That is such a beautiful painting by William Adolphe Bouguereau. I used one of his other Madonna paintings as my Christmas card last year. I think I shall look for a high resolution file and print off a copy of this one and frame it.
We love singing O Come O Come Emmanuel each day over Advent. So full of beauty and hope. It's one hymn we never get tired of singing.
Aspiration practice? What a wonderful idea! I shall try to get in some practise every day. Actually I had a short prayer running constantly through my head for a couple of days. It's a consecration prayer addressed to Mary... "Mary, my Mother I give myself totally to you as your possession and property..." I guess it was running through my mind for a reason...
So glad you reposted The Advent Window. It's one of my favourites from your blog. Actually, I hunted down the original version a few days ago. I was thinking about it as I was writing my Keep Christ in Christmas post. I think now our family needs Advent before we celebrate Christmas. But in the days before I knew God, I didn't even know Advent existed. Yes, God can work through a carol or a card or a Merry Christmas whether it is truly Christmas or not.
Sue - I am amazed that you remembered the post from last year!
Oh yes, we NEED Advent...which is why our Church, in her wisdom, sets these weeks aside for it.
I knew about Advent as a child, since I went to Catholic school. But it didn't seem that emphasized (seems strange now to realize that). One of the 2 songs that really hit me in "my special Advent" (which I just thought of then as the Christmas season... I didn't know it actually wasn't) was Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel. It still gets to me, especially in Latin. The other song that grabbed my heart that year was played on radio in the Christmas mixes, and was called "The Bells of Christmas" - it was sung by Julie Andrews, I think. Its lyrics were simple - that Jesus the Saviour was born - but they got to me so that on several occasions I had tears driving in the car alone! I don't know how things are there, but Christmas music on secular radio over here is never heard after Christmas day. It is heard in homes, of course, and thankfully people gather together during that next week. But I think of the 2 weeks before Christmas and the 1 week after as the time when interest in Christmas is at its peak.
PS to Sue: The Bells of Christmas, if I'm remembering correctly, was originally recorded as part of an advertisement for TIRES! A strictly commercial venture, probably.... maybe a re-hash of lyrics the writers thought were "Christmasy," and God used it to reach out to my very soul!!! Truly, He can use anything!!
Is this The Bells of Christmas? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZbK9bOZD5A
Also, I had to think about your post about the Advent window during our school Advent/Christmas concert last night when I thought about how liturgically incorrect it was. But... there are a lot of people out there. Maybe one of them was touched. We'll never know.
What a song-sleuth you've turned out to be, Christiana Therese! You found it!!!
This was the first version; then there was a slower one a year or two later (also by Julie Andrews). and both were given radio-time, as I recall. I liked and was touched by both. I think they were marketed as "future classics." Which proved not to be the case, for does anyone else even remember them? I was delighted to hear this, and to even see the original album cover.... thank you!!!! Firestone would sell these collection LP albums (for around a dollar) in their stores at Christmas time, and I eventually wound up with several. Including this one, which I probably saved along with a few other LPS; but even if I uncovered the original, I have nothing to play vinyl on anymore. So thank you A LOT! A blessed Advent to you.
Nancy, Your post on the Lesson of the Lights came when I need it most. I was starting to feel a little "Grinchy" this year about all the secularism surrounding Christmas. Your friend was indeed a wise soul. I will remember his words when that Grinch starts creeping back :) Maybe not everyone who has decorated their homes so that they can be seen from space is honoring Jesus, but we, the faithful can just by thanking Jesus, the true Light, for coming. Thanks for sharing this with us. Continued Advent blessings!
Thank you, Karin. Indeed, RG was a wise soul, and saintly until his very last breath. He and I discussed "the lights" over 20 years ago, and I think every year about what he said. It helps me even when I realize that some lights are strictly "for commercial purposes." I can say a prayer when I see them, no matter who put them up or for what reason. Not that I always remember to do so, but I at least remember a lot more than I would have without this "lesson."
Nancy, And what a Blessed Interruption the birth of Jesus is. I struggle a great deal at Christmastime for all sorts of reasons, but this is a very helpful meditation. Thanks for taking the time to post it. +
Nancy,
ReplyDeleteI loved the version of O Come O Come Emmanuel you shared.~so beautiful! Wishing you a blessed and grace-filled Advent.
Thank you, Karin. I found that version last year and loved it immediately. Blessed Advent to you, too!
DeleteA most blessed Advent to you Nancy..I love that painting of the Blessed Mother. Keeping you in my prayers +
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Caroline!
DeleteNancy,
ReplyDeleteThat is such a beautiful painting by William Adolphe Bouguereau. I used one of his other Madonna paintings as my Christmas card last year. I think I shall look for a high resolution file and print off a copy of this one and frame it.
We love singing O Come O Come Emmanuel each day over Advent. So full of beauty and hope. It's one hymn we never get tired of singing.
