The liturgical calendar is about to turn to the season of Advent, the favorite of Father John Ubel, rector of the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul. Not only does he dive deeply into its richness and meaning, but he also gets a chance to recall fond childhood memories.
“We had some interesting ways of preparing for Christmas when I was growing up (in St. Paul),” Father Ubel said. “We always had the Advent calendar, and there was always a piece of candy with each day. That was always fun to unfold that and see who got the piece of candy.”
Father John Ubel
Another tradition was putting out a Nativity scene and leaving the manger empty. Then, there was a unique practice that was designed to make a lasting impression.
“Every year on Dec. 6, the feast of St. Nicholas, we received a Christmas tree ornament at the dinner table,” he said. “The idea was by the time you move out someday, you’re going to have enough (ornaments) to start your own tree. I remember one year, the theme was yarn figurines, and mine was a choir boy. Another year, they were wood carvings, and mine was a Franciscan monk. So, I think my mother was trying to tell me something.”
Her wish for a priestly ordination eventually came true in 1989, and Father Ubel talked about what Advent has meant for him both before and after ordination during an interview with Patrick Conley, host of the radio program “Practicing Catholic” on Relevant Radio 1330 AM, for a segment that will debut at 9 p.m. Nov. 19. The show also will air at 1 p.m. Nov. 20 and 2 p.m. Nov. 21.
Father Ubel also explained practices of the Church during this season, and offered recommendations for how people can enter into the period of waiting and anticipation.
One meaningful practice for Father Ubel is — believe it or not — fasting. He is careful to point out that it’s not the same as Lenten abstinence. Rather, it’s a milder form meant to help draw him to the central meaning of the Advent season.
“No candy, no nuts, no dessert,” he said. “I really go hard-core in that last week (of Advent). I’ve done that the last few years, and I think it’s made a tremendous difference spiritually, to have that … feeling of hunger, to long for the Lord, the coming of the Lord.”
That longing is enhanced by another of his favorite practices: singing the “O Antiphons” during the final days of Advent. He does this during evening prayer, with each day offering a different antiphon.
“The ‘O Antiphons’ begin on Dec. 17,” Father Ubel said. “For that entire final week before Christmas, each day at the evening prayer of the Church — vespers — a different ‘O Antiphon’ is used. And, they all have rich, historical meanings in the Church. And, they obviously form the basis of the hymn — my favorite Advent hymn — ‘O come, O come, Emmanuel.’ So, each day is another verse of that hymn. It’s that final push (before Christmas). … It’s a wonderful opportunity to enter into the Old Testament, the longing for the coming of the Messiah.”
But, in the midst of the waiting the season fosters, there’s also feasts, like St. Nicholas Day Dec. 6 and Gaudete Sunday, the Third Sunday of Advent. He recommends families set up their Nativity scenes on Gaudete Sunday, but with an empty manger. It’s important to not jump ahead to Christmas by putting the baby Jesus in the manger, or sing songs clearly meant for after Christ’s birth.
He recommends that people “hold off” on celebrating Christmas early, but has the opposite opinion when it comes to coming to Mass during Advent and on Christmas. In fact, he is expecting larger crowds this year, based on conversations he’s had with fellow priests.
“We’re probably all anticipating the largest crowds we’ve had in a couple of years,” he said. “Spiritually speaking, it’s important to try to trust in the Lord that it’s all going to work out. We hope to have big crowds, but we hope to be able to handle them safely and effectively as well.”
To hear more of Father Ubel’s thoughts on Advent, tune into “Practicing Catholic.” Others on the program are Allison Spies, archives program manager at the archdiocese, who discusses the arduous travel conditions faced by early missionary priests in Minnesota, including the story of a priest who made international news in 1860 because of his harrowing ordeal of being lost in a blizzard. Also featured is School Sister of Notre Dame Lynore Girmscheid, coordinator of the U.S. bishops’ Retirement Fund for Religious in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, who discusses the upcoming annual collection Dec. 11-12.
Listen to all of the interviews after they have aired at
soundcloud.com/PracticingCatholic
tinyurl.com/PracticingCatholic (Spotify)
Recent Comments