Illuminated by Joy - a Group for Catholic Teens discussion

A rabbit because I don't have one. XD (I'll do it with Lilac. XD)

I've been listening to Christmas music for a while now😆

Addilyn!!!😳🙄🤣

Ugghhhh noooooo. XD

😜 I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!!! What can I say? I'm already planning where the Christmas tree is going and the arrangement of the Nativity scene, and a special shrine for the Christ Child. I am an outcast to society🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

LOL Addilyn! I totally get how you feel! I do believe kinda strongly in waiting until it's actually Christmas so you appreciate the actual Christmas season more and not just the time leading up to it.... but I also think there's no reason to be stickler about it haha... as my friend once said, there's no bad time to celebrate the Incarnation! And if I'm being honest I listened to Christmas music the other day....

Haha I know what you mean😉

It is definitely a struggle.... I'm going to try and wait until Advent at least, to listen to Christmas music, but then I did sing some to my little brother for bed the other day. .
I do get the preparing in advance thing though....
I am already planning and making Christmas presents 🤣

Yeah I'm already trying to make lists for people. I've found preparing earlier usually makes Advent more peaceful.

I disagree! I think it's more special if you wait for it; we don't start celebrating Easter during Lent! Planning what to get friends and family is about as far as I go, Advent music up until at least a week or two before Christmas. XD It's really like celebrating anyone's birthday, except more special, which is why we prepare during Advent.

Poor Advent. Barely any recognition, it gets. XD

So true, Helena. I just recently learned that you're supposed to "give something up" during Advent just as you would during Lent

Absolutely! It's not "supposed to" though, it is optional.

Yes, I have made a resolution this year to try and not listen to Christmas music until a week or two before Christmas... Advent has some nice hymns for it.
Every evening at Advent my family does sing Christmas carols, but it is like practising singing them for Christmas 🤣

What really touches my heart about Christmas is that the Christ Child is so forgotten, and those songs at Christmas are supposed to honor Him. I was singing O Holy Night in July!
The song For Love of Me by the Benedictines of Mary Queen of Apostles has a verse in it about the Christ Child crying: "Why then, O Child, O why art Thou weeping? Tis not for pain, Thou weepest but for love." I love to remember Christmas because of that warm feeling that you get when you think of the Christmas creche, how the Christ Child is the center of it all, as He must be the center of all our lives❤😊

Dear King of Heaven, Who from Thy throne descended and taking refuge in a poor and humble cave,
O God of might, I see Thee cold and trembling,
What pain it cost Thee, this fallen race to save.
I see Thee leaving Thy heavenly Father's dwelling; O tell me whither has Thy love transported Thee?
A little straw, tis there I see Thee lying,
Why suffer this? Tis all for love of me.
But if Thou willest my own small part to suffer
And by those sufferings make my hard cold heart to move.
Why then, O Child, O why art Thou weeping?
Tis not for pain, Thou weepest but for love.
Thou sleepest, Lord, but ever Thy Heart watches:
A Heart so loving can ne'er a slumber take.
But tell me, Babe, of what it is Thou thinkest?
"I think," He says, "of dying for thy sake."
It is for me, then, that Thou dost think of dying;
O sweetest Infant, how can I but love Thee?
Mary, my hope! If I love Him too little,
Then, dearest Mother, O love thou Him for me.

Addilyn wrote: "What really touches my heart about Christmas is that the Christ Child is so forgotten, and those songs at Christmas are supposed to honor Him. I was singing O Holy Night in July!
The song For Love..."
Beautifully said Adillyn!!!
I feel like that too.
Some Christmas carols do make me feel like crying,
And the hymn you posted is heartbreakingly beautiful.

I love O holy night and silent night and those similar.
the sad thing is all the Christmas songs on the radio are about Santa or the "holidays" (which I hate when people say happy holidays) you never here a Christmas song about Christ. people have forgotten or purposely ignore the fact that Christmas was created because of Christ. It makes me sad to hear these secular songs and even saying happy holidays. I always say merry Christmas because maybe one day someone will say hey what is the purpose of Christmas anyway. that of which I hope anyhow. I always want to bring people to Christ because so many people have never had a Christian background and I maybe the first to bring them to Christ. It's also sad how many people are raised, I feel so blessed to have a traditional Catholic family and friends.

