Week 1: Prophets’ Sunday - Expectation: Advent is an opportune Archbishop Speaks.... time for us to orient our aspirations and expectations as individual family members into a collective family search, where every member both supports and is supported by the other. St. Paul writes in his letter ADVENT AND FAMILY WREATH to the Romans 8:22, “We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.” Dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, Paul described the advent of redemption as a common thirst of all creation. When our personal aspirations are blended to become a As we know well, the word ‘Advent’ comes from the Latin word shared family goal, we discover renewed strength and motivation in “adventus”, which means “coming”. The season of Advent is an important life. It is also an efficient way to prioritize our spiritual aspirations over call to renewal and preparation for God’s coming to visit us. and above the rest for as Jesus said, “Strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as Just as the preparations surrounding the biblical birth of Child Jesus well”. (Matthew 6:33) began with the founding of the HOLY FAMILY, our preparations for this Christmas will achieve its true purpose when we are convinced to Week 2: Angels’ Sunday - Proclamation: After the ascension of transform our families into Holy Families modeled after Joseph, Mary Jesus, the disciples stood staring into the sky. And suddenly two angels and Jesus. Towards this end and in continuation to our reflections on appear and ask them: “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking ‘Family Prayer’, I wish to reflect on a very meaningful advent tradition into the sky?” God does not want us to keep standing, staring into the that is gaining prominence in many parishes of our Archdiocese: the sky. This is not Christian waiting. He has given them a command, “To ‘Advent Wreath’! proclaim the Good News to the ends of the world; to baptize, to heal and to cast out demons.” Their mission was not to stand simply looking Though the origins of the advent wreath tradition are uncertain into the sky. They are obliged to go and proclaim the Good News. As there are evidences to ascertain that it started more as a house-hold Catholic families, our advent waiting consists in proclaiming the tradition than in a church setting. The members of a family would presence and activity of Christ in the most ordinary events and people gather around the advent wreath before dinner and light the of our lives. corresponding candle of the day as part of their family prayer. This household practice has now been incorporated into church liturgies. Week 3: Gaudete Sunday/Shepherds’ Sunday - Celebration/ In a manner of rediscovering the roots of this tradition, I encourage Joy: One might ask why we would anticipate the joy of Christmas all the families of our Archdiocese to make it a part of our family advent already during the third week of advent. There is a deeper biblical and observance this year. I would recommend you to spend time as a family spiritual meaning to this anticipation. Christian joy is not in the obvious setting up the advent wreath, explaining its significance and rich and visible evidences of securities. The shepherds rejoiced in the vision symbolism to our children to catechize them with the meaning of this of a baby in seeming poverty because their joy was rooted in hope. liturgical season. It would be meaningful for each member of the family Christian joy is rooted in hope even when good times are not so evident to take his or her turn to light the candles during the family prayer or obvious. Pope Francis beautifully states in Evangelii Gaudium, No. 6, before the night meals. “Joy adapts and changes, but it always endures, even as a flicker of light born of our personal certainty that, when everything is said and The wreath is circular, symbolizing the everlasting love of God and done, we are infinitely loved.” made of evergreens symbolizing God’s eternity. There are four candles on the wreath, lighted every Sunday each representing one week of Week 4: Magi Sunday - Fulfillment: Advent reminds us that the advent. There are three purple candles symbolizing prayer and penance fulfillment that we so earnestly seek in our lives, can only be found in and a rose candle symbolizing joy. There are also a few modern discovering the presence of Jesus as a family. Advent is not just about traditions which include a fifth white candle, symbolizing baby Jesus, the fulfillment of a set of biblical promises, rather a celebration of the to be lighted on Christmas Eve. The traditional themes attributed to hope of fulfillment to be experienced in our familial relationships with every advent week are wonderful opportunities for the family members each other as parents, children and couples in family life here and to reflect and pray in preparation for the Lord’s coming with one heart now. This is the fulfillment that our advent celebrations promise us and spirit. and it is in our hands to work towards its fulfillment. ¨û\YôrÜ 1 December 2018 ¨û\YôrÜ 2 December 2018 I wish you all a very meaningful preparation of advent and a very nrgj;jpd; mq;fkhf mij khw;wTk;> ekf;F ,J gad; jUtjhf blessed Christmas. May the incarnated son of God inspire us to become mike;jpUf;fpd;wJ. jpUtUiff; fhyj;jpd; tisak; ,iwtdpd; truly Holy Families. Dear brothers and sisters, as our state struggles to Kbtpy;yh md;igAk;> ,se;jspH ,iwtdpd; epj;jpa gz;igAk; recover from the aftermath of Cyclone Gaja, I invite each one of you to ekf;F czHj;Jfpd;wd. jpUtUiff; fhyj;jpd; ehd;F contribute your might in kind and in prayers for the rescue and nkOFjphpfspy; %d;W nkOFjphpfs; Cjh epwj;jpy; rehabilitation of our farmers of the Delta region and people affected mike;jpUf;fpd;wd. ,it nrgk; kw;Wk; jpUtUiff; fhyj;jpd; jtj;ij Fwpf;fpd;wd. Nuh[h epwj;jpd; nkOFjphp kfpo;;r;rpia across different districts of our state of Tamil Nadu. May Mother Mary Kd;Fwpf;fpd;wJ. gy rkPgj;jpa ghuk;ghpaq;fspd;gb Ie;jhtJ and St Joseph intercede for us all. nkOFjphpahf Foe;ij ,NaRit Fwpf;Fk; nts;is nkOFjphpAk; fpwp];J gpwg;gpd; ,utd;W Vw;wg;gLfpd;wJ. jpUtUiff; fhyj;jpy; With prayerful wishes, xt;nthU thuj;jpw;Fk; ghuk;ghpakhf ghpe;Jiuf;fg;gl;Ls;s rpe;jidfs; ek;Kila FLk;g nrgj;jpy; ehk; rpe;jpf;fTk;> nrgpf;fTk;> ek;ikNa + Most Rev Dr George Antonysamy jahhpf;fTk; gaDs;sjhf mike;jpUf;fpd;wd. Archbishop of Madras-Mylapore Kjy; thuk;: ,iwthf;fpdHfspd; QhapW - vjpHghHg;G: FLk;gj;jpd; cWg;gpdHfshf ehk; xt;nthUtUk; nfhz;bUf;fpd;w jpUtUiff; fhyKk; FLk;g ,se;jspH tisaKk; jdpg;gl;l fdTfs;> ,yl;rpaq;fs; Mfpatw;iw FLk;gj;jpd; nghJthd Njlyhf xd;wpizf;Fk; flik ekf;F ,Uf;fpd;wJ. ,t;thW ekJ fdTfs; midj;Jk; VNjh jdpg;gl;l eghpd; ,iw ,NaRtpy; md;ghHe;j rNfhju> rNfhjhpfNs! 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