Jesse Trees (genealogy of Jesus activity for families)

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[Salvation]

Jesse Trees

A Jesse Tree is a depiction of the genealogy of Jesus designed in such a way as to show that He springs from the "root of Jesse"  per the prophecy of Isaias 11:1: And there shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse [David's father], and a flower shall rise up out of his root. This prophecy was recalled by St. Paul, and on the first Sunday of Advent, we remember his words with the Epistle reading of Romans 15:4-13, which reads, in part: Wherefore receive one another, as Christ also hath received you unto the honour of God. For I say that Christ Jesus was minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers. But that the Gentiles are to glorify God for his mercy, as it is written: Therefore will I confess to thee, O Lord, among the Gentiles, and will sing to thy name. And again he saith: Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. And again: Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and magnify him, all ye people. And again Isaias saith: There shall be a root of Jesse; and he that shall rise up to rule the Gentiles, in him the Gentiles shall hope. All throughout Advent, we will hear references to Christ's ancestors in the Mass readings. The artistic depiction of Christ's royal genealogical heritage is very old; the West facade of Chartres Cathedral, dated to ca. A.D. 1150, for example, has a lancet window that depicts the "Jesse Tree" (see stained glass image below). Some Jesse Trees depict the 28 generations listed in Matthew -- starting with Jesse and ending in Jesus. Others depict representatives from that genealogy (Jesse, David, Solomon, etc.) as do most medieval Jesse Trees. The medieval German manuscript at right depicts only 6 elements in the Jesse Tree: Jesse, two prophets with scrolls filled in with verses concerning Christ and His Mother, two prophets with scrolls with no verses, and, toppping it all off, the Virgin holding her Son. Most modern Jesse Trees use symbols which summarize the Old Testament and show, basically, the history of the world up to Christ (Adam and Eve, Noe, Abraham, etc.). A Jesse Tree in the home, then is simply the Advent custom of using a collection of symbols that portray the fact that Jesus has come, as predicted, from the root of Jesse. These symbols can be hung on a small, literal tabletop-sized tree, or on a branch brought in from outside. They can be hung on small artificial trees made of wood or metals, or on two-dimensional wooden trees. The symbolic ornaments -- which can vary from family to family -- can be storebought or homemade -- for example, painted onto wooden rounds, wood carved into shapes, embroidered onto linen rounds which are then sewn onto round hoops to hold their shape, painted on paper, cut out from cardboard, etc. Gorgeous paintings and graphics could be scanned, printed out, and glued onto wood and shellacked. Or they can be made, like Christmas Tree ornaments, out of "Baker's Clay." Some families add ornaments to their Jesse Trees one each day, starting on 1 December to time with the Advent Calendar and O Antiphons (24 ornaments); others add them all at once on 1 December. Some make Jesse trees that stress prophecy, with symbols of the Old Testament Prophets and the Sibyls; others makes ones that stress the history of the world from creation. Whatever works for your family is fine, but whatever you do, and whatever symbols you use, the point should be to show that Christ springs from the root of Jesse, per Isaias's prophecy, and with the Infant Christ being held by Mary at the apex.

Suggested Symbols for a 24-Day Jesse Tree Stressing Prophecy & Typology
December 1	Melchisedech	a man offering bread and wine (Genesis 14:18)
December 2	Abraham	a man holding a knife (Genesis 12:1-3)
December 3	Isaac	a man preparing to be sacrificed on an altar/ ram (Genesis 22:1-14)
December 4	Jacob	man dreaming of a ladder to Heavenr (Genesis 25:1-34; 28:10-15)
December 5	Moses	man holding the tablets with the Commandments (Exodus 20)
December 6	Isaias	a man being martyred by a saw
December 7	Jesse	tree stump with flower. The classic depiction is of Jesse lying on his side with the branch of Jesus's "family tree" growing from his side. (1 Kings 16:1-13)
December 8	David	a man playing a harp (1 Kings 17:12-51)
December 9	Ezechiel	a man seeing the four living creatures/symbols of the Evangelists (Ezechiel 1)
December 10	Daniel	a man among the lions (Daniel 14)
December 11	Jeremias	a man holding a scroll
December 12	Malachias	Eucharist and incense (Malachias 1:10-11)
December 13	The Cumean Sybil	very old Italian-Greek woman in a cave surrounded with leaves she writes on, or a jar holding her voice
December 14	The Erythraean Sybil	a woman holding a scroll or writing on leaves
December 15	The Tiburtine Sybil	a woman holding a book and/or talking to Augustus about the coming One
December 16	John the Baptist	scallop shell, locusts, honey, tall slim Cross (Mark 1:1-8)
The Golden Nights Begin...
December 17	Christ as Sapientia	oil lamp (Isaias 28:29; Wisdom 11:2-3)
December 18	Christ as Adonai	crown (Isaias 11:4-5, 33:22)
December 19	Christ as Radix Jesse	flower (Isaias 11:1,10, Micheas 5:1)
December 20	Christ as Clavis David	key (Isaias 22:22, Isaias 9:6)
December 21	Christ as Oriens	rising sun (Isaias 9:2)
December 22	Christ as Rex Gentium	scepter (Isaias 9:7, 2:4)
December 23	Christ as Emmanuel	Chalice and Host (Isaias 7:14; 33:22)
Christmas Eve	The Nativity	Mary holding the Infant Jesus, with Star of Bethlehem over their heads (Luke 2:1-20)

