Keeping Christmas in Christmas Pt. 2
For many of us, the “Holidays” are most readily recognized by the music of the season. Is it really Christmas if Bing Crosby hasn’t crooned White Christmas?
One of the best ways to keep Christmas in Christmas is to save those Christmas songs until we actually begin the celebration of Our Lord’s birth. That’s a tough sell, I acknowledge, but don’t good things come to those who wait?
I invite you to try it; hold off on the Christmas music until you’ve been to Christmas Mass, and then fill your home, your car, and your heart with the joyful expressions of that holy season.
In the meantime, did you know there is a treasure trove of Advent music to fill you with eager expectation of the Lord’s coming? And I’m not just talking about O Come O Come Emmanuel!
I offer you here an Advent playlist. Look up these songs on your favorite music platform, Spotify, YouTube Music, Apple Music, wherever you go for your favorite tunes, to enter the spirit of the holy Advent season.
Advent Playlist
Prepare Him Room by The Vigil Project
O Come Divine Messiah
Alma Redemptoris Mater
On Jordan’s Bank
Creator of the Stars of Night
People Look East
Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus
Hark! A Thrilling Voice is Sounding
There is No Rose of Such Virtue
Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day
I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say
The King Shall Come When Morning Dawns
One of my personal favorites is Ave Maria by Franz Biebl, a musical composition of the Angelus prayer, which has us pray on the moment the Blessed Virgin Mary became the Mother of Our Lord. With its tight harmonies and lullaby-like melody, it is intensely gentle, if that makes any sense. Listen to it and imagine how excited the Angel Gabriel must have been to deliver the message. Imagine Our Lady’s thoughts and affections as the Word Incarnate is conceived in her womb. Realize the beauty of the music is an invitation into the immense glory of a life of grace!
Let’s keep Christmas in Christmas, celebrating Advent to the full, with its traditions and hymns and sentiments.
Praised be Jesus Christ, now and forever!
All you holy saints of God, pray for us!
In Christ,
Fr. Michael