Advent thoughts

Yesterday I heard the old rite for the very last time. It seemed proper that it should be at a funeral. A lovely 96-year-old wife and mother had finished her earthly race and gone on to be with the Lord. She really must have been well-loved as the church was very full and the first ten pews or so were packed with tearful family members.

One of the younger members of the family got up to read the petitions but her tears and grief kept her from uttering more than a few words. I think that really says something when the young ones love a grandma or great grandma that much.

 This woman was extraordinary. She penned a note to be opened after her death where she promised to take all the petitions and needs of her children to Jesus herself when she gets to heaven and she urged them to GET THERE so that they could all be together.

What a great idea.

 When I got home I started writing a note too to see what it would feel like to write something knowing it would be read after I was gone. But it started sounding too much like a rant so I pitched it. I think something like that will have to be written when memories fade and the heart is more full of mother love and warmth – Apparently I’m not there yet.

 She also had a saying that when we light another’s candle with light from our own, it does not diminish our own light. I love that thought and vowed right then and there to try and be a better mentor, teacher, mother, wife and friend. Sometimes I think these funerals do more to edify the living than to send off the dead but I suppose in the Catholic Church we do a good job of doing both.

Last night I put away all of the Thanksgiving decorations and got out our Advent wreath.  Inside the center of the wreath is the lovely statue of Mary I purchased at a tag sale this fall.  The whole thing is surrounded by our Jesse blocks.  I decided last year that I was done trying to find a place to keep a Jesse Tree – so Izzy made these cute blocks – there is one for each day of Advent.  I’ll be sharing them with this blog every day so you can see them too.

 
Here’s the one for the first day of Advent – Creation!

Today at mass I had all of my music in order and was armed with my worship aid for the new mass prayers.  I don’t think I missed a single, “and with your spirit.”  I did blow the “under my roof” part – but I’ll get it next week.

In the Cleveland Diocese, we have been mandated by the bishop to learn the Mass of St. Paul because it has all of the new words and the Gloria doesn’t repeat with a refrain. The bishop wants us to learn it and for the faithful in the diocese to be able to sing it well.  I’m not wild about any of it except… the Lamb of God. I think that is truly inspired composing and I love, love, love the flute part that goes with it. It is just beautiful.  There is no orchestration in this clip but it gives an idea what this lovely music sounds like.

Today we had ten for Sunday dinner – which is kind of ironic considering how Thanksgiving turned out. A neighbor kicked her teenage son out of the home and since he had no where to go and nothing to eat, we gave him some of our Turkey pot pie.  His sister eventually wandered over as well. I tried to talk to them both about reconciling with their mother and trying to bring the family together.  I may have to say something to her myself.  In the meantime my own son has not spoken to me since Thanksgiving and ignored my texts. It seems we will be a family divided – something I never thought would happen to us, but has.

After dinner, I went over to get books for Rosie at the library so that we can follow along in the Christmas  Mosaic book.  Can’t wait to delve into those!  Rosie right now is my #1 fan.  I need a #1 fan about now and cuddling with her on the couch reading these books will be very soothing for both of us I think!

Overall I’d say it was a good start to the Advent season. Oh come Baby Jesus – I need your baby tenderness just about now as the skies turn gray and the light starts fading.