLESSED.’”

FEAST DAY OF ST. LUCY

PATRON SAINT OF Writers and the blind COUNTRY OF ORIGIN Italy

BORN 287 AD

The name Lucy (or Lucia) means “light,” which makes this feast day a welcome celebration in dark mid-December. In European countries, the eldest daughter in a family dresses as Lucy in a white gown and a red sash (emblematic of her martyrdom) with a wreath of candles. She parades around the neighborhood delivering lussekatter (Lucy buns), saffron-infused sweet rolls.

ST. LUCIA BUNS

St. Lucia Buns (Lussekatter) can be served warm from the oven with butter, or prepared in advance, frozen, and then defrosted in an oven or microwave. Share and enjoy this feast day treat.

INGREDIENTS

1/2 tsp. finely crumbled saffron threads, or 1 tsp. powdered saffron

1 cup unsalted butter, melted 1 cup whole milk

3/4 cup sugar 1 tsp. salt

PREPARATION

2 packages (4 1/2 tsps.) active dry yeast 6 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided 2 large eggs, beaten Raisins or currants, for garnish 1 large egg white

1. Crumble the saffron threads into melted butter. Let stand for 30 minutes to 1 hour to infuse the butter with the saffron.

2. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, warm the milk until it reaches the scalding point, or when small bubbles form all over the surface. Turn off the heat and stir in the melted butter, sugar, and salt. Pour the mixture into a large mixing bowl and cool until cool to touch but still warm. Stir in the yeast and let stand for 10 minutes.

3. Mix 3 1/2 cups flour into the liquid to blend and then stir in the 2 beaten eggs. Add enough of the remaining flour to form a soft dough (the dough should pull away from the sides of the bowl), without adding too much flour and drying out the dough.

4. Transfer the dough to a large greased bowl and turn to evenly coat the surface of the dough. Cover with a clean towel and let rise in a warm, draft-free place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.

5. Punch down the risen dough, and lightly knead 2 or 3 times on a floured surface. Pinch off small handfuls of dough, about 2 1/4 inches in diameter, and roll into ropes or “snakes,” about 3/4-inch in diameter. Shape the snakes into “S”-shaped buns or other desired shapes. Place on a lightly greased baking sheet, cover with the towel and let rise again until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.

6. Preheat the oven to 375° F.

7. Brush the eggs with the remaining egg white and then decorate the buns with the raisins. Transfer to the oven and bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes.

“ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH”

Angels we have heard on high Sweetly singing o’er the plains And the mountains in reply Echoing their joyous strains Gloria in excelsis Deo! Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong? What the gladsome tidings be? Which inspire your heavenly songs? Gloria in excelsis Deo! Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing; Come, adore on bended knee, Christ the Lord, the newborn King. Gloria in excelsis Deo! Gloria in excelsis Deo!

This joyful French carol is based on Luke’s Gospel when angels appeared to lowly shepherds near the stable where Jesus was born in Bethlehem. The shepherds returned after adoring the infant Jesus “glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen” (Lk. 2:20). A Catholic bishop, James Chadwick, translated the original text to English in 1862.

DID YOU KNOW?

At Mass you may notice one striking difference in the liturgy. During Advent, the Church refrains from singing the Gloria until Christmas Eve when we recite the words the angels exclaimed to the shepherds that very first Christmas: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace” (Lk. 2:14).

REMEMBERING THE VISITATION

A jubilant encounter takes place early in Luke’s Gospel, when two pregnant women rejoice together at finding God’s favor in their lives. After the angel Gabriel announces Mary’s pregnancy, she makes haste to visit her cousin, Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist.

“FOR AT THE MOMENT THE SOUND OF YOUR GREETING REACHED MY EARS, THE INFANT IN MY WOMB LEAPED FOR JOY.”

Luke 1:44

This Visitation recalls the joy one receives in gift-giving or helping a friend in need.

“AT THIS CHRISTMAS WHEN CHRIST COMES, WILL HE FIND A WARM HEART? MARK THE SEASON OF ADVENT BY LOVING AND SERVING THE OTHERS WITH GOD’S OWN LOVE AND CONCERN.”

St. Teresa of Calcutta