Suggested Symbols for a 24-Day Jesse Tree Stressing the History of the World
December 1	Creation	sun, moon, stars, animals, earth (Genesis 1:1-31; 2:1-4)
December 2	Adam and Eve	Tree of Life, man, woman (Genesis 2:7-9, 18-24)
December 3	The Fall of Man	Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, serpent, bitten apple (Genesis 3:1-7 and 23-24)
December 4	Noe	ark, animals, dove, rainbow (Genesis 6:5-8, 13-22; 7:17, 23, 24; 8:1, 6-22)
December 5	Abraham	knife (Genesis 12:1-3)
December 6	Isaac	bundle of wood, altar, ram (Genesis 22:1-14)
December 7	Jacob	ladder (Genesis 25:1-34; 28:10-15)
December 8	Joseph	well, multi-colored tunic (Genesis 25:1-34; 28:10-15)
December 9	Moses	baby in basket among reeds, Commandments (Exodus 2:1-10)
December 10	Samuel	lamp, temple (1 Kings 2:21, 3:1-20)
December 11	Jesse	tree stump with flower. The classic depiction is of Jesse lying on his side with the branch of Jesus's "family tree" growing from his side. (1 Kings 16:1-13)
December 12	David	harp (1 Kings 17:12-51)
December 13	Solomon	temple, scales of Justice, sword and baby (III Kings 3:5-14, 16-28)
December 14	Joseph	carpenter's tools, flowering staff (Matthew 1:18-25)
December 15	Our Lady	lily, crown of stars, pierced heart, roses (Genesis 3:15, Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38)
December 16	John the Baptist	scallop shell, locusts, honey, tall slim Cross (Mark 1:1-8)
The Golden Nights Begin...
December 17	Christ as Sapientia	oil lamp (Isaias 28:29; Wisdom 11:2-3)
December 18	Christ as Adonai	crown (Isaias 11:4-5, 33:22)
December 19	Christ as Radix Jesse	flower (Isaias 11:1,10, Micheas 5:1)
December 20	Christ as Clavis David	key (Isaias 22:22, Isaias 9:6)
December 21	Christ as Oriens	rising sun (Isaias 9:2)
December 22	Christ as Rex Gentium	scepter (Isaias 9:7, 2:4)
December 23	Christ as Emmanuel	Chalice and Host (Isaias 7:14; 33:22)
Christmas Eve	The Nativity	Mary holding the Infant Jesus, with Star of Bethlehem over their heads (Luke 2:1-20)

 
  
Note: I've seen some pre-fab Jesse Tree Kits that use a so-called "Star of David" (also called "Magen David" or "Shield of David") as a symbol. The "Star of David" -- which wasn't a popular symbol of Jewry until the 18th c. when it was adopted by the Rothschilds (though it was known before then in post-Temple Judaism and is found in a few synagogue decorations) -- is actually a hexagram with 6 points, 6 equilateral triangles, forming a 6-sided hexagon interiorly. It is the ancient star of Remphan (Moloch , Chiun, or Saturn) and Ashtoreth mentioned in Amos 5:26 and Acts 7, and one of the most powerful symbols used in Freemasonry, Satanism, and the occult. For a true symbol of David, use a harp or a crown; for Solomon, use a temple or a crown. (The term "Solomon's Shield" is often used to refer to the Star of David, but Solomon's Shield" is actually a pentagram.)
 

[Salvation]

For your information and discussion.

[Salvation]

I personally like the typology list above, but with families, doing the world one makes sense.

Symbols — ornaments can be made from cardboard with pictures from magazines. They can be very simple — or you can do the playdough/baker’s clay thing too.

I’ve seen both and they look very nice.

A great way to count down to Christmas (24 days) and learn something every day — not just open a window on an Advent Calendar!

[Salvation]

Catholic Discussion Ping!

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[LiteKeeper]

read later

[Catholic Canadian]

Interesting!

[Salvation]

A lot of Catholics do not know that they could do this in the middle of their Advent Wreath (if it is large enough) with a dried out wintered branch. Or make a separate display.

A way to learn a lot about the Old Testament as well as the New Testament characters.

[PennsylvaniaMom]

Thank you Salvation for the excellent ping!

[afraidfortherepublic]

THanks for the interesting post. I had not heard of this custom before, and I have been a Catholic almost 50 years.

[samiam1972]

Links to some great ideas for families with young children.

http://marjorielettres.blogspot.com/2006/12/o-antiphons-our-altoid-advent-revealed.html

http://www.catholicculture.org/liturgicalyear/overviews/seasons/advent/index.cfm

I have several pdf files and doc files of Jesse Tree ornaments that you can just print and hang on the tree as well as different readings for the month. Freepmail me if you’d like to have these files. I’d be happy to share what I’ve found!

