The Institute for Christian Formation
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Fourth Sunday of Advent
December 22, 2013
Today is the Fourth Sunday of Advent. When you light the candles on your Advent Wreath today you will light all four candles – three violet and one rose.
Our readings for today should sound very familiar to you. Our First Reading, Isaiah 7:10-14, is the same First Reading we heard proclaimed two days ago on Friday, December 20. And our Gospel this Fourth Sunday of Advent, Matthew 1:18-24, was our Gospel this past Wednesday, December 18. (We will hear this Gospel again on Tuesday at the Christmas Vigil Mass.) If you recall, we spent some time focusing on Joseph
for this Scripture passage here. Children could also make a paper plate angel ornament for your Christmas Tree.
And don't forget to include today's "O Antiphon" in your Advent prayer today. The O Antiphons are prayed beginning December 17 through December 23. They are prayed at Vespers, and may be used as the Gospel acclamation at Mass on these days. The O Antiphon for today is "King of All the Nations," or in Latin, "Rex Gentium." You can listen to today's antiphon in Latin below:
There is a lovely book, “Go to Joseph,” featuring the beautiful illustrations of Saint Joseph by Brother Mickey McGrath and reflections on Saint Joseph from sixteen different authors. This would be a wonderful Christmas (or any occasion) gift.
Another wonderful reflection on Saint Joseph is the article, “A Father’s Faith” (Wisdom Borrowed from Saint Joseph) by Tom McGrath. You can access this article from America Magazine here.
Invite children to draw a picture of the angel appearing to Joseph in his dream. You can access a coloring page
Attention Young Catholics Grades K-8
You can enter the Missionary Childhood Association Annual Christmas Artwork Contest 2013-2014. Twenty-four winners will be selected in this competition. Winning artwork will appear as e-greetings on the website for children, www.mcakids.org, and displayed at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. during Advent and Christmas next year. Two grand prize winners will be selected and his/her artwork reproduced as the official Christmas cards of the National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States, Father Andrew Small, OMI, STD. Contest winners will be notified in May 2014 and announced to Catholic media in November 2014. All winners receive a commemorative plaque. Past winners may not enter this year’s contest. You can access an entry form here. Entries are due by January 31, 2014.
for our Advent reflection on December 18. We will continue our reflection on Saint Joseph today.
As we know, Joseph was a dreamer – literally! And today’s Gospel gives us the account of one of his dreams. This is the dream when the angel tells Joseph not to be afraid to take Mary into his home, even though she is pregnant and they are not yet married, because the child was conceived by the Holy Spirit. It is in this dream that the angel tells Joseph that this child is to be named Jesus.
The video below, “Joseph’s Dream Advent Reflection,” features the beautiful artwork of Brother Mickey McGrath.
