What's the point? Why bother doing things again and again each year, taking time out of our already-too-busy schedule, not to mention making a point to put yet another thing on Mama's plate to prep for and do with the children? Seriously. Is it really worth it all?
My conclusion: Absolutely, positively, without hesitation or question- of course! Yes, indeed!
In fact, I daresay, these 'traditions' that I am slowly learning about myself, and making a point to incorporate into our family culture, are perhaps one of the most important things I can be sure to do with the precious little souls entrusted to me- especially in this time we live in, where everyone thinks there is "something new under the sun", and yet always falls short of quite finding that 'something new'...I wonder why! Perhaps because we were indeed created to be liturgical, tradition-driven beings. We breathe in and out without a thought to how our very breath, our heartbeats, our internal organs are all sustained by the unseen hand of God by repetition, by pattern, by constant, ongoing cycles. And yet the world tries to tell us otherwise- that we must 'break away', create something new, become something different and better than the past, as though the past is something to be avoided and resisted at all costs, on all levels. You can see this in the government, the school system, the modern music of our culture, the "new and improved" products on the shelves, and even in the hip/cool churches boasting the best "contemporary" worship music and 'styles' (as though worship has different styles to try out!). We are encouraged to pave a new way, and ultimately a better way. And yet... all I can see is the mess and chaos, confusion and unfulfillment that philosophy has brought us.
A good friend recently told me of an article she had read, discussing the reason why most college students end up leaving the Faith/Religion they were brought up with. What do you think the most common answer was? I was actually surprised....though, then again, not really. The reason most college age people today leave the faith they were raised with, and either covert to something else or simply choose no religion at all, is for this reason: hey don't remember it having an impact on their parents' lives, didn't noticeably bring them joy or affect their daily lives positively.
Pretty powerful statement, eh? It certainly caused me to pause and reflect. Wow. How am I doing with this? Do I live out my faith joyfully, making a regular point to "show" my children in what I think, say, and do how my Catholic Faith is everything to me? Do they know how important my faith life is to me each day? Do I "walk the walk", and not just "talk the talk"?
I can say for certain that my children have made me a better person. They cause me to truly look at myself and reflect on what's really important to me. How do I spend my 'spare' time? What do I find myself thinking about the most, when my mind isn't already preoccupied with 'little people' thoughts?
And in all of these things, do I live a life of joy and hope, peace and love, and gratitude?? Do my children see this, feel this, know this, and ... want this, too? I pray that they do, for if not- I will have not done my job well, and I have myself to blame if they are not affected by the Faith in my life while they are under my roof.
So, back to "Traditiiiooooooon, Tradition! Traditiiiooon, Tradition!" These little traditions that I make a point to incorporate each year into our little domestic Church (and attempt to grow upon and add to each year)... all the little things we do for Advent and Lent, the stories we read on Feast Days, the special prayers we pray, the songs we learn and sing, the little crafts or snacks we use to symbolize special things.... all these 'little' things might just not be so little after all. In fact, they may just be the glue that holds us together! The Church breathes in and out with traditions- and what beauty that brings, what depth and richness that fills our lives with! How much I look forward to the lighting of the Advent candles at Mass each year, pointing out the different vestment colors worn by Father to represent the liturgical seasons, waiting eagerly to finally say and sing "Alleluia!" on Easter after a Lent full of penance and somber waiting, attending the Stations of the Cross and coming home to a simple soup dinner each week during Lent... the memories of these things experienced year after year after year. They are cemented into my head and imprinted onto my heart forever. The smell of incense will always send me back to the parish I grew up in; walking the Stations of the Cross will always transport me back in time to my elementary school days at St. John's, where our class participated every week of Lent in this beautiful walk with Christ through his Passion...
I am no Saint, but I believe that all these traditions, these 'little things' that were done over and over each year as a part of my faith life as a Catholic...all these things shaped and formed me, wooed me into a deeper friendship with our Lord, brought me always 'back home' in my heart. And though I don't know where/what my children will be 20 years from now, I pray that they, too, will remember with deep fondness all the "little things" of traditions that I am now trying to weave into our home, that it might become part of the fabric of their lives forever, always reminding them and bringing them back to the joy of Christ that I hope I exude (albeit imperfectly!) and give to them.
