December 2017

Handling the Holiday Hustle

CONFESSIONS OF A CATHOLIC DAD WAFFLES

ST. LUCY SYMBOLS OF THE SEASON Images: Shutterstock little melted butter and cook 4 waffles, 4 sections each. Serve with toppings of choice. of toppings with Serve each. sections 4 waffles, 4 cook and butter melted little a with iron the Brush batter. waffle the overstir not Do moist. just until dry into wet the Stir butter. melted and molasses milk, pumpkin, in beat then fluffy, until sugar brown the and eggs beat bowl, medium a In salt. and nutmeg ginger, cinnamon, encouraged. Eggnog waffles. delicious these eat) (and make to Mass after Waffles Gingerbread Preheat waffle iron. In a large bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking flour, combine bowl large a In iron. waffle Preheat DIRECTIONS: topping for fruit fresh or cream whipped syrup, iron waffle the butter to some plus butter, melted stick) (1 cup 1/2 molasses cup 1/2 milk cups 1/4 1 puree pumpkin canned cup 1 sugar brown dark packed cup 2/3 eggs large 4 salt teaspoon 1/2 nutmeg teaspoon 1/2 ginger ground teaspoons 2 cinnamon ground teaspoons 2 powder baking teaspoons 4 flour all-purpose cups 3 INGREDIENTS: morning Sunday a on kitchen the in family your gathering by season the Celebrate 00120 Vatican City Vatican 00120 Palace Apostolic Francis Pope Holiness, His to: card birthday a him Send 17. Dec. on 81 turns Francis Pope FRANCIS! POPE BIRTHDAY, HAPPY stanza, Norman Wesley Brooks) Wesley Norman stanza, third ,” Be Day Every (“Let year!” entire the throughout month, to month near, and far others with it share plan. Lord’s dear our not is man; a be to up grew CHRISTMAS LIVING from week to week and week to week from spirit, Christmas the keep So cradle, a in him hide to Christ-child, the … “Remember December Snapshots

SAINT OF THE MONTH ST. LUCY ■ THIS IS REAL LIFE D. 304 is such a magical season. Lucy is one of the early While the rest of society seems to rush martyrs of the Church. Not headlong into Christmas, we Catholic much is reliably known about her life, except that she died Christians are called first to a season during the persecutions of of waiting and watching and prepar- Diocletian. A medieval legend ing. My greatest childhood memories says that her eyes were gouged of Christmas actually took place in the out prior to her death, which days and weeks leading up to Christmas. has led her to be named as the patron of the blind. Her feast This special holiday issue of Take Out is falls close to the winter solstice filled with ways to celebrate the liturgi- and she is commemorated, cal seasons of Advent and Christmas as especially in Scandinavian countries, by having the youngest a Catholic family. Tear out the poster daughter of a family wear a crown of candles and serve special on Pages 4 and 5 and put it in a place cookies or rolls to her family. Her name is rooted in the Latin of prominence in your home. It will word lux, meaning “light.” help you keep focused on the sacred symbols of these holy days and help IN HER MEMORY: • Listen for her name in the list of martyrs your family experience these symbols in the first Eucharistic prayer. anew. And don’t miss Scott Warden’s Confessions of a Catholic Dad on Page • Pray for the residents of the island of San 6. His family’s monthlong Novena to St. Lucia, which was impacted by Hurricane Maria this past fall. Andrew is a wonderful way for kids to learn the power of prayer and the real • Donate used glasses to the Lion’s Club, meaning of the season. which recycles them, and be sure to have your family’s eyes examined. May God bless you in these holy days!

December 2017 • Volume 12 Number 4 • $2.50

President: Joe Wikert Design Director: Tyler Ottinger Editorial Director: Greg Willits Production Manager: Christopher Rice Editor: Heidi Busse ONLINE www.osvparish.com Our Sunday Visitor, Publishing Chairman of the Board: Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades

Check out our popular OSV website at Copyright © 2017, Our Sunday Visitor, Inc. Editorial address: Take Out, 200 Noll Plaza, Huntington, IN 46750. Take Out® www.osvparish.com. It is loaded with prayers, is published monthly, September-June, to support Catholic families grow in faith. To order call 1-800-348-2440. activities and resources for your family. Click on Resource Library and look for Take Out extras. Cover photos: Shutterstock DECEMBER 2017 – TAKE OUT 3 SYMBOLS OF THE SEASON The liturgical seasons of Advent and Christmas are filled with Christian signs and symbols. As we await and then celebrate the birth of Our Lord, this poster will help your family create traditions and rituals around these important symbols.

