Blog Archives

Wednesday, Seventh day in the Octave of Christmas

12/31/2014

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be . . . And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. – John 1:1-18

The first 18 verses of John’s Gospel are referred to as the “Prologue.” They deal with truths that soar far above the limits of human reason, and they are one of the reasons why John is symbolized as an eagle.

It is John’s prologue that explicitly states what we mean by the term Incarnation: “And the Word became flesh.” This is one of the most basic truths of our faith.

Tuesday, Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas

12/30/2014

There was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was 84. She never left the Temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all. - Luke 2:36-38

We know nothing about Simeon and Anna before or after their appearance in Luke's Gospel. They are among those who appear briefly in the unfolding of God's plan, and whose names are inscribed in our memories.

Anna will leave the scene without a word of hers having been recorded. All we are told is that she "gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all."

Giving thanks to God is the best thing we know how to do. We don't have all the answers. We don't know all the why's - let alone the how's of God's great plan. What we do know is that this child, who becomes a grown man, who dies on the cross, who goes through death to the other side, will bring about the redemption of all creation.

Anna died before God's great project was finished. We probably will too.

In a world that often tends toward pessimism, we would do well to imitate the strong hope and thankfulness of this woman named Anna.

- Little Blue Book, December 30

Monday, Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas

12/29/2014

Simeon took the child Jesus in his arms and blessed God, saying: “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.” – Luke 2:22-35

This is quite a scene. An aged, holy man talking to God as he looks into the face of the two-month-old child he is holding in his arms.The old man speaks of peace and light and salvation and glory. His name – Simeon (Hebrew for “God has heard”) – characterizes him as a man of hope.

Simeon’s words have become part of the Church’s official night prayer, and are recited at the end of every day of the year. This prayer is called the “Nunc Dimittis,” which is Latin for the first words of the prayer, “Now you may dismiss your servant . . .”

That’s a good way to end each day. We go to bed, entrust ourselves into the hands of God, and rest in peace.

We can do it in Simeon’s words, or we can use our own. Just one short sentence would do it: “Lord, as I got to sleep I place myself in your good hands.”

It seems a holy thing to do. And a healthy thing too.

Night prayer is an old tradition.

One worth keeping.

- Little Blue Book, December 29

Feast of the Holy Family

12/28/2014

The Holy Family’s flight to Egypt and their stay there gave rise to fascinating tales composed centuries later.

It is said that their journey to Egypt was blessed with many miracles – lions and leopards wagging their tails in homage, palm trees bending down to give them fruit.

Legends dating back to the fifth century say that the Holy Family stayed in the city of Matariyah, just northeast of present-day Cairo. One story says that as a child, Jesus grew balsam trees producing balm that cured almost anything, including snakebite.

Another story is that as the family passed through a city about 150 miles up the Nile, the pagan idol statues bowed to them

St. John, Apostle, Evangelist

12/27/2014

Since the sixth century, the feast of John the Apostle has been celebrated on this date.

John is believed to have been a young man working as a fisherman with Peter and James, when he was called to be a disciple.

The Acts of the Apostles says that John was with Peter when the lame man was healed at the Temple, that John and Peter were imprisoned together, and the two also visited new converts in Samaria. Along with Peter and James, John was recognized as a “pillar” of the Church in Jerusalem by Paul.

Friday, Second Day in the Octave of Christmas

12/26/2014

Jesus said to the disciples: “Be on your guard, for people will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans.” – Matthew 10:17-22

What in the world is going on? Yesterday was Christmas. Now all of a sudden we get a gloomy Gospel passage like this.

Today we celebrate the feast of St. Stephen, the first recorded martyr in Christianity. Since the fifth century, his martyrdom has been celebrated on the day after Christmas. It is a reminder that belief in the child born on Christmas can be costly.

This Gospel passage is from a section in Matthew in which Jesus is preparing to send the Twelve out into the world. He tells them that just as the share in his mission, so they will share in his persecution and martyrdom.

It’s not likely that we will be killed because we are Christian.On the other hand, the Christian way of life is, at times, out of step with what would be called normal standards. We could sometimes get “killed” by others, figuratively speaking.

