HOW SHOULD WE PREPARE FOR CHRISTMAS? PART – 1

HOW SHOULD WE PREPARE FOR CHRISTMAS? PART – 1
For us Catholics, the liturgical season of Advent helps us to focus on the spiritual preparation for Christmas
and on the coming of Our Lord. So here are some good suggestions to prepare for Christmas. First,
make an Advent wreath in our homes. Make the Advent wreath the centerpiece of the dinner table. Light it
at dinner time, and say the special prayers along with grace before meals. This daily practice will help each
member of the family keep focused on the true meaning of Christmas. Second, pray. Schedule a regular time
for prayer. Also, pray the rosary, individually or as a family. Ponder the various events in the life of Our
Lord, and the example of Mary, “the handmaid of the Lord,” who gave of herself to receive the gift of the
Savior. For little children, who have a shorter attention span, maybe just pray a decade each night, looking
at one mystery; over the four weeks of Advent, all the mysteries will have been prayed. Third, read sacred
Scripture. However, do not just read the Gospel; rather, spend a few minutes reflecting upon it, inserting
oneself into the passage, and allowing the Holy Spirit to speak in the quiet of one’s heart. (To be continued….)
Father Maria Joseph Kodiganti