Advent is rich with sacred symbols. The Scriptures are filled with images of light and darkness, cacophony and silence, waiting and fulfillment. The deep, midnight blue or purple that graces our churches indicates that we are in darkness without Christ and also symbolizes the penitential nature of the season. Arrive a bit early at Mass each Sunday and look around your parish for the signs and symbols of the season. What do your kids notice? What do you notice?

ADVENT CALENDAR While many Advent calendars today show images of the more secular images of the season, such as , the original was created to help mark the days of the holy season as we count down to the birth of Christ.

FAMILY FAITH IDEA: Each time you open the little door or window of your Advent calendar, share one way that you will try to share the Good News that day. Ideas include being kind to strangers, helping a neighbor, calling a friend, making room for some- one on the bus, listening to a person in need, practicing patience or giving your time to an elderly person struggling with loneliness.

SCRIPTURE READINGS The readings from the sacred Scriptures — John’s call in the wilderness, Isaiah and his promises, Zechariah and his inexplicable silence — foretell of wondrous mystery yet to come.

FAMILY FAITH IDEA: On the way home from Mass on the Sundays of Advent, talk about what you heard in the Scripture readings and what the readings teach us about .

ADVENT WREATH The , perhaps the most vivid symbol of Advent, reflects our collective anticipation for Christ our Light to come into the world. Both the circular shape and the evergreen nature are symbols of everlast- ing life. Each week, another candle is lit, the wreath becomes a little brighter, and we are a little closer to the moment when laid in a manger and wrapped in swaddling clothes he is born, the Child Divine!

FAMILY FAITH IDEA: Create a family Advent wreath with your hands! Trace around each family mem- bers’ hands on green construction paper and then glue the hands together to make the wreath. For paper (pretend) candles, roll three purple and one pink pieces of construction paper into a tube and top with an orange tissue paper wick. If you use real candles in the center of your paper wreath, be sure they are enclosed. ADVENT CALENDAR While many Advent calendars today show images of the more secular images of the season, such as Santa Claus, the original Advent calendar was created to help mark the days of the holy season as we count down to the birth of Christ.

FAMILY FAITH IDEA: Each time you open the little door or window of your Advent calendar, share one way that you will try to share the Good News that day. Ideas include being kind to strangers, helping a neighbor, calling a friend, making room for some- one on the bus, listening to a person in need, practicing patience or giving your time to an elderly person struggling with loneliness.

SCRIPTURE READINGS The readings from the sacred Scriptures — John’s call in the wilderness, Isaiah and his promises, Zechariah and his inexplicable silence — foretell of wondrous mystery yet to come.

FAMILY FAITH IDEA: On the way home from Mass on the Sundays of Advent, talk about what you heard in the Scripture readings and what the readings teach us about Jesus.

ADVENT WREATH The Advent wreath, perhaps the most vivid symbol of Advent, reflects our collective anticipation for Christ our Light to come into the world. Both the circular shape and the evergreen nature are symbols of everlast- ing life. Each week, another candle is lit, the wreath becomes a little brighter, and we are a little closer to the moment when laid in a manger and wrapped in swaddling clothes he is born, the Child Divine!

FAMILY FAITH IDEA: Create a family Advent wreath with your hands! Trace around each family mem- bers’ hands on green construction paper and then glue the hands together to make the wreath. For paper (pretend) candles, roll three purple and one pink pieces of construction paper into a tube and top with an orange tissue paper wick. If you use real candles in the center of your paper wreath, be sure they are enclosed.

The Christmas season in the liturgical year of the Church is more than one day. In fact, the season begins with the vigil Masses on and concludes in January on the feast of the Baptism of the Lord.

CHRISTMAS The is a beautiful symbol of the Nativity. Like the evergreen branches, God’s love never withers. The lights remind us that Christ is the light of the world. An angel atop the tree points to the angels that announced Jesus’ birth and a star on the highest branch represents the Star of that guided the Magi to the Christ Child. Christmas trees help us remember Jesus and why he was born.

FAMILY FAITH IDEA: As you decorate your Christmas tree, talk about what the symbols of each of the decorations mean. Offer a blessing for your tree and all that it represents when the decorating is complete. Cut out the blessing of a tree below and color.

STAR The Gospels tell us that the shone brightly over Jesus’ Loving God, birth in the manger and Encircle this tree with your blessing. that the Magi followed May its twinkling lights remind us of the that star to find the baby Jesus wrapped in swad- peace you bring to all the world. dling clothes and lying in May we find joy in the memories we share a manger. We celebrate and may the beneath the tree help us this on the feast of the appreciate the of your Son, Jesus. . Amen. FAMILY FAITH IDEA: Look for stars throughout the Advent and Christmas sea- son. Each time you see one say, “Thank you, God!”

