What is a Jesse Tree?

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paramedicgirl

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Has anyone ever heard of a Jesse Tree? A lady at our parish wants to have one placed on the altar for December and the children are supposed to make ornaments that have an offering to God written on them. Then the children place their ornaments on the tree during the Mass. I have never heard of this and wonder if it is another one of those liturgical abuses that people keep dreaming up.

Does anyone have any information on this?
 
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paramedicgirl:
Has anyone ever heard of a Jesse Tree? A lady at our parish wants to have one placed on the altar for December and the children are supposed to make ornaments that have an offering to God written on them. Then the children place their ornaments on the tree during the Mass. I have never heard of this and wonder if it is another one of those liturgical abuses that people keep dreaming up.

Does anyone have any information on this?
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Google has lots of information on what a Jesse Tree is.

My :twocents: : In and of itself, a Jesse Tree is not a liturgical abuse, because I would not expect it to be in a liturgical place, like the altar, as your post describes. It is really more appropriate to a classroom or other daily gathering. (Unless these children are attending Mass daily? God bless your school!)

tee
 
This lady wants it to be part of the Sunday Mass, and yes, she said it will be placed on the altar for the whole month of December.

It really does sound like it belongs in the classroom, though.
 
we have one every year, it is in the narthex, ornaments are placed each week, they are symbols of the various OT people and events that play a part in Salvation history, leading up to the birth of Christ. The children make the ornaments in CCD and bring them to Church when they come and hang them on the tree. The explanations for the ornaments each week are printed in the bulletin insert which also contains other Advent materials such as the prayers for the Advent wreath, schedule of retreats and posadas, O antiphons etc. Father has no problem with it in the sacristy, but we don’t have enough room and it is much easier this way. it is removed the day before Christmas eve.
 
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puzzleannie:
we have one every year, it is in the narthex, ornaments are placed each week, they are symbols of the various OT people and events that play a part in Salvation history, leading up to the birth of Christ. The children make the ornaments in CCD and bring them to Church when they come and hang them on the tree. The explanations for the ornaments each week are printed in the bulletin insert which also contains other Advent materials such as the prayers for the Advent wreath, schedule of retreats and posadas, O antiphons etc. Father has no problem with it in the sacristy, but we don’t have enough room and it is much easier this way. it is removed the day before Christmas eve.
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So it sounds like it should be placed somewhere in the church, but isn’t there a rule about what can be placed on the altar?
 
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paramedicgirl:
So it sounds like it should be placed somewhere in the church, but isn’t there a rule about what can be placed on the altar?
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nothing can be placed on the altar except the missal and the Eucharistic elements. Are you asking about rules for what can be placed in the sanctuary? yes there are rules, and floral decorations are permitted, as long as they do not take attention away from the centrality of the altar and the sacrifice, but complement and adorn the sanctuary. They should also be placed not to impede the movement of the liturgical ministers (something to remember when planning weddings).

there would probably not be a problem with a Jesse tree (which should be bare branches not an evergreen) decorated with such symbols in the sanctuary if there was room, but it would not be proper for children to enter the sanctuary during Mass to hang the ornaments.
 
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puzzleannie:
nothing can be placed on the altar except the missal and the Eucharistic elements. Are you asking about rules for what can be placed in the sanctuary? yes there are rules, and floral decorations are permitted, as long as they do not take attention away from the centrality of the altar and the sacrifice, but complement and adorn the sanctuary. They should also be placed not to impede the movement of the liturgical ministers (something to remember when planning weddings).

there would probably not be a problem with a Jesse tree (which should be bare branches not an evergreen) decorated with such symbols in the sanctuary if there was room,** but it would not be proper for children to enter the sanctuary during Mass to hang the ornaments.**
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So what would be proper? I am so tired of people doing things that are abuses. The woman who plans to have the Jesse Tree has good intentions, and will most likely change the plan to suit the liturgy if she finds out that it is not liturgically correct. (I think she plans a procession of children during Mass, to decorate the Tree)
 
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paramedicgirl:
So what would be proper? I am so tired of people doing things that are abuses. The woman who plans to have the Jesse Tree has good intentions, and will most likely change the plan to suit the liturgy if she finds out that it is not liturgically correct. (I think she plans a procession of children during Mass, to decorate the Tree)
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Can’t you do the procession before mass? Maybe at the very start before the priest says the first words of the rite.

