Angeli et amici: In Dominica I Adventus

Once upon a time this ridiculous redactor meandered over to a particularly pious and potent parish that is silently situated on a simple side street in the nice neighborhood that is the surviving successor to Kleindeutschland. As it was the Lord's Day one simply situated oneself in a back pew like a good practicing cradle Catholic and assiduously assisted at the august Sacrifice of the Mass. After the final hymn one stealthily slithered into the sacristy to chat with the reverend rector of said parish (who at one time was a minister in an ecclesial community that was founded by a renegade Augustinian monk). One cutely complimented..."Sensational Sermon! Catholic Content" (and then lowering one's voice an octave) "Lutheran Length....."

The most famous Lutheran convert in the Catholic Church today is a pious piece of pyrotechnics succinctly summarized forthwith by the admirably astute Austrian Jesuit Father Francis X. Weiser: "The Advent wreath originated a few hundred years ago among the Lutheran population in Eastern Germany. It seems to have been suggested by one of the many light symbols which were used in folklore at the end of November and beginning of December. At that season of the year our pre-Christian forefathers began to celebrate the month of Yule (December) with the burning of lights and fires. The Christians in medieval times kept many of these light and fire symbols alive but Christianized them. In the sixteenth century somebody conceived the fortunate inspiration of using such lights as a religious symbol of Advent in the houses of the Faithful. The practice quickly spread and was soon accepted among Catholics and Protestants alike. The Advent wreath is exactly what the word implies, a wreath of evergreens, made in various sizes. It is either suspended from the ceiling or placed on a table, usually in front of the family shrine. Fastened to the wreath are four candles (3 purple, 1 pink) standing upright, at equal distances. These candles represent the four weeks of Advent and the four thousand years from Adam to Christ. Daily at certain times, (usually in the evening), the family gathers for a short exercise of prayer. Every Sunday of Advent one more candle is lit until all four candles shed their cheerful light to announce the approaching birthday of the Lord. Before the prayer starts, all other lights are extinguished in the room, and only the gentle glow of the live candles illuminates the darkness."

Of course to complete the toasty Teuton typology one heartily recommends the entertaining elixir Eierlikör (German Egg Nog) 

Ingredients: 10 egg yolks; 1/4 liter water; 300 grams sugar; 1/4 liter cognac/brandy; a vanilla bean; 50 ccm of 90% spirits (alcohol).

Directions: Let the sugar and water dissolve, then cool. Beat the egg yolks into the sugar solution until creamy. Add the vanilla bean. Gradually beat in the cognac and spirits. Pour into nice bottles (using a strainer). Serve within a week as Eierlikör does not keep long.

Then you'll be able to flawlessly flatter family with: "Wir wünschen ein gesegnetes Adventszeit und Weihnachten"!

Okay, maybe not so flawlessly.

  
Mr. Screwtape