Advent: links for celebrating and catechizing

Here are some links from the web that might help you celebrate and teach about this wonderful season...

CLASSROOM RESOURCES:

The history of Advent:
http://www.intermirifica.org/advent/hisad.htm

Try making a Jesse tree in your class:
http://www.domestic-church.com/CONTENT.DCC/19971201/FRIDGE/FRIDGE1.HTM
http://www.domestic-church.com/CONTENT.DCC/19981101/SCRMNTL/jessetree.htm
http://www.domestic-church.com/CONTENT.DCC/19981101/ARTICLES/jesse_sym.htm

From CatholicMom.com (Advent index)
http://www.catholicmom.com/advent.htm

From CatholicMom.com (includes Advent crossword, Advent bingo, Jesse Tree, etc.)
http://www.catholicmom.com/lesson_plan.12.10.06.htm

From CatholicMom.com (Mass worksheets for Advent) [scroll down]
http://www.catholicmom.com/coloring_pages.htm

Extend your lessons by putting on a play based on the Sunday Gospel (these could even be used for a Christmas pageant) [PDF file]:
http://www.boundbygracepress.com/Lesson%20Extensions.html

Advent resources from Finding God site (Loyola Press)
http://www.findinggod.com/m_frmwork.asp?id=7941

Animated Advent Calendar on Poverty (from US Bishops website, Catholic Campaign for Human Development)
http://www.usccb.org/cchd/adventcalendar/

CATHOLIC TRADITIONS (for families… and classroom):

Catholic Traditions for Advent and Christmas:
www.cuf.org/faithfacts/details_view.asp?ffID=7
…and…
http://catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0372.html

History of the Advent wreath
http://catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0132.html

The “O” Antiphons
http://catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0494.html

Advent prayers and devotions
http://wf-f.org/ADVPray.html

A song with “hidden meanings” teaches the Catholic Faith:
The symbolism of “The Twelve Days of Christmas”
http://www.catholicmom.com/christmas05.11.htm

SAINTS

Meet the saints of December! (St. Nicholas, Juan Diego, Our Lady of Guadalupe, etc.)
http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/Saints/bydate.asp

The premier Our Lady of Guadalupe site (or so I am told)
http://www.sancta.org/

Meet the real St. Nick!
http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=23
http://wf-f.org/st.nicholas.html

A new Public Television documentary on artistic images of the Blessed Virgin Mary
(to air on Dec. 24 @ 1:00pm in Iowa):
www.picturingmary.com

SCRIPTURE

Scriptural reflections for the First Sunday of Advent
http://www.salvationhistory.com/library/scripture/
churchandbible/homilyhelps/advent1_c.cfm

OTHER WEB ARTICLES:

“Christmas, Christians, and Christ” by Fr. Frank Pavone
http://www.catholicexchange.com/node/7724

“Advent Dynamism”
http://catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0773.html

Reviews of the new movie The Nativity Story:

From Catholic Exchange:
http://www.catholicexchange.com/node/7638

From US Bishops Conference:
http://www.catholicexchange.com/node/7859

But does the film portray Mary from a Protestant perspective?
http://www.airmaria.com/vlog/stnd/stnd0001Revw.asp
http://www.catholicexchange.com/node/8476

From American Papist:
http://www.americanpapist.com/2006/11/
amp-advance-movie-review-nativity.html


MAGAZINE ARTICLES:

Ancient Catholic customs can control Christmas materialism (This Rock magazine)
http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/1999/9911fea3.asp

Will Christ Soon Return? (This Rock) PART I
http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/1997/9712clas.asp

Will Christ Soon Return? (This Rock) PART II
http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/1998/9801clas.asp

Listen to some beautiful Advent music from the Vatican website:
http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/cap-mus-sistina/documents/index_inni_en.htm#Advent

PRAYER

A cyber-retreat for Advent
http://www.sacredspace.ie/retreat/advent06/

An opening and closing prayer for Advent
http://www.boundbygracepress.com/
First%20Sunday%20of%20Advent.html