[Cvengr]

Thanks, ping

[Salvation]

CREATION December 2 Symbols: Sun, Moon, Stars, Earth During this Advent season we review our salvation history, meditating on God's promise of a Savior. We begin with Creation, the birth of life, beginning of time. In the creation of world and man, God gave the first and universal witness to His almighty love and His wisdom, the first proclamation of the "plan of His loving goodness," which finds its goal in the new creation of Christ. Recommended Readings: Genesis 1-2

[Salvation]

ADAM AND EVE December 3 Symbols: Tree, Man and Woman Adam and Eve are the first ancestors of the human race. Christ is called the "second" or "new Adam" because He ushered in the new creation by forgiving sin and restoring humanity to the grace of God's friendship lost by original sin. Mary, because she is the mother of the eternal Son of God made man, is called the "new Eve," the "mother of the living" in the order of grace. Recommended Readings: Genesis 2:7-9; 18-24

[Salvation]

FALL OF MAN December 4 Symbols: Tree with Fruit or Apple The parents of the human race, Adam and Eve, disobeyed God's command in the Garden of Eden, thereby commiting the original sin, resulting in the closing of the gates of Heaven to mankind. Even after this sin, man was not abandoned by God. God promises a Messiah and Redeemer: "I will put emnity between thee and the woman, and thy seed and her seed: she shall crush thy head, and thou shalt lie in wait for her heel (Gen 3:14)." He tells us of a "New Adam" who will have victory over sin. This victory of Christ has given us greater blessings than those which sin had taken from us. God permits evil in order to draw forth some greater good: "O Happy Fault, whereby we have merited so great a Redeemer (Exsultet)." Recommended Readings: Genesis 3:1-7, 9, 14-29, 23-24

[Salvation]

NOAH
December 5

Symbols: Animals, Dove, Rainbow

When Noah finally left the Ark and settled on dry land, he built an altar to worship the Lord who had saved him. God placed a rainbow in the sky as token of his resolve to never visit such a disaster over the face of the earth again.

Noah was a savior, preserving the natural life of all within the Ark; Christ bring supernatural life to mankind and preserves that life within His Mystical Body, the Church.

Recommended Readings: Genesis 6:5-8; 7:11-16; 8:15-16; 9:12-13

[Salvation]

NOAH December 5 Symbols: Animals, Dove, Rainbow When Noah finally left the Ark and settled on dry land, he built an altar to worship the Lord who had saved him. God placed a rainbow in the sky as token of his resolve to never visit such a disaster over the face of the earth again. Noah was a savior, preserving the natural life of all within the Ark; Christ bring supernatural life to mankind and preserves that life within His Mystical Body, the Church. Recommended Readings: Genesis 6:5-8; 7:11-16; 8:15-16; 9:12-13

[Salvation]

ABRAHAM December 6 Symbols: Torch, Sword, Mountain, Tent, Stars Abraham is our father in faith. He is the man of faith and patriarch of Israel with whom God made a covenant which promised him land in which to live and many descendants, a great people for whom the Lord would be their God. Through Abraham God formed the people to whom he would later give the law by revelation through Moses. With the advent of Christ, the people of Israel would serve as the root to which the Gentiles would be grafted by their coming to believe. Recommended Readings: Genesis 12:2-3; 17:4-6

[Salvation]

ISAAC December 7 Symbols: Bundle of Wood, Ram And Isaac was a great type, or symbol of Christ. Both carried up a mount the wood on which they were to be sacrificed. Isaac was the only son of Abraham, Christ was the only begotten son of God. The altar with the slain lamb is a prefigurement of the Sacrifice of Christ on the Cross and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Recommended Readings: Genesis 22:1-2, 6-13, 15-19

[Salvation]

MARY December 8 Symbols: Lily, Crown of Stars On this holyday of obligation, the Church celebrates the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, an event that heralds God's choice of Mary to be the Mother of the Redeemer. The Immaculate Conception is the doctrine that the Blessed Virgin Mary was preserved from any stain of sin, including original sin, from the moment of her conception in her mother's (St. Anne) womb. The Virgin Mary, chosen Mother of the Redeemer, is robed in the splendor of her stainless innocence, and clothed with the beauty of one redeemed in Christ and prepared to receive Him in her womb. Recommended Readings: Revelation 12; Song 4:7

[Salvation]

JACOB December 9 Symbols: Ladder In a vision, Jacob (son of Isaac) saw a ladder reaching from heaven to earth, with angels descending and ascending. Christ, the Incarnate God, is the Ladder reuniting earth to heaven, mankind to God. Recommended Readings: Genesis 28:12-13

[Salvation]

JOSEPH December 10 Symbols: Coat of many Colors, Sheaf, Silver Coins Joseph's brothers were furious that their father favored their younger brother above all of them, and when Jacob gave Joseph an expensive, many-colored coat, they conspired against him. Like Christ, Joseph was sold for silver, but the hand of God led him to become a leader of the nation of Egypt. Later, his brothers, leaders of the Chosen People after their father Jacob, came to Egypt and settled under his rule. The many-colored coat has become the symbol of Joseph, since it was so instrumental in his life. Recommended Readings: Genesis 37:3-4, 12-24, 28; 45:3-13