Catholic Prayer: Jesse Tree Prayer Service
Description:
A suggested prayer service to use for the Jesse Tree throughout Advent, corresponding with Catholic Culture's Jesse Tree.
Prayer:
Gather around the Jesse Tree for prayer. Read the Bible selection for the day's symbol, then hang the ornament on the Tree.
Read the prayer for the current week of Advent. (During the time of December 17-23, the "O" Antiphons takes the place of the Advent prayer, or can be used in addition.)
There can be further Scripture reading or a little discussion about the significance of this Jesse Tree figure.
Pause for silent prayer.
Close the service with a familiar Advent hymn.
Jesse Tree Scriptures
The following is the list of the Catholic Culture's Jesse Tree for Advent 2022, with a short Scripture that can be read, or longer passages in the second column.
| Day | Jesse Tree Person or Symbol, Page Link | Symbol | Scripture |
| Day 1 2022 (Nov 27) | Creation | Sun, Moon, Stars, Earth | Genesis 1-2 |
| Day 2 (Nov 28) | Adam and Eve | Tree, Man and Woman | Genesis 2:7-9; 18-24 |
| Day 3 (Nov 29) | Fall of Man | Tree with Fruit, Apple, Apple or Fruit with bite out of it | Genesis 3:1-7, 9, 14-29, 23-24 |
| Day 4 (Nov 30) | Noah | Ark, animals, dove with branch, rainbow | Genesis 6:5-8; 7:11-16; 8:15-16; 9:12-13 |
| Day 5 (Dec 1) | *Abraham | Torch, Sword, Mountain, Tent, Stars | Genesis 12:1-7; 15:1-6; 17:4-6; 21:3-5; Isaiah 51:2; Hebrews 11:8; Romans 4:19 |
| *Day 6 (Dec 2) | *Sarah | baby cradle, outline of woman, crown, stars | Genesis 18:1-15; 21:1-17; Isaiah 51:2; Hebrews 11:11; 1 Peter 3:6; Romans 4:19; Galatians 4:21-31 |
| Day 7 (Dec 3) | Melchizedek | Bread and Wine | Genesis 14:17-20; Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 5:5-6; 7:1-28 |
| Day 8 (Dec 4) | Isaac | Bundle of Wood, Ram | Genesis 22:1-19; 26:1-5 |
| Day 9 (Dec 5) | Jacob | Ladder | Gen. 25:19-34; 27:1-40; 28:10-22; 32:23-33 |
| Day 10 (Dec 6) | Joseph | Coat of many Colors, Coat with long sleeves, Sheaf, Silver Coins, Bag with Silver Coins | Genesis 37:3-4, 12-24, 28; 45:3-13 |
| Day 11 (Dec 7) | *Moses | Baby in Basket, Stone Tablets, Burning Bush, Red Sea, Cloud, Manna, Ark of the Covenant | Exodus 2:1-10, 2: 23-25--3:1-20; Exodus 31:16-18 |
| Day 12 (Dec 8) | *Joshua | Sword and Trumpet | Joshua 6:1-20 |
| Day 13 (Dec 9) | *Samuel | Lamp, Temple, Horn with Oil | 1 Samuel 1:9-28; 3:1-21; 16:1-13 |
| Day 14 (Dec10) | *Ruth | Sheaves of Grain | Ruth 1:1-10, 16-19; 2:1-17; 4:10, 17, 22 |
| Day 15 (Dec 11) | Jesse | Crimson Robe, Shepherd's Staff | 1 Samuel 16:1-13, 18-22; Isaiah 11:1 |
| Day 16 (Dec 12) | David | Six-Pointed Star, Slingshot and 4 Stones, Harp, Crown, Key | 1 Samuel 11:1-17; 17:12-51; 2 Samuel 5:3-4; 12:1-7; |
| Day 17 (Dec 13) | Solomon | Scales of Justice, Temple, Crown | 1 Kings 3:5-14, 16-28; 5:1-15; 8:14-21; 10:1-13 |
| Day 18 (Dec 14) | *Elijah | Raven, Fire and Altar | 1 Kings 17:2-6; 17:9-24; 18; 17-18:21-39; 19:11-13; 2 Kings 2:1, 8-14; Matthew 17:1-13 |
| Day 19 (Dec 15) | *Jonah | Whale | Jonah 1:11-15; 2:1-16; 3:1-16; Matthew 12:39-41; Matthew 16:4; Luke 11:29-31 |
| Day 20 (Dec 16) | Micah | small building or city (of Bethlehem) | Micah 5:1-4a; Matthew 2:1-12 |
| Day 21 (Dec 17) | *Judith | Scale of Justice, Temple, Crown, Sword | Judith 13:1-28 |
| Day 22 (Dec 18) | *Daniel | Lions | Daniel 1, 2, 4, 6, 13, 14 |
| Day 23 (Dec 19) | Isaiah | Burning Coal, scroll, tree stump | Isaiah 6:5-8; 7:1, 14; 11:1-3a, 6-9; 40:3-5, 10-11; 60: 3-9; 62:1-3 |
| Day 24 (Dec 20) | *Zechariah | censor or thurible, tablet | Luke 1:5-25; 57-80 |
| Day 25 (Dec 21) | *Elizabeth | small house | Luke 1:36, 39-57 |
| Day 26 (Dec 22) | St. Joseph | Carpenter Tools: Carpenter's Square, saw | Matthew 1:1-17; Matthew 1:18-24; Luke 2:22-38; Matthew 2:13-15; Matthew 2:19-23; Luke 2:41-52 |
| Day 27 (Dec 23) | Mary | Lily, Crown of Stars | Genesis 3:15; Song 4:7; Sirach 24:20-21; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38; Revelation 12 |
| Day 28 (Dec 24) | St. John the Baptist | Shell, camel hair, grasshopper, sandal, river | Matthew 3:1-12; Matthew 11:2-15; Matthew 14:1-12; Mark 1:1-8; John 1:6-13 |
In addition, there are two extra pages that could be substituted:
| Day | Jesse Tree Person or Symbol, Page Link | Symbol | Scripture |
