Dirty Laundry

 Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan is a Christmas story set in Ireland, in the 1990's.  The story revolves around Bill Furlong.  The reader learns about his upbringing, which made him the good man he is revealed to be, in the end.

He owns a business delivering fuel.  In the process of his work, he delivers to a convent, which concerns him.  This convent takes in unwed mothers and by the look of the mothers, they aren't treated very well.  This is the story of the Magdalene Laundries.  

Bill finds a girl hiding and brings her home with him.  That's the end of the story.  It is fiction but I would have liked to know how Bill's family accepted the girl.  What became of her?

The Queen Evangelizer

 Have you seen Queen Elizabeth's Christmas message?  She is unabashedly evangelizing.  Of course, she has an audience I can only dream of attaining.  May God bless the queen!  

Celebrating God's Sanctifying Grace

God uses all kinds of means to let us know that He's omnipresent.  Whenever we see someone helped or something happen just in the nick of time, that's His work.  I believe that's what we're celebrating on religious holidays.  Yesterday, was Christmas day.  I saw God bring my husband back to me.  I saw God helping neighbors shovel snow from the morning's snow.  I saw God give presents to express human love.

I believe these and more are evidence of God's grace working in human lives.  My feelings were confirmed when I read Brother Hyacinth Grubb, O.P. article in Dominicana.  His topic was the Puritans banning the celebration of Christmas.  The Puritans were correct in recognizing Christmas as an important holy day.  But they did not see the working of God's sacramental grace in the birth of Jesus.  Maybe they did but did not believe in celebrating it.  I guess; how could you not rejoice that your Savior was born?  Anyway, the Puritans banned celebrating Christmas.

 In the words of one preacher: “the feast of Christ’s nativity is spent in reveling, dicing, carding, masking, and in all licentious liberty. . .by mad mirth, by long eating, by hard drinking, by lewd gaming, by rude reveling!” 

Thank God I'm Catholic.

Cardinal O'Malley's 2016 Christmas message

Cardinal O'Malley's 2016 Christmas message: Christmas is such a special time for families and loved ones to come together to share their gift of love and faith in the Christ child.

At this time of year, we are called upon to be more mindful of those not as fortunate as us. Pray for all. I pray and wish my "cloistered brothers" a holy and blessed Christmas.

Christmas Mass

Midnight Mass came and went without me.  I was stuck at home with a head cold.  This morning I felt a bit better and made it to the last Mass in my parish, 10:30 AM.  Observing the people entering, I noticed they were quieter than usual.  Most of them I didn't know.

Were they strangers and weren't sure how to act?  Did they not see any friends and neighbors?  Maybe.

Usually, there's a lot of chatter, with people greeting each other.

Wait.

There could be another reason.  Maybe, just maybe, they recognized the presence of Jesus in the Tabernacle. Do you think?

The quiet atmosphere just reminded me of walking into a sleeping baby's room.

Look. Look, the Baby Jesus has come.  Merry Christmas.

The Holiday that Keeps Giving

When we brought my granddaughter to Jordan Furniture's Enchanted Village, she had a good time, just as we expected.  I thought of the Enchanted Village, the same as I thought of Disney World.  Things and places that are geared for children, are wasted on children.  Isn't school wasted on them?  The children just don't appreciate what goes into making an event, a place, etc..  They enjoy according to their own level of enjoyment.  Adults enjoy even more.  The adult level of understanding, frame of reference, etc., allow for more grateful appreciation.

Christmas is the exception.  There are so many levels to view Christmas, that there's something for everybody.  Today, even in my late age, the fact of the Incarnation inspires such a depth of awe, that I don't have the vocabulary, nor wherewithal to express what I feel.

When I saw my infant granddaughter's eyes round into circled amazement upon looking at her first Christmas experience, I felt her understanding confirm mine.  Should I say, my understanding confirms hers?

And Christmas isn't just one day.  Advent doesn't end.  Christmas is a journey itself.  Our level of reaching the Christ child takes a lifetime.  Ponder that thought.

