Catholicism 101: Why is Mary called “Queen of Heaven?”
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Didn’t we JUST HAVE Advent? It seems that way, doesn’t it? Time has a way of sneaking up on us while simultaneously going the speed of a freight train. Suddenly we are hurriedly making Christmas list, scribbling out Christmas cards, and getting out the recipe books. Party planning, Christmas decorating, and the chaos of the season begins. There seems to be no time for enjoying the season until the gifts are opened, the mess is cleaned, and the bustling noise of people fades away. It is in that silence we realized we missed it. We missed another advent of waiting expectedly. We missed another advent of being able to anticipate the coming of Christ in our lives. We missed another advent all while shopping, cooking, planning, partying, and decorating.
The Holy Spirit desires to do something special in our life during Advent. Here are just a few tips to make sure you start Advent off right so you can end it right.
1.) Unplug for two hours a day – no electronic devices, read, pray. It may sound like a long time to be without the ringing of the cellphone or the noise of the TV, but it’s really not that long when you focus on spending that time with God. Imagine telling someone that spending two hours alone with you and your spouse is “too long”. We would never dream of telling someone we are “too busy” to spend two hours with our children or our spouse. Why do we think we can treat humans better than we treat God?
2.) With each gift you buy, thank God for a specific gift He has given you. It’s a simple suggestion, but it helps to refocus on what you have been given while you are looking toward blessing someone else. Try saying a small prayer for the person you are purchasing the gift for while you are selecting and wrapping it. A simple prayer thanking God for bringing that person in your life and the blessing they have been will change the way you see gift wrapping.
3.) When you purchase groceries or cook for meals and gatherings, pray for those who do not have food and for the poor. Thank God for providing you with food. We get so chaotic and stressed about cooking the large family meals that we forget there are those without a family table to put their feet under or a plate of overindulgent calories to eat.
4.) As you put your Christmas decorations up, choose one specific part of Christmas (the animals at the manger, the shepherds, etc) and talk to your children about that specific part as you put decorations up. When you change decorations, change specific topics. If you don’t have children or put decorations up alone, pray and thank God for that specific topic and meditate on what God is speaking to you through that specific part.
5.) Make a list of what you want God to strengthen in your faith life. (more prayer, more reading of the Bible, attending confession more, attending Mass more, more belief in the Real Presence, etc.) and then choose one item on your list daily to pray that God help you strengthen during the holidays and throughout the upcoming year. (Even if you pray for the same thing more than one day, that’s fine)
This truly is the most wonderful time of the year, but it’s also the most stressful for many. May we take some time, utilize some simple steps and suggestions, to ensure Christ is not lost in all the hustle and bustle. After all, it’s his birthday we prepare to celebrate and it’s his coming again we await.
Amelia Monroe Carlson graduated from the University of North Alabama with a Bachelor’s Degree in journalism. Being raised as a Methodist during her early years, it was not until she entered college where she began to take her faith seriously. She was baptized as a Southern Baptist in Muscle Shoals, AL and began immediately serving in international missions and in the church.
During college, she became the Co-founder of an International Ministry, where she spent time traveling and speaking to church groups and in large conferences. She authored a Bible study and traveled abroad on mission work. She sat on the Mid-South Interfaith Conferences in Mississippi, where she defended the faith and discussed beliefs with leaders of various religions.
After a business trip to Washington D.C., where she was introduced to a former Baptist who converted to the Catholic Church, she was placed on a journey to enter into the Catholic Church.
Amelia is a military wife and currently residents with her husband and daughter in Tennessee. She is a nine time award winning journalist, receiving press awards for various categories including investigative journalism, best news coverage, and best single feature. It is her desire to help Catholics, particularly Cradle Catholics, see the beauty in their faith which converts see and appreciate the fullness of truth which the Church has held and guarded throughout history. It is her desire all Catholics fall as much in love with Jesus as she is, and love the Church to a greater capacity than they could imagine.
Amelia taught PRE for 4-6 grade at St. Mary Catholic Church in Bolivar, Tennessee from 2014-2016. She served as Youth Director at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church in Somerville, Tennessee in 2017-2018. She now teaches 7th grade (1st year Confirmation) PRE class at St. Philip. She's also a writer and frequent podcast guest on Our Warpath.
She has a strong devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Francis de Sales, St. Padre Pio and St. Maximilian Kolbe.
To contact Amelia for speaking inquiries at conferences, retreats, or parishes contact her via social media on Facebook (Amelia Monroe Carlson), Twitter (@2_catholic ) or send a text to: (731)518-6923.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ameliamcarlson
Twitter: @2_catholic (Catholic ministry account)
Twitter personal account: @ameliamcarlson