I meant HEAR a Christmas song not HERE

Elisabeth wrote: "Yes, I have made a resolution this year to try and not listen to Christmas music until a week or two before Christmas... Advent has some nice hymns for it.
Every evening at Advent my family does si..."

Oh yes, sometimes if you want to play piano on Christmas you need to practice in advance too.

Helena wrote: "Elisabeth wrote: "Yes, I have made a resolution this year to try and not listen to Christmas music until a week or two before Christmas... Advent has some nice hymns for it.
Every evening at Advent..."
Yes, it makes a good excuse🤣

So true!

I love "What Child is This"!

Me too!!

I love that one too

WYR sing O Holy Night, or What Child is This?

THAT'S SO HARD!

I'd rather sing What Child is This, because O holy night is really hard to sing, but I'd rather listen to O holy night because it is so heavenly.
Hard one!

Then I'll take O Holy Night if Lizzy takes What Child is This. XD

O holy night, especially the one by John Rutter

O Holy Night, no question

NOOOOOO, that's so hard I love both of those songs!
maybe O holy night......

one thing that drives me crazy is I have to practice Christmas songs on piano and it feels way to soon to be playing Christmas music. anyone else feel that way? Before Thanksgiving is just too soon for me.

I feel the same!

During Advent, do any of you do the Jesse Tree? I think it's such a beautiful Tradition for Catholic families.

No we don't.

It makes the Christmas season so much more memorable in my opinion. I would highly recommend it to anyone!
Any other traditions during Advent?

We usually read a specific reading everyday together or go to Mass and visit the Christmas creche

I like to do Advent Angels.

Neat, Addilyn! We read a specific reading from the bible every day and then depending on the story, we hang up a certain ornament on the Jesse tree. For example, in the story of Jonah and the Whale, we hang up a whale, for the story of Habakkuk, we hang up a watchtower, and for the birth of Jesus we put up Baby Jesus. We read the stories begining with the first day of Advent and then ending on Christmas Eve.


Ohhh, waht are Advent Angles, Helena?

That is a great tradition, Isabel!

We sing carols together every night for all of Advent while we light the smokers (there a German thing in which you have little hollow wooden figures with a hole in the mouth, and you put a lit incense come inside so incense comes out of their mouth) and candles.

Isabel wrote: "Neat, Addilyn! We read a specific reading from the bible every day and then depending on the story, we hang up a certain ornament on the Jesse tree. For example, in the story of Jonah and the Whale..."

Advent Angels are very fun! You get everybody's name in your family (or you could do it in your friend group if you wanted, it's easier with family) and everybody pulls a name out of a hat without looking. Then, for the four weeks of Advent, you have to do nice things for the person who's name you chose without them knowing. It's like Secret Santa, but instead of giving gifts, you're giving the gift of service!

great ideas! I should start one of those with my family!

Elisabeth that's cool😲

Addilyn wrote: "That is a great tradition, Isabel!"

Thank you, Addilyn!

Elisabeth wrote: "We sing carols together every night for all of Advent while we light the smokers (there a German thing in which you have little hollow wooden figures with a hole in the mouth, and you put a lit inc..."

That sounds like a neat tradition!

Helena wrote: "Isabel wrote: "Neat, Addilyn! We read a specific reading from the bible every day and then depending on the story, we hang up a certain ornament on the Jesse tree. For example, in the story of Jona..."

Ohhh, that's really sweet! I'm going to see if my family wants to do it this year, it'd be a nice thing for all of the kids to do!

Definitely! It's super fun to see who you come up with, and at the end, you can tell who you picked if you want, and it's fun sharing stories of how you went into their room or did something behind their back. XD

Sounds like fun!

WYR drink coffee or tea (or hot chocolate 😉)?

Coffee!
Lots of flavors and caffeine!

Tea for me! I am not a coffee fan.