Christmas Cards

It's taking me longer than usual to write my Christmas cards, this year.  I pray for each person and/or family I send a card to.  I also pray for the people who sent me cards.  It's my Christmas gift for each one of them.

The Mass celebrant this morning was Fr. Bob.  He's a Xaverian missionary.  Of course he wished us all a Merry Christmas.  His homily was about his experiences in Bangladesh.  He spoke of celebrating Christmas Mass.  The children climbed above a ledge, bordering the windows, to view Mass better.  Most fell asleep.  The people were packed in.

After Mass, outside, the courtyard had numerous ovens situated around the perimeter.  This was to cook up a feast.  Although the small church housed a hundred, the outside celebration was for thousands.  Their Christmas was                                           for everyone.  All faiths were invited.  This is the true Christmas--for all.

An Uncovered Lamp Spreading Joy

I know the Christmas season is over.  But yesterday’s hike through the woods put me in a poetic mood.  Here is another poem.  This one is from a good friend, a fellow Lay Dominican, and lover of mysticism, Mr. John Barron, O.P.

Like yesterday’s poem by Mary Oliver, this is a prayer of praise.  Praising God is actually beneficial to us.  By praising God, not only are we praying, but praising reminds us of His greatness.  His power and presence in the dawn's light, reinforces our faith.  I also feel that praising, which gives voice to our feelings,  pleases God, and disposes Him to bless us.

   Christmas Dawn

       (2 Peter 1:19-"And we have the prophetic word

        … a lamp shining in a dark place until the day

       dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”)

Light fills each morning sky,

Dawn delivering God’s new day.

Ending briefly night’s emptiness,

A sign of hope to guide our way.

But the Dawn of Christmas Day,

Is unlike any since or before.

The Divine Light arriving this day,

Shines deeply into mankind’s core.

For the Source of this Light,

Is the Father with whom He is One.

Sent from Heaven to break upon us,

Never setting like our celestial sun.

As the light cast forth from candles,

Or that splayed from moonlight beams.

He bathes all with a surreal beauty,

Unlike the radiance from lesser means.

The Dawn of Christmas Day,

Promises a Flame that will endure.

Even in times of unholy darkness,

Its Presence will be certain and sure.

With awe and splendor we exult,

The true Light from Heaven is here.

An uncovered Lamp spreading joy,

Keeping the promise He would appear.    

No Christmas is Perfect

Midnight Mass was beautiful.  The ride home was beautiful, also.  It was snowing lightly.  The long curving, country road was barely lit by the Christmas lights, decorating homes.  We didn't need the radio because the nuns’ voices were still singing in our minds.      

Our world was quiet, at peace.                 

Until morning…all hell broke loose.  My adult son refused to wake up.  I couldn't find his girlfriend’s present; but it’ll show up.  We won’t see her until this weekend, so I don’t need it right now.  My granddaughter didn't understand why Santa gave her two of something.  My son’s cat had ripped some presents looking for her presents (She smelled catnip).  My camera’s battery was low.  And my oven is a mess because my 20 year old roasting pan had a tiny leak in it.  I was wondering what the drip/hiss/sizzle sound was. 

Time for quiet meditation—Ignatian style.  I’m Mary. 

You’d think Joseph would have enough sense to make reservations.
These animals stink.
It’s cold outside and I’ve a newborn.
All I want to do is rest and everybody and their uncle have come to gawk.
What am I supposed to do with gold, frankincense, and myrrh?
I need diapers!

I want my mommy!

The Christmas Letter

Do you write Christmas letters?  I wasn't brought up to.  My mother used to say, "If everything's so honkey dorey, then why don't they slip in a couple of dollars for us?"

My theory is, that people who write these letters are bragging.  The news they give you is always wonderful.  They never tell you who got busted for drugs, DUI, flunked classes, kicked out of school, lost his job, beat his wife, is having an affair, or kicked the family dog.  These letters are all about above average kids and beautiful adults.

Another thing about these letter is that most of them arrive AFTER Christmas.  I think the letters are trying to compensate for the fact that the senders don't have their act together.  They're not organized enough to get their Christmas cards out in time for Christmas.  They're trying to make up---"See why we're late getting our Christmas cards out.  We had to write letters."

