Celebrate the feast of Christmas every day, even every moment in the interior temple of your spirit, remaining like a baby in the bosom of the heavenly Father, where you will be reborn each moment in the Divine Word, Jesus Christ. — St. Paul of the Cross The staff of Ave Maria Press wishes you, your family, faculty, staff, and students all of the blessings of Christmas for 2013 and beyond.
In "The Burning Babe" sixteenth-century British poet Robert Southwell reflects on the love of Christ for fallen humanity. Through poetic imagery he combines the story of Christ's birth with accounts of his Passion and Death. His poem gives an unforgettable portrait of Jesus Christ, true God and true man. Have your students read the poem and complete the questions and activity from the book The Catholic Spirit: An Anthology for Discovering Faith Through Literature, Art, Film, and Music. The Burning Babe As I in hoary winter’s night Stood shivering in the snow, Surprised I was with sudden heat Which made my heart to glow; And lifting up a fearful eye To view what fire was near, A pretty babe all burning bright Did in the air appear; Who, scorched with excessive heat, Such floods of tears did shed, As though His floods should quench His flames, Which with His tears were bred: ‘Alas!’ quoth He, ‘but newly born In fiery heats I fry, Yet none approach to warm their hearts Or feel my fire but I! ‘My faultless breast the furnace is; The fuel, wounding thorns; Love is the fire, and sighs the smoke; The ashes, shames and scorns; The fuel Justice layeth on, And Mercy blows the coals, The metal in this furnace wrought Are men’s defiled souls: For which, as now on fire I am To work them to their good, So will I melt into a bath, To wash them in my blood’ With this He vanish’d out of sight And swiftly shrunk away, And straight I called unto mind That it was Christmas Day. Reading for Comprehension What surprises the narrator when he encounters the infant? Name two traditional images of the Nativity in the poem. Name two images of Christ's Passion in the poem. Why does the Babe weep in Southwell’s poem? Reading for Understanding How does Southwell’s poem represent Christ as true God and true man? Activities Write your own short poem or journal entry that reflects your love for humanity, in spite of human sinfulness. Research and write a short synopsis of the life of St. Robert Southwell. Answer: When did he live? Why was he martyred? When was he canonized?
The Advent candles remind us that Jesus himself is the "light of the world" (Jn 8:12). Follow the directions for short prayer service you can use with your class in the weeks before Christmas. Materials needed taper candles (one for each student) slips of paper (two for each student) pens or pencils Directions Have the students write on small slips of paper specific elements of darkness in their own lives (e.g., a jealous friend, an incident of prejudice, a time of loneliness) and on other slips of paper specific ways that Jesus brought light to their lives (e.g., a special friendship, a caring teacher, a favorite spot in nature, peace through participation in the sacraments). Arrange a large space where the students can sit in a circle. Distribute unlit taper candles. Keep the room semi-dark. Call on one of the students to begin by sharing one occasion of darkness he or she wrote about. Repeat the process around the rest of the circle with each student sharing about darkness. Then begin the sharing again, this time with the student sharing about how Jesus brings light. After the first person shares, light his or her candle. The person with the lit candle chooses any person in the circle and lights that person's candle. The person with the newly lit candle shares how Jesus brings light and then lights a third person's candle. Continue until all of the candles are lit. Consider concluding with a song with lyrics that describe Jesus as the light of the world.
As part of the celebration of two upcoming Marian feasts—the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe—ask your students to complete one of the following. 1 Report on the history and practice of one of these popular Marian devotions: the Angelus Marian novena Rosary litany of the Blessed Mother first Saturday devotion 2 Mary's Magnificat (Lk 1:46-55) describes in her own words her willingness to giver her entire being to God. Read a Scripture commentary on the Magnificat. Write an essay explaining something of its origins. Then choose three verses that would give encouragement to the poor. Explain why you chose the verses that you did. 3 Research and report on one of the following Marian apparitions: Guadalupe, Mexico Lourdes, France Fatima, Portugal Champion, Wisconsin, USA 4 Develop a lesson for primary-age children that explains the Church's belief in the Immaculate Conception so that they can easily understand its meaning.