NATIVITY SCENE Setting up a crèche or in your home is a wonderful way to keep your family’s focus on Christ. If your set is made of child-friendly pieces, it is also a great way for kids to learn the Christmas story through play. Most kids love the animals, the angel and the Magi, and there can become a natural reverence for the baby Jesus and his parents.

FAMILY FAITH IDEA: Leave your Nativity up long into January as a way to reinforce the message that the Christmas message does not end when the last presents have been opened. There is more to the story!

Images: Shutterstock DECEMBER 2017 – TAKE OUT POSTER Five Ways to Stay Sane in the Holiday Hustle By Dr. Joseph White

“Walk simply these days, and listen for Christmas in your heart.” ~ Anonymous

It’s the most wonderful time of the year — and some- times the most stressful. Many American families today have such busy schedules and limited bandwidth that the holiday season can put us over the edge. How can we, as Catholic families, keep the spirit of tranquility and peace that should characterize the season of Our Lord’s birth?

1. BE REALISTIC: Don’t overcommit to Christmas par- ties, programs and events. Sometimes we can get so busy we forget what it’s all for. Commit to a couple of holiday events, and be present, so you can truly celebrate.

2. MAINTAIN HEALTHY HABITS: Be sure to eat, sleep and take care of yourself in the midst of the hustle and bustle. This will help keep you well for the holidays and your whole family will benefit.

3. KEEP THE KIDS IN A ROUTINE: Both before the holidays and during holiday travels we have a tendency to let schedules and routines go by the wayside, but this isn’t always good for kids. Many behavioral problems can arise when structure falls apart (just ask any teacher what things are like just before Christmas and summer breaks)! Try to stick to regular bedtimes, mealtimes and other family routines as much as possible.

4. PLAN FOR FAMILY STRESS: If there are relatives who can be negative influences on the kids or family environments that bring out the worst in you, have an escape plan before venturing on holiday travel. For example, is there a movie theater or library near the house where you are staying? Plan to get away for a while when you and your own children need to take a break.

5. PRAY AND WORSHIP: At Christmas Mass we sing, “Come let us adore … ” The mystery of God made man is awe-inspiring and beautiful. Take some time to stop and pray, reflecting on the season and worshiping with the Church.

6 TAKE OUT – DECEMBER 2017 Images: Shutterstock Ask St. Andrew By Scott Warden

By the time Advent rolls around, my kids have long been preparing to joyfully celebrate the birth of Christ. They do this by poring over websites and toy catalogs, flinging their “needs” across canvases like Jackson Pollock did with paint.

After months of indiscriminately jotting down everything they saw or heard about (me: “sorry, you don’t need Image: Shutterstock a saddle for the dog”), when they finally turn in the final drafts, the lists aren’t handed to us as much as they are unspooled like the Magna Carta . So my wife and I realized we might have a problem with our children asking for things — especially around Christmas.

Yes, we had options. We could have put our well-educated heads together to brainstorm solutions, mapped out a rollout strategy and held a family pep rally to get everybody on board and excited about the new initiative. But, as busy and fairly unoriginal parents, we decided to turn to others much wiser than ourselves for advice. Why reinvent the wheel, right?

Seeking inspiration to limit the kids’ early onset secularism and consumerism (and probably a few more “isms” we don’t even know about), we did what any good parent would: We let them ask for whatever they wanted, but to someone else. No, not their grandparents: St. Andrew.

Last year, we started what I hope will become an Advent tradition that will be passed on from generation to gen- eration in our family — like that ugly Christmas ornament or caroling on Christmas Eve. If you’re unfamiliar with the St. Andrew Christmas novena, it consists of one short, simple prayer, prayed for any single intention you’d like: health, finding work, healing, whatever.

Before we began, we had the kids think about the thing for which they really wanted to pray. They could tell us what it was or keep the intention within their hearts. What they couldn’t pray for was Santa to bring them the Star Wars Lego set (or the dog saddle) on their wish scroll. But there is a slight catch. This isn’t a traditional nine-day novena. Tradition claims that St. Andrew will intercede for you if you pray the prayer 15 times a day for 25 days, starting on Nov. 30 (St. Andrew’s feast day) and ending on Christmas Eve. With printed copies, we recited the prayer 15 times in succession. And, amazingly, we didn’t miss a day (frankly, a Christmas miracle in itself).

I don’t know whether or not the kids received the wish they were praying for, but, for my wife and me, seeing them all sitting still and praying intently throughout Advent was gift enough.

St. Andrew Christmas Novena Pray 15 times a day from Nov. 30 (the feast of St. Andrew) until Dec. 24 Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires [here mention your request] through the merits of our Savior Jesus Christ, and of his blessed Mother. Amen.

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