"B" as in B., and "S" as in S.  I'm not buying it.

I do like the Christmas photo cards.  I like to see how the kids have grown.   The above picture was almost my Christmas card.  My niece fell asleep.  We were going to put a cigarette in her fingers, and a can of beer in her hand.  Oh, did I tell you that she's only sixteen?  That would have been a good "anti-photo Christmas card."  Too bad Christina woke up before our nefarious, dastardly plans were put into affect.

Besides her father wouldn't get the joke.

So here's my real card.  Merry Christmas.

Enjoying Christmas

I'm getting ready for two Christmas parties, this week.  Trying to stay healthy, only eat nutritious food--not junk, and also enjoy the Advent season, can be a challenge.  So I was looking at my club's suggestions, on its web site.  There was one video there that I took notes from.  I'd put it on this blog, but I don't have the expertise to do that.  It's the one in the middle, entitled, "Creating Your Holiday Experience."

While there were many good tips, the one I want to highlight is focusing on "what's important for you in this particular season."  Even if you say THE FOOD, you can still enjoy and not feel guilty.

Now make a list of what you love most about Christmas:
presents, decorations, atmosphere, people, religious ceremonies, parties, music, parties, food, etc.

Next, think what it is that you love about the items in your list.

I, personally, picked atmosphere.  Included in that are the affect that atmosphere has on people.  Some of that atmosphere is religious, and most of the "people" are my direct family members.  So I'm going to concentrate on the exterior decorations, music, and not too much food.  I'm plan to make my home a welcoming, Christmas event.

Even if I had picked FOOD, I would stress portion control.  Abstinence makes one feel deprived.  So unless you're fasting for religious reasons, don't.  You'll end up bingeing. Eat a LITTLE of everything.

One good piece of advice I picked up from the video was when you're visiting another's party (you're not in control of the menu).  Sometimes you can't be polite and refuse the food the host is pushing on you.  In that case, you say you're full and ask to take it home.  Take a bite, and say, "mmmm...delicious, may I have the recipe?"

You definitely don't want to hurt anybody during the Christmas season; or any season!

Enjoy what's important: how you decorate your home, the church's decorations, the Town Common's decorations, neighbors' homes.  Wish everyone well.  Pray for everyone you meet.  Sing carols.  Bless everyone with your love, not necessarily food.  Have a blessed Advent.

When is Christmas Over?

When I went back to work today, I was surprised to find all the Christmas decorations put away. That's it! It's gone. Christmas is over.

How sad. Another reason, I'm glad I'm Catholic. Our Christmas lasts until January 8th, this year. The Epiphany, the Feast of the Three Kings, where Christians celebrate the Wisemen bringing their gifts to the Christ child, is actually January 6th. but that's a Friday, so it has been transferred to Sunday, January 8th.

Some people actually exchange their Christmas gifts on this day, instead of the birth of Christ. It's a wonder some enterprising entrepreneur hasn't capitalized on these two holidays and hyped it up to two Christmases. But of course, the religious meaning of Christmas hasn't entered the minds of the secular commercial promoters. They promote the idea of Santa bringing gifts (period).

Hence the mind set of the people at my work, who took down the Christmas decorations. They think Christmas is a party and socializing and gifts. It is so much more. Again, thank God, I'm Catholic. I party, socialize, and exchange gifts, AND I experience Jesus in the celebration at Midnight Mass. Jesus was present in everyone at that Mass. The music, the singing, the candles, the bells, the incense, the prayers, the readings, the blessings, the Kiss of Peace, and listening to my husband sing Silent Night (now there's a miracle)enhance our communion with Jesus. It is a happy time for everyone. For Catholics, this feeling of goodwill last until Little Christmas, Jan. 8th, 2012.

Jesus came to us as a baby. He is not a God to be feared, but to Love. And He wants nothing from us, but our love. This is what I feel this Christmas season--God's love. This is what Christians experience and mean by Christmas. This is exactly, what the secular world doesn't get.

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice! Psalm 96

Hoping for Cheap Grace

The Light Is On For You - 2011 from Archdiocese of Boston on Vimeo.