I’m not sure if that is licit, but think it is.
 
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paramedicgirl:
So what would be proper? I am so tired of people doing things that are abuses. The woman who plans to have the Jesse Tree has good intentions, and will most likely change the plan to suit the liturgy if she finds out that it is not liturgically correct. (I think she plans a procession of children during Mass, to decorate the Tree)
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IF the Jesse Tree (named after King David’s father, Jesse) is a decoration that does NOT deflect attention from the altar, the decorations can be placed on it BEFORE the first Mass of the weekend, or another appropriate time.

IF the Jesse Tree is just outside the sanctuary, and used in place of the Advent Wreath, then there’s still no real abuse.

IF the Jesse Tree takes up a big hunk of the sanctuary, blocks the altar, and substitutes for a good hunk of the homily because the kids are loading it up with symbols right after the Gospel- well, then it’s more than pushing the limits.
 
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OutinChgoburbs:
IF the Jesse Tree (named after King David’s father, Jesse) is a decoration that does NOT deflect attention from the altar, the decorations can be placed on it BEFORE the first Mass of the weekend, or another appropriate time.

IF the Jesse Tree is just outside the sanctuary, and used in place of the Advent Wreath, then there’s still no real abuse.

IF the Jesse Tree takes up a big hunk of the sanctuary, blocks the altar, and substitutes for a good hunk of the homily because the kids are loading it up with symbols right after the Gospel- well, then it’s more than pushing the limits.
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So can you not have an advent wreath if you have a Jesse tree?
 
why not let the pastor, who is responsible for the conduct of the liturgy, make the decision on the placement and use of the Advent wreath, Jesse Tree, Christmas decorations etc., and not worry about it unless it is your direct responsibility, assigned by the pastor. You are allowing your peace of mind to be disturbed unneccesarily by worrying about these things. Just go to Mass, participate, pray, receive the Eucharist, and leave these matters to the pastor. If you do happen to be in a parish where real, continual liturgical abuse (not just a one-time custom you do not understand) is a problem, there are channels and ways to make a protest.
 
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puzzleannie:
why not let the pastor, who is responsible for the conduct of the liturgy, make the decision on the placement and use of the Advent wreath, Jesse Tree, Christmas decorations etc., and not worry about it unless it is your direct responsibility, assigned by the pastor. You are allowing your peace of mind to be disturbed unneccesarily by worrying about these things. Just go to Mass, participate, pray, receive the Eucharist, and leave these matters to the pastor. If you do happen to be in a parish where real, continual liturgical abuse (not just a one-time custom you do not understand) is a problem, there are channels and ways to make a protest.
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Why not? Because my 10 year old daughter will be asked to participate and I don’t want her to do anything that is not liturgically corect. And, yes, I will talk to my priest when he returns this week.

Something you don’t understand about our parish is that we have a bunch of well-intentioned, head-strong people who go over our priest’s head when they plan things. And yes, there are too many abuses in our church. Somebody needs to bring these things to the priest’s attention, and when they do, he is very thankful for our support, as he is often up against some very pushy people.
 
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paramedicgirl:
Something you don’t understand about our parish is that we have a bunch of well-intentioned, head-strong people who go over our priest’s head when they plan things. And yes, there are too many abuses in our church. Somebody needs to bring these things to the priest’s attention, and when they do, he is very thankful for our support, as he is often up against some very pushy people.
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Amen.

Our priest is an older fellow and there are many liberal elements who seem to be doing whatever they please. Music, decoration, RCIA, Religious Education, etc

I will always go to the priest with my questions. Except for the giant Christmas tree right up in the sanctuary. there are many things that he may not be aware of.

Mike
 
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