| Option 1: | The Annunciation | lily; fleur de lis; book; Angel | Luke 1:26-38; Song of Songs 2:10-14; 4:7, Sirach 24:13-19; Isaiah 7:14; Revelation 12 |
| Option 2 | The Visitation | Our Lady's Slipper | Luke 1:39-47; Luke 7:28; Genesis 18:14; Songs 2:8-14 |
On December 17, the Church begins to intensify the preparation for Christmas with the use of the "O" Antiphons during the Liturgy of the Hours. The symbols for the Jesse Tree from December 17 to 23 are based on the "O" Antiphons.
December 17
Jesus is Wisdom: Sirach (or Ecclesiasticus in old Bibles) 24:2; Wisdom 8:1
December 18
Jesus is Lord: Ex. 3:2; 20:1
December 19
Jesus is Flower of Jesse: Isaiah 11:1-3
December 20
Jesus is Key of David: Isaiah 22:22
December 21
Jesus is the Radiant Dawn: Psalm 19:6-7 (in older Bibles this will be Psalm 18)
December 22
Jesus is King of the Gentiles: Psalm 2:7-8; Ephesians 2:14-20
December 23
Jesus is Emmanuel: Isaiah 7:14; 33:22
December 24
Jesus is Light of the World: John 1:1-14
JESSE TREE PRAYERS
FIRST WEEK: Grant your faithful, we pray, almighty God, the resolve to run forth to meet your Christ with righteous deeds at his coming, so that, gathered at his right hand, they may be worthy to possess the heavenly Kingdom. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
SECOND WEEK: Almighty and merciful God, may no earthly undertaking hinder those who set out in haste to meet your Son, but may our learning of heavenly wisdom gain us admittance to his company. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
THIRD WEEK O God, who see how your people faithfully await the feast of the Lord's Nativity, enable us, we pray, to attain the joys of so great a salvation and to celebrate them always with solemn worship and glad rejoicing. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
FOURTH WEEK: Pour forth, we beseech you, O Lord, your grace into our hearts, that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ your Son was made known by the message of an Angel, may by his Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of his Resurrection. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
THE "O" ANTIPHONS
December 17: O Wisdom, You come out of the mouth of the Most High. You reach from one end of the earth to the other, and keep all thinqs in order by Your power and Your kindness: come and teach us prudence.
December 18: O Lord and Leader of Israel, You appeared to Moses in the burning bush and gave him the Law on Mt. Sinai: come with outstretched arms and redeem us.
December 19: O Flower of Jesse, You are a sign for all the people of God's love for us. Kings keep silence before You and Gentiles pray to you: come to deliver us quickly.
December 20: O Key of David and Scepter of the house of Israel, You open and no man can close, You close and no man can open: come and rescue us who are the prisoners of darkness and death.
December 21: O Radiant Dawn, brightness of light eternal and Sun of Justice: come and enlighten us who sit in the darkness of sin and the shadow of death.
December 22: O King of the Gentiles, You are the one who is desired by all people. You are the capstone that makes both Israel and the Gentiles one: come and deliver us, the race You formed from the dust of the earth.
December 23: O Emmanuel, our King and lawqiver, You are the expected one of all nations and their Savior: come to save us, O Lord our God.
December 24: PRAYER FOR CHRISTMAS EVE:
O God, You fill us with happiness each year as we wait for our celebration of Christmas. May we also joyfully look forward to the coming of Jesus as our final Judge. We ask this of You through Jesus our Lord. Amen.
AN ADVENT HYMN
"O Come, O Come, Emmanuel "
1. O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here, Until the Son of God appear.
Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel! Shall come to thee, O Israel!
2. O come, Thou Wisdom from on high, Who ordrest all things mightily; To us the path of knowledge show, And teach us in her ways to go. — Refrain
3. O come, Thou Key of David, come, And open wide our heav'nly home; Make safe the way that leads to thee, And close the path to misery. — Refrain
4. O come, Desire of Nations, bind In one the hearts of all mankind; Bid thou our sad divisions cease, And be thyself our King of Peace. — Refrain
