The Catholic Church encourages the use of holy means to accompany the path of preparation for Christmas.
Many families cultivate the beautiful custom of placing a tree – natural or artificial – in a visible place in the house and decorating it with lights, stars and gifts: the Christmas tree. But what Christian meaning does it have to do this? Find out here the message that the Christmas tree contains and how to bless it as a family.
THE TREE itself reminds us of that tree of Paradise (cf. Gen 2, 9 – 17) whose forbidden fruit Adam and Eve ate, disobeying God. The tree, as a symbol, can evoke the origin of the misfortune into which the human race fell: sin. However, it can also remind us that we were promised a Savior, a child who will be born of Saint Mary, the long-awaited Messiah who comes to bring us the gift of reconciliation.
THE LIGHTS remind us that the Lord Jesus is the light of the world that illuminates our lives, removing us from the darkness of sin and guiding us, on our pilgrimage, back to the Father’s House.
THE STAR . Just as in Bethlehem two thousand and one years ago a star rested over the place where the baby Jesus was born, guiding the Three Wise Men (see Mt 2, 9 – 10); Today a star crowns the tree remembering that the event of the birth of Jesus has brought true joy to our lives.
THE GIFTS placed at the foot of the tree symbolize those gifts with which the Three Wise Men worshiped the Child God. Furthermore, they remind us how much God the Father loved the world that he freely gave to his only Son so that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life. Jesus is the most perfect gift, the most precious gift.
CHRISTMAS TREE BLESSING RITE
ALL: In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
READER 1: (The father, or some other family member)
Blessed be God,
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Who has filled us with all kinds of spiritual blessings.
In heaven, in Christ.
ALL: Blessed be the Lord forever.
READER 2: (Someone present reads the following text of Holy Scripture)
Let us listen carefully to the reading of the prophet Isaiah:
“The pride of Lebanon will come to you, Jerusalem, with the cypress and the fir and the pine, to adorn the place of my sanctuary and ennoble my state.”
READER 1: PRAYER OF BLESSING
(Whoever leads the prayer, with hands joined, pronounces the prayer of blessing)
Let’s pray.
Blessed are you, our Lord and Father,
who allows us to remember with faith
in these days before Christmas
the mysteries of the birth of the Lord Jesus.
Grant us, those of us who have decorated this tree
and beautified it with lights,
with the hope of celebrating Christmas,
that we may also live in the light of the examples
of the full life of your Son
and be enriched with the virtues
that shine in his holy childhood
Glory to Him forever and ever.
Amen.
ALL: In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.