Since I'm giving myself a Christmas present by going to Confession, tonight, I listened to Bishop Robert Hennessey explain the importance of Confession, at this time of year. The good Bishop said he gets a kick out of people rushing around, especially Christmas Eve, trying to prepare for Christmas. Think about it--Christmas is the same date, every year.

I see his point. I also see that he doesn't have to worry about money. Some of us have to wait for sales. The best bargains are Christmas Eve. This is when to buy a Christmas tree, for example.

So the good bishop segued into being spiritually prepared for Christmas, and don't wait until it's too late to meet your Maker. Don't put Confession off.

I can segue into that line of thinking, too. Don't wait for the sale; cheap grace isn't going to do it. Better to go to Confession.

Send the Pope Christmas Greetings

Do you want to send the Holy Father a Christmas Card?  The Pope 2 site allows you to do just that.

You can even send a photo.  This is just like sending Christmas greetings to friends and relatives.

h/t  George Matysek's The Narthex

Out of the Mouth of Babes

This song and its story have been making the rounds via e-mail.  I enjoyed it and know you will too.

Here’s the story behind the song: 

About the Song 

While at the mall a couple of years ago, my then four year old nephew, Spencer, saw kids lined up to see Santa Claus. Having been taught as a toddler that Christmas is the holiday that Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus, he asked his mom, "where's the line to see Jesus"? My sister mentioned this to my dad, who immediately became inspired and jotted words down to a song in just a few minutes. After putting music to the words, and doing a quick recording at home, he received a great response from friends. He sent the song off to Nashville without much response, except for a Christian song writer who suggested adding a bridge at the end of the first chorus. My dad then asked if I wanted to record the song to see what we could do with it. I listened to the song, made a few changes to the words to make it flow better, and we headed to Shock City Studios. It was at the studio where Chris, owner and producer, rewrote the 2nd verse and part of the chorus... with goosebumps and emotions high, we were all hopeful and felt like we had something special. The demo was recorded in just under 2 hours and sent off again to Nashville ... still no response. Then 2 weeks before Christmas last year, my cousins Greg and Robbie decided to do a video to see what we could accomplish on YouTube. The first day we had 3000 hits and it soared from there. We received e-mails, phone calls, Facebook messages from people all over asking for the music, CD's, iTunes, anything... we had nothin'. After a couple of meetings with Chris following the amazing response, we got serious. We headed back into the studio this past spring... this time with guitars, drums, bass, pianos, choirs... the real deal.... and here we are today. Getting iTunes set up, a website put together, and loving that thousands upon thousands of Christians have come together... remembering the true meaning of Christmas. Out of the mouths of babes come profound truths that many adults can not understand. Hopefully Spencer's observation will cause people all over to reflect on the love of Jesus, and that one day we will all stand in line to see Him. We are most thankful to our Heavenly Father to have this chance to share our music with you. Merry Christmas everyone. 

Christmas Poetry

CENSUS:  BC--AD

by Lois Staas

Before Jesus was born,

            before the first Augustan census,

            the estimated Roman population was about 200,000 male individuals.

Before Jesus was born,

            the conquered needed to know they were conquered;

            crucifixion was a common form of execution.

            The god of Rome was Jupiter.

Before Jesus was born,

            all the known world ruled by Emperor Caesar Augustus,

            were ordered by law to register in their places of origin.

Before Jesus was born,

            What was the reason for the census? 

            Money.  The reason is always money.

Before Jesus was born,

            the journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem was a stony, ten day donkey ride.

            A few died along the way.

Before Jesus was born,

            Bethlehem was a small walled town;

            those who arrived had traveled through the Sabbath.

            I Am Who Am was the God of the Israelites.

Before Jesus was born,

            Jews for the census overcrowded the City of David—

            bartering callous merchants for food,

            haggling infuriating innkeepers for non-existent rooms.

Before Jesus was born,

            Joseph and Mary--aching, wind-chilled, and hungry--

            settled into a stable attached to an inn.

Then, Jesus was born,

            and there was Christmas.

