Thursday of the Third Week of Advent
Las Posadas
Ecclesiastes, Chapter
12, Verse 13-14
13 The last word, when all is heard: FEAR God and keep his commandments, for
this concerns all humankind; 14 because God will bring to judgment
every work, with all its hidden qualities, whether good or bad.
Pope Francis spoke on the Holy Spirit’s gift of Fear of the
Lord, saying it does not mean we should be afraid of God, but rather serves as
a reminder to do the right thing. “Fear of the Lord is an ‘alarm.’ When a
person is not on the right path, he settles himself in evil”. “When he
distances himself from God, when he takes advantage of everyone, when he lives
attached to money, to vanity, to power or pride, then the holy fear of God
draws his attention: You will not be happy like this, this way you will end
badly.” “The fear of the Lord, the gift of the Holy Spirit, doesn’t mean being
afraid of God, since we know that God is our Father that always loves and forgives
us,” It “is no servile fear, but rather a joyful awareness of God’s grandeur
and a grateful realization that only in him do our hearts find true peace; when
the Holy Spirit lives in our heart, he instills consolation and peace in us.”
This peace is “the attitude of those who place all their trust in God and feel
protected, like a child with his father, through fear of the Lord “we become,
as Jesus asks us, like little children, trusting in the goodness and the
protection of our heavenly Father.”
This gift “allows us to imitate the Lord in humility and
obedience, not with a resigned and passive attitude, but with courage and joy.”
“The Holy Spirit turns us into Christians convinced that we are not subject to
the Lord out of fear, but rather conquered by his paternal love.” Fear of the
Lord is an “alarm” that awakens us “to the presence of sin in our lives” and
reminds us that one day we will “be held accountable to the just Judge that
when we start to sin, this spiritual gift can help direct the faithful back on
the right path.[1]
Las Posadas[2]
Here is a wonderful description of the tradition of the nine-day custom Posadas, that commemorate the journey of Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem.
·
Banuelos are the big crisp fried cakes
that Mexicans have for Christmas Eve supper. They are eaten either plain, with
cinnamon and brown sugar syrup, or sometimes with honey. But before supper
there is the traditional Misa de Gallo, or Mass of the Cock, at the
village church. And for nine consecutive nights before that, there are the
posadas to commemorate the journey of Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to
Bethlehem and their search for lodgings.
·
The word, posada, means an inn. To the
humble Mexican the re-enactment of the Holy Family's quest for lodgings is a
ritual of deep religious significance. The posadas, which start on the sixteenth
of December and end on Christmas Eve, take place at different houses each
night. Since Christmas, to the Mexican, is a community rather than a family
affair, relatives and friends in a neighborhood often club together to defray
posada expenses. The climax of each is the breaking of the Pinata.
·
Pinatas are pottery jars, filled with trinkets,
candies, and miniature toys. The jars are ingeniously decorated with bright
paper to represent birds of paradise, dancing girls in gaudy ruffled skirts, or
clowns with grotesque costumes and chalkwhite faces. Since Christmas is not a
time for gift-giving, pinatas, with their bright baubles and inexpensive
trifles, are as important to Mexicans as Christmas trees to their neighbors, north
of the Rio Grande.
· Posada ceremonies begin after dark on December 16. They start with a procession of pilgrims, led by two children. With poles on their shoulders, the little ones support a platform. with figures of Joseph, the Virgin riding a small burro, and a number of protecting angels. Green branches and paper stars adorn the platform. Each member of the procession has a lighted candle. As the pilgrims approach the door of the house assigned to the first posada, they chant traditional verses in which Joseph wakens the master of the place and asks for lodgings for Mary. From behind closed doors the master threatens beatings unless the company moves on. Once more Joseph pleads for admittance. At first, the owner of the house scoffs, but finally, convinced of his guests' identity, he joyously opens the door and bids the pilgrim’s welcome. Then everyone kneels before the Nacimiento, or miniature manger — often loaned to, the host for the evening — and offers prayers and Christmas hymns. When the religious ritual ends, there are refreshments. Then the children start a gay little song:
"Scatter
the candies, scatter the sweets, for we are children who want to eat."
·
Generally, the pinata is suspended by a long
rope or pulley cord hung from a tree in the patio. Each child in turn is
blindfolded, given a stout stick, and told to break the jar. But just as Lola
or Jose is about to hit, a yank on the rope takes the pinata out of reach. This
tantalizing performance continues for some time while everyone — except the
blindfolded victims shouts, jeers, and claps. Finally, the pinata is shattered.
With shouts and whoops, the guests drop to all fours and dart about after the
booty, scattered in every direction.
·
In this mingled atmosphere of religious fervor
and childlike enjoyment, posadas and pinata-breakings continue until Christmas
Eve. Then the search for lodgings ends and the Babe is born, with great
rejoicing on the part of the pilgrims. Shortly before midnight, they sing nine
Ave Marias and address a song to the Virgin, telling her that the night of her
confinement is at hand.
·
At some posada’s small children, dressed as
shepherds, stand at either side of the Nacimiento on this last night. Two of
the guests, acting the parts of godfather and godmother, walk between the
shepherds with an image of the Baby Jesus. As the pilgrims kneel, they chant a
litany to lull the Little One to sleep.
·
At midnight on Christmas Eve everyone surges
into the churches to celebrate the Mass of the Cock. After the service,
whistles blow, fireworks explode, bells ring, and magnificent processions form,
for Jesus' birth is the occasion of unbounded demonstration.
· In the midst of the happy tumult families hurry home to, supper. For the poor there are special holiday foods such as tonight bean soup, revoltijo, a traditional dish made with shrimp, potatoes, chili, and prickly pears, and a salad of nuts and fruits. Then come the Banuelos, the festal fried cakes that are puffed, brown, and delicious.
Activity Source: Feast-Day
Cakes from Many Lands by Dorothy Gladys Spicer, Holt, Rinehart and Winston,
1960
May the coming of our humble Lord help us to focus on our
loyalties that are due to our God, Church, Nation, family and neighbors during
this season and our own journey of life!
It is nine days before Christmas. Today start a Christmas Novena with your family or someone you love.
Spiritual Crib[3]
A special devotion that can be performed during Advent to prepare for the coming of the Infant Savior. It can be adapted for adults and/or children and applied as is appropriate to your state in life.
· 6th day, December 16th. THE HAY—Meekness Prepare a soft little bed of Hay for the Divine Infant by practicing this beautiful virtue. Do not yield to anger today; and speak very kindly to such as are repulsive to you. When tempted to speak harshly, say this little prayer instead. O Jesus meek and humble of Heart, make my heart like unto Thine.
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters
of St. Joseph by joining
them in fasting: Today's Fast: For the Poor and Suffering
·
Litany
of the Most
Precious Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to the sacred heart of Jesus
·
"Faith cannot save without virtue"
·
Rosary
[1]https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-fear-of-the-lord-an-alarm-reminding-us-of-whats-right-48609
Comments
Post a Comment