Aspiration practice? What a wonderful idea! I shall try to get in some practise every day. Actually I had a short prayer running constantly through my head for a couple of days. It's a consecration prayer addressed to Mary... "Mary, my Mother I give myself totally to you as your possession and property..." I guess it was running through my mind for a reason...
Nancy, I hope you have a very blessed Advent!
Thanks Sue. I love Bouguereau's Madonna paintings, and when I ran across this one I was so struck by it. It would be beautiful framed!!
DeleteI love O Come O Come Emmanuel also; its one of my favorite hymns and I've been known to find myself humming it even in July!
I hope you have a blessed Advent too, Sue!
Bouguereau's Madonna paintings-such clean, simple lines and colour- feeling of openess, purity just in the first impression of the painting- lovely
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely description, Melanie!
DeleteNancy,
ReplyDeleteSo glad you reposted The Advent Window. It's one of my favourites from your blog. Actually, I hunted down the original version a few days ago. I was thinking about it as I was writing my Keep Christ in Christmas post. I think now our family needs Advent before we celebrate Christmas. But in the days before I knew God, I didn't even know Advent existed. Yes, God can work through a carol or a card or a Merry Christmas whether it is truly Christmas or not.
God bless!
Sue - I am amazed that you remembered the post from last year!
DeleteOh yes, we NEED Advent...which is why our Church, in her wisdom, sets these weeks aside for it.
I knew about Advent as a child, since I went to Catholic school. But it didn't seem that emphasized (seems strange now to realize that). One of the 2 songs that really hit me in "my special Advent" (which I just thought of then as the Christmas season... I didn't know it actually wasn't) was Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel. It still gets to me, especially in Latin. The other song that grabbed my heart that year was played on radio in the Christmas mixes, and was called "The Bells of Christmas" - it was sung by Julie Andrews, I think. Its lyrics were simple - that Jesus the Saviour was born - but they got to me so that on several occasions I had tears driving in the car alone! I don't know how things are there, but Christmas music on secular radio over here is never heard after Christmas day. It is heard in homes, of course, and thankfully people gather together during that next week. But I think of the 2 weeks before Christmas and the 1 week after as the time when interest in Christmas is at its peak.
A blessed Advent to you, Sue!
PS to Sue: The Bells of Christmas, if I'm remembering correctly, was originally recorded as part of an advertisement for TIRES! A strictly commercial venture, probably.... maybe a re-hash of lyrics the writers thought were "Christmasy," and God used it to reach out to my very soul!!! Truly, He can use anything!!
DeleteIs this The Bells of Christmas? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZbK9bOZD5A
ReplyDeleteAlso, I had to think about your post about the Advent window during our school Advent/Christmas concert last night when I thought about how liturgically incorrect it was. But... there are a lot of people out there. Maybe one of them was touched. We'll never know.
What a song-sleuth you've turned out to be, Christiana Therese! You found it!!!
DeleteThis was the first version; then there was a slower one a year or two later (also by Julie Andrews). and both were given radio-time, as I recall. I liked and was touched by both. I think they were marketed as "future classics." Which proved not to be the case, for does anyone else even remember them? I was delighted to hear this, and to even see the original album cover.... thank you!!!! Firestone would sell these collection LP albums (for around a dollar) in their stores at Christmas time, and I eventually wound up with several. Including this one, which I probably saved along with a few other LPS; but even if I uncovered the original, I have nothing to play vinyl on anymore. So thank you A LOT! A blessed Advent to you.
I'm glad you liked it. By the way, I actually posted on my blog again.... After a rather long hiatus, I might be back.
DeleteNancy,
ReplyDeleteYour post on the Lesson of the Lights came when I need it most. I was starting to feel a little "Grinchy" this year about all the secularism surrounding Christmas. Your friend was indeed a wise soul. I will remember his words when that Grinch starts creeping back :) Maybe not everyone who has decorated their homes so that they can be seen from space is honoring Jesus, but we, the faithful can just by thanking Jesus, the true Light, for coming.
Thanks for sharing this with us.
Continued Advent blessings!
Thank you, Karin. Indeed, RG was a wise soul, and saintly until his very last breath. He and I discussed "the lights" over 20 years ago, and I think every year about what he said. It helps me even when I realize that some lights are strictly "for commercial purposes." I can say a prayer when I see them, no matter who put them up or for what reason. Not that I always remember to do so, but I at least remember a lot more than I would have without this "lesson."
ReplyDeleteA blessed Advent to you, Karin!
Thank you Nancy for this reminder of "priority of focus"... I need to revisit that every day..even after Christmas!
ReplyDeleteBlessings always +
Thanks, Caroline, so much!
DeleteNancy, And what a Blessed Interruption the birth of Jesus is. I struggle a great deal at Christmastime for all sorts of reasons, but this is a very helpful meditation. Thanks for taking the time to post it. +
ReplyDeleteThank you, Caroline. May you have much peace this Christmas.
Delete