Not only we could. We have. And we can probably anticipate it happening again.

Talk to the Lord about this.

- Little Blue Book, December 26

"Christmas Truce" of 1914

12/25/2014

“You couldn’t hear each other sing like that without it affecting your feelings for the other side.” – Bertie Felstead, British soldier at the Christmas Truce

Today marks the 100th anniversary of the Christmas Truce of 1914.

World War I had been raging since July, with no end in sight. Earlier in December, Pope Benedict XV himself unsuccessfully urged a cease-fire during the Christmas season.

Then on Christmas Eve, somewhere on the Western front, firing from the German trenches suddenly stopped. Then the British halted their firing. All was eerily quiet.A British soldier heard the Germans sing Christmas carols as they decorated their trenches. The Brits responded with their own carols. Then a German soldier challenged the British to come over to share a bottle of wine.

Despite orders against fraternization, German and British soldiers left their rifles behind and cautiously emerged from their trenches into “no-man’s land.” More soldiers on both sides followed. They shook hands, wished each other Merry Christmas, and exchanged cigarettes, schnapps, even names and addresses. Christmas trees and lanterns were brought from the trenches. The Germans produced beer, and the Royal Welsh Fusiliers shared tins of beef and jam. There were even reports of soccer matches in no-man’s land.

The spontaneous Christmas truce lasted all day, spreading along the 500-mile Western front with more than 100,000 soldiers. The next day, the Fusiliers’ captain fired three shots into the air and then climbed up onto his parapet. A German officer (who had given the Fusilier a beer the day before) climbed into his parapet. The two bowed, saluted, and went back into their trenches. A few moments later, two German shots were fired into the air.

The war was on again.

- Little Blue Book, December 25

Christmas Season

12/24/2014

The Christmas season officially begins with the evening prayer (Vespers) of Christmas Eve and concludes with the feast of the Baptism of the Lord (which is January 11 this year).

Prior to the Second Vatican Council, the Christmas season ended on February 2, which was the feast formerly known as the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The council decided to shift the emphasis away from Mary’s purification in order to focus on the presentation of the Infant Jesus in the Temple (which didn’t have a specific feast day). That is why today February 2 is known as the Presentation of Christ in the Temple.

In 1997, Pope John Paul II also dedicated February 2 as the World Day of Consecrated Life, asking religious men and women to renew their religious vows that day.

- Little Blue Book, December 24

La Vigilia de Natale

12/24/2014

A popular Italian custom is to serve at least seven types of fish (including seafood) for Christmas Eve dinner.

This feast is known by different names, including La Vigilia de Natale (the Vigil of the Birth) and the Feast of the Seven Fishes.

A custom dating back to the fifth or sixth century, some suggest it is rooted in the Catholic tradition of abstaining from meat on various days throughout the year.

Why seven fish? The number seven pops up frequently in catholic tradition – seven sacraments, seven deadly sins, seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, seven days of creation, allegedly seven days of the holy family’s journey to Bethlehem. However, some folks opt to serve nine fish, or 13 (in honor of Jesus and the 12 apostles) or 12 (Jesus and the 11 apostles, excluding Judas).

The choice of which seven fish will be served can vary from crab legs and lobster to sardines and smelt.

- Little Blue Book, December 24

What traditions does your family observe on Christmas Eve? Share some in the comments below.

Tradition of Weekday Mass

12/23/2014

Once upon a time, attendance at daily Mass was a popular devotion, and often was used as a measure of a person’s holiness.

But weekday Mass was not part of life in the early Church. Back then, Mass was only celebrated on Sunday and a priest only celebrated one Mass on that day.

Through the years, Church practice gradually expanded to include celebrating Masses on special feasts, in thanksgiving for favors from God, or to petition God for a favor. Eventually, Mass was being celebrated every day of the week.

The Second Vatican Council stressed the value of weekday Mass by introducing specific scriptural readings and prayers for the Masses celebrated during the week.

Studies today show that less than four percent of Catholics attend Mass more than once a week.

- Little Blue Book, December 22