One of the most inspiring books I read recently was the Story of Maria Von Trapp. Oh, the Catholic Culture that she lived with her family! So beautiful, and so...simple! They celebrated the liturgical year with simple traditions, year after year. The children knew what to expect, though each year it became more and more meaningful to each of them as they got older and as they had younger siblings to explain things to and share them with! I see that with my own children, though I wouldn't say we have gotten to the point where even the oldest know 'exactly what to expect each year', since Mama is still figuring things out and trying to implement what I am learning. While I may not manage to tackle every single Feast Day or Liturgical event that I would really like to, I do attempt to hit many throughout the year. And I know that I know that I know that my children do remember many of these things we have been doing for a few years, even though it's only been a few years of doing them! My heart swoons whenever they talk of birthday celebrations from several years ago and all that they remember from that particular 'dinosaur birthday party' or "Hobbit birthday" or "Storybook birthday", etc. To know that these memories remain within them and are all part of their childhood memories makes every late night of planning, every burn from the oven during late-night baking, every hour spent scouring the internet for ideas, and every minute past 2am worth it to me!!!
This year for Advent, they were the ones reminding me what we were going to do this year during the Advent Season, and they have really begun to take more ownership in these little traditions- how precious to a mother's heart! Our Advent this year has been full to overflowing with little things each day that I have somehow (so far!) managed to faithfully do with the kids: lighting the Advent candle at lunch and praying a special Advent prayer for the day, along with the Angelus prayer; incorporating the family tree of Christ each day with a "Jesse Tree" ornament they each made last year and hanging it on our specially decorated Advent Tree (a new tradition I was excited to start this year- a lovely real tree- for the first time ever!- decorated simply with purple ornaments, silver ribbon, and white lights, and then Jesse Tree ornaments added to branches each day); reading special stories each day during Storytime, including a special Advent book that is specifically meant to be read as a family during Advent (this year's selection is "Jotham's Journey" by Arnold Ytreeide- wonderful book!) Here's where it can be found:
http://www.amazon.com/Jothams-Journey-Storybook-Arnold-Ytreeide/dp/0825441749/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1386824732&sr=1-1&keywords=jotham%27s+journey
The kids are also making little sacrifices each day that earn them a piece of straw to add to the little empty manger bed, hoping to fill it up with lots of soft hay so Baby Jesus will have an especially soft bed to lay in on Christmas Eve; looking for the naughty 3 Wise Men that hide all around the house, as they journey along looking for the Messiah; reading Saint stories and celebrating the special feast days of these Saints in various ways (St. Nicholas, St. Lucia, Our Lady of Guadalupe, etc.) Ah yes! A very special time with the children- all traditions we have started in our little family, and intend to keep alive each year. Without a doubt, I see how these 'little things' grab their attention, create an eagerness and environment of joy that helps us to truly await the coming of our Savior on his birthday! This year a friend of mine even put together a list of specifically Advent music selections to help us focus on the fact that it's not yet Christmas. So we haven't cracked open the Christmas hymns/carols yet (yes, hard to not do for sure....those catchy Christmas tunes are so tempting!!!!), but have rather been listening to and trying to learn the more appropriate Advent selections of music that reflect the virtues of peace, hope, joy, and love emphasized each week of Advent. I marvel at how rich and how deep are the treasures of our Church- so much to learn, so much to love! And I truly never tire of learning new things, thanks be to God!
So, these little traditions might not be such a 'thing of the past', pointless, and silly to incorporate into my children's lives after all, eh?! In fact, they connect us to the larger universal Church around the world, and ground us in time and space in a way that most things offered by the world today simply cannot do. The ancient Jews understood the importance of their ancestry- they were proud of where they came from, and it greatly affected how they saw themselves. Are we so far above and beyond this that we insist on forgetting where we've come from? I hope not, but I fear so. Thank God for our ancestors, for the heritage they gave us, for the traditions they passed on from one generation to the next. I hope we do as a culture do not think ourselves so above this that we lose our very identity by trying so hard to create a new one. As for me and my family, we will march forward in Christ and forge our way, but not without remembering the past and bringing pieces of it with us, claiming it in our lives, and hopefully always learning from it.
Our Lady, most perfect of all mothers, pray for me to reflect joy and peace, hope and love to my children, that they would see, feel, and know how much your Son means to me; may I fall more and more in love with Him each day, that my zeal would bubble up and over, into each one of my children as well! And may they desire always to know, love, and serve you, Lord, that we would all be happy with You, and with one another, forever someday in Heaven.
Amen.
Now I'm really in the mood to watch Fiddler on the Roof with the kids!!
"History is the witness that testifies to the passing of time; it illumines reality, vitalizes memory, provides guidance in daily life and brings us tidings of antiquity."
~Cicero (106 BC-43 BC)