Before Christmas

It's "Jest 'Fore Christmas" by Eugene Field,

Jest 'Fore Christmas

Father calls me William, sister calls me Will,
Mother calls me Willie but the fellers call me Bill!
Mighty glad I ain't a girl -- ruther be a boy,
Without them sashes curls an' things that's worn by Fauntleroy!
Love to chawnk green apples an' go swimmin' in the lake --
Hate to take the castor-ile they give for belly-ache!
'Most all the time, the whole year round, there ain't no flies on me,
But jest 'fore Christmas I'm as good as I kin be!

Got a yeller dog named Sport, sick him on the cat.
First thing she knows she does n't know where she is at!
Got a clipper sled, an' when us kids goes out to slide,
'Long comes the grocery cart, an' we all hook a ride!
But sometimes when the grocery man is worrited an' cross,
He reaches at us with his whip, an' larrups up his hoss,
An' then I laff an' holler, "Oh, ye never teched me!"
But jest 'fore Christmas I'm as good as I kin be!

Gran'ma says she hopes that when I git to be a man,
I'll be a missionarer like her oldest brother, Dan,
As was et up by the cannibals that live in Ceylon's Isle,
Where every prospeck pleases, an' only man is vile!
But gran'ma she has never been to see a Wild West show,
Nor read the life of Daniel Boone, or else I guess she'd know
That Buff'lo Bill an' cowboys is good enough for me!
Excep' jest 'fore Christmas, when I'm as good as I kin be!

And then old Sport he hangs around, so solemn-like an' still,
His eyes they seem a-sayin': "What's the matter, little Bill?"
The old cat sneaks down off her perch an' wonders what's become
Of them two enemies of hern that used to make things hum!
But I am so perlite an' tend so earnestly to biz,
That mother says to father: "How improved our Willie is!"
But father, havin' been a boy hisself, suspicions me
When, jest 'fore Christmas, I'm as good as I kin be!

For Christmas, with its lots an' lots of candies, cakes an' toys,
Was made, they say, for proper kids an' not for naughty boys;
So wash yer face an' bresh yer hair, an' mind yer p's and q's,
And don't bust out yer pantaloons, and don't wear out yer shoes;
Say "Yessum" to the ladies, and "Yessur" to the men,
An' when they's company, don't pass yer plate for pie again;
But, thinkin' of the things yer'd like to see upon that tree,
Jest 'fore Christmas be as good as yer kin be!

Messy Christmas

The tree fell over a couple of nights ago. We went to see what that noise was, and there was the tree spread out on the floor. We just picked it up and it stayed put.

?????????

Why did it fall? We don't know. And Dallas was asleep on a bed, so she's not guilty. She doesn't bother with the tree, anyway. Any ornaments that fell off we just threw back up onto the tree, figuring it's going to fall again, so why bother.

As you can see things are a little askew. The tree top angel is about to fly off, but that can't be helped. Besides, like I said, what if it fall, again?

The tree also matches our advent wreath. For some reason, the candles have melted away. We can't light them anymore; they're down to stubs. And that's another thing. Our advent wreath broke. In order to fix it we would have had to weld the candle holder to the metal frame of the wreath. We don't know how, and don't have the tools to do that, especially for a cheap wreath. So we just took four unmatched candle holders and placed them around the wreath. Looks like he**.

Now the candles have melted too fast. Mmmmm, about par for the course.

Not to mention that Dallas keeps squashing her fat body inside the manger knocking Mary and Joseph aside.

Did I tell you that my oven's busted? I'm waiting for the repair man now. No Christmas cookies. :-(

If it weren't for Jesus coming, I'd think somebody invited the Grinch. I'm focusing on Jesus. I have to. He's what's important--not cookies, trees, wreaths, candles, or perfect mangers. Bah Humbug. No, Merry Christmas!

Christmas

You know what I like best about this time of year? The way people treat each other. It just seems that every one is happier and kinder. Even if they're rushed and in a foul mood, they often apologize because they know they shouldn't be.
Today was a really happy day because we had our Christmas party at work today. We gave out our presents; everyone brought food, and we wished everyone well. This is what is meant by the peace of Christmas.
I wish the day was longer.