Devotions Traditions

Prayers

St. John Damascene says that prayer is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God.”

Liturgy of the Hours – daily prayer of the Church, marking the hours of each day and sanctifying the day with prayer.

Devotions

Devotions are “external practices of piety” which are not part of the official liturgy of the Catholic Church but are part of the popular spiritual practices of Catholics.

Brown Secular – an outward sign of the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary, our sister, mother and queen.

Miraculous Medal – is a devotional article adopted by many Catholics around the world. The medal is worn on a ribbon around the neck to assist in the practice of prayer.

Traditions

The transmission of customs passed from generation to generation, with special significance at Saint Anne Parish with origins in the past.

Perpetual Adoration – Perpetual Adoration is a Eucharistic devotion whereby members take hour(s) of adoration before the Most Blessed Sacrament both during the day and throughout the night, seven days a week.

Jesse Tree

Your Own Jesse Tree

It will take planning and work from each family member to make your own Jesse Tree. The needed materials are usually found around most homes. First of all, you will need a Bible. If there are very small children in the family, a Bible picture story book will help them understand the Bible stories used. The tree itself can be one of several types. A small artificial tree works fine, as does a tree branch that is anchored in a bucket or a large can of sand or gravel. The tree branch looks particularly attractive if painted white and sprinkled with silver glitter while the paint is still wet. Another possibility is a large drawing of a tree on cardboard or poster board that can be hung on the wall.

Growing up in my house we used our own Christmas Tree. We placed the ornaments one by one everyday starting on December 1st until the 24th of December.

Jesse Tree Scriptures (the symbols are only suggestions)

  • December 1 Creation: Gen. 1:1-31; 2:1-4 Symbols: sun, moon, stars, animals, earth
  • December 2 Adam and Eve: Gen. 2:7-9, 18-24 Symbols: tree, man, woman
  • December 3 Fall of Man: Gen. 3:1-7 and 23-24 Symbols: tree, serpent, apple with bite
  • December 4 Noah: Gen. 6:5-8, 13-22; 7:17, 23, 24; 8:1, 6-22 Symbols: ark, animals, dove, rainbow
  • December 5 Abraham: Gen. 12:1-3 Symbols: torch, sword, mountain
  • December 6 Isaac: Gen. 22:1-14 Symbols: bundle of wood, altar, ram in bush
  • December 7 Jacob: Gen. 25:1-34; 28:10-15 Symbols: kettle, ladder
  • December 8 Joseph: Gen. 37:23-28; 45:3-15 Symbols: bucket, well, silver coins, tunic
  • December 9 Moses: Ex. 2:1-10 Symbols: baby in basket, river and rushes
  • December 10 Samuel: 1 Sam. 3:1-18 Symbols: lamp, temple
  • December 11 Jesse: 1 Sam. 16:1-13 Symbols: crimson robe, shepherd’s staff
  • December 12 David: 1 Sam. 17:12-51 Symbols: slingshot, 6-pointed star
  • December 13 Solomon: 1 Kings 3:5-14, 16-28 Symbols: scales of justice, temple, two babies and sword
  • December 14 Joseph: Matt. 1:18-25 Symbols: hammer, saw, chisel, angle
  • December 15 Mary: Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38 Symbols: lily, crown of stars, pierced heart
  • December 16 John the Baptist: Mark 1:1-8 Symbols: shell with water, river
  • On December 17, the Church begins to intensify the preparation for Christmas with the use of the “O” Antiphons during the Liturgy of the Hours. The symbols for the Jesse Tree from December 17 to 23 are based on the “O” Antiphons.
  • December 17 Jesus is Wisdom: Sirach (or Ecclesiasticus in old Bibles) 24:2; Wisdom 8:1 Symbols: oil lamp, open book
  • December 18 Jesus is Lord: Ex. 3:2; 20:1 Symbols: burning bush, stone tablets
  • December 19 Jesus is Flower of Jesse: Isaiah 11:1-3 Symbols: flower, plant with flower
  • December 20 Jesus is Key of David: Isaiah 22:22 Symbols: key, broken chains
  • December 21 Jesus is the Radiant Dawn: Psalm 19:6-7 (in older Bibles this will be Psalm 18) Symbols:sun rising or high in sky
  • December 22 Jesus is King of the Gentiles: Psalm 2:7-8; Ephesians 2:14-20 Symbols: crown, scepter
  • December 23 Jesus is Emmanuel: Isaiah 7:14; 33:22 Symbols: tablets of stone, chalice and host
  • December 24 Jesus is Light of the World: John 1:1-14 Symbols: candle, flame, sun

(Activity Source: Jesse Tree Kit, A by Betsy Walter, Pauline Books and Media, Boston, MA, 1983)

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