Jesse Tree: 1st Tuesday- Adam & Eve, The First Sin

First Tuesday of Advent
Adam and Eve, The First Sin

Image credit: Carolyn Pikoulas and the Diocese of Erie

Today we place on the tree the symbol of the apple. The apple recalls the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. 

Jesus' family tree's first human ancestors are Adam and Eve. The story of God creating Adam and Eve brings to mind the question from the historical Baltimore Catechism: "Why did God make you?" and the answer, "God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him, and to be happy with Him forever in Heaven."

God created Adam and Eve to live in happiness. The story of the first sin reminds us of our daily struggles to live as God wants, to work toward the good and happiness of all, in spite of our failings and sins. We remember that God does not abandon us in our sinfulness, but instead sent His son to show us the way and to save us from our sins. The story of Adam and Eve depicts sin as the inciting incident of the story of salvation.

Take some time today to make an examination of conscience and ask God's forgiveness. 

Today's Focus: Adam and Eve, The First Sin

Symbol: Apple

Scripture: Genesis 2:4 through 3:24 

Yesterday's Focus: God the Creator

Tomorrow's Focus: Noah and the Flood

Jesse Tree: 1st Monday, God the Creator

First Monday of Advent
God the Creator

Image credit: Carolyn Pikoulas and the Diocese of Erie

The first symbol placed on the Jesse Tree is that of the dove. The dove reminds us of God, and is symbolic of the peace and harmony that God intended for his creation when He made the world.

Take some time to meditate on the beauty of creation, and give thanks to God for all He has made. 

Today's Focus: Creation

Symbol: Dove

Scripture Reading: Genesis 1:1-3

Yesterday's Focus: Introduction to the Jesse Tree
Tomorrow's Focus: Adam & Eve, The First Sin

First Sunday of Advent-Introduction to the Jesse Tree

First Sunday of Advent
Introduction to the Jesse Tree

Image credit: thetuckerbunch.typepad.com

One educational and meaningful Advent tradition is the remembrance of the family of Jesus through the Jesse Tree. The Jesse Tree is a countdown to Christmas using scripture and symbols to recall the ancestors of Jesus. The name comes from Isaiah 11:1, "But a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom."

A Jesse Tree can be a poster on a wall, or it can be incorporated on to your Christmas tree. Each day of Advent, a symbol is placed upon the tree, and a scripture reading is read. For the four weeks of Advent, we will be looking at each day of the Jesse Tree.

Today's Symbol: The bare tree
Scripture Readings: Isaiah 11:1-10
                              1 Samuel 16: 1-13

Advent is here!

Did Advent sneak up on you?

Yesterday was the first Sunday of Advent. If you haven't picked yours up yet, Reilly's still has Advent candles, wreaths, calendars, and meditation books in stock. Pick yours up and take a few moments each day to remember the true reason for the season.






12 inch Advent tapers available in 3 Purple, 1 Rose and 3 Blue, 1 Rose. $6.15 per box

3" x 12" Advent pillar candles $64.50 per set.
Available in 3 Purple, 1 Rose
3 Blue, 1 Rose- sold out











Links of Interest:
Symbolism of the Advent Wreath
The Advent Conspiracy 

Patron Saint of the Day- St. Cecilia

November 22nd
St. Cecilia

Patron Saint of Musicians

While the historical accuracy of St. Cecilia is up for debate, her story is touching and inspiring.

Cecilia was a young woman in Rome in the third century. Betrothed against her will, she fasted and prayed that she would be able to keep her virginity. She told her betrothed, Valerian, that she was able to see an angel, who protected her from harm. She told Valerian that if he was to become a Christian, he would be able to see the angel as well. He believed her and when he returned saw an angel with flaming wings who then crowned the two with flowers. Valerian and his brother were so inspired by this they made it their mission to bury Christians who had been martyred by the emperor.

Cecilia meanwhile converted hundreds through her preaching. Over four hundred people are said to have been baptized because of Cecilia. She was eventually arrested and sentenced to death. The original sentence of being suffocated by the steam and heat in the baths failed, Cecilia was unharmed. She was then ordered to be killed by beheading. The executioner tried three times, but only succeeded in fatally wounding Cecilia. It took her three days to pass.

Reilly's has a selection of medals, statues, and holy cards of St. Cecilia, as well as other loved saints.

Patron Saint of the Day- St. Rose Philippine Duchesne

November 18th
St. Rose Philippine Duchesne

St. Rose Philippine Duchesne

St. Rose was born in Grenoble, France in 1769. She wanted to be Visitation nun, but the French Revolution ended those plans when the Visitation nuns were expelled from their home in 1788, before Rose could make her profession. During the Revolution, Rose hid fugitive priests, visited prisons, and taught. When she could not reorganize the Sisters of the Visitation after the Revolution, she offered the house to the Society of the Sacred Heart and joined that order herself.

At the age of forty-nine, Rose was sent to America. She traveled to St. Charles, Missouri and established a convent, orphanage, and the first free school west of the Mississippi. She was renowned for her courage and fortitude through pioneer conditions. At seventy-one she established a school for the Native Americans, who called her "The Woman Who is Always Praying". She continued to teach and nurse the sick until her death in 1852.

Thought for the day from EWTN.com: "Setback after setback after setback, even into old age! This woman of bronze—St. Rose Philippine Duchesne—let nothing stop her, nothing discourage her, nothing slow her down. We can do almost anything for God if we refuse to be discouraged and are willing to pay the price: the price is something called holiness."


Links of Interest:
Food on the Frontier from Missouri Department of Conservation
The Society of the Sacred Heart

Patron Saint of the Day- St. Hugh of Lincoln

November 17th
St. Hugh of Lincoln

St. Hugh and the Swan of Stowe

St. Hugh of Lincoln was a Carthusian in the 12th century. He had a reputation for wisdom, justice, holiness, and sanctity. He often rebuked leaders when they were acting inappropriately. He admonished Henry II for keeping Sees empty in order to keep money in the royal treasury, and he spoke out vehemently against the Jewish persecutions in England in 1190-91. There are stories of him speaking with armed mobs and convincing them to release their prisoners. 

A whooping swan appeared at his ordination as bishop. He befriended the swan and kept it as a pet for the rest of his life. There are tales that the swan watched over St. Hugh as he slept. 

St. Hugh was the first Carthusian to be canonized a saint.

Links of interest:

Carthusian Monks from Chartreux.org

The York Pogrom from BBC

St. Elizabeth of Hungary from Catholic.org (whose feast day is also today)