Unfortunately, self-styled debunkers sometimes attack the Christmas Tree (erroneously) as a pagan intrusion. We Christians need not be swayed by such nonsense.
Christmas Bells – The Wrong Shall Fail, The Right Prevail: 11th Day of Christmas
As he himself struggles with profound sorrow in the midst of our most festive season, Longfellow juxtaposes the joyful ringing of bells in “The belfries of all Christendom” to the manifest lack of peace among men
God is Light: 7th Day of Christmas
Light has also been a big part of our liturgical practices, as anyone who has attended the Easter Vigil can attest, and this also goes back to the beginning.
Christmas Continues: 6th Day of Christmas
Today is a Solemnity, in fact, Monday in the Octave of Christmas. Even if nobody else seems to notice, you have every reason to go about your business humming “Gloria in excelsis Deo!”
The Attraction of Sanctity and Holy Innocents: 4th Day of Christmas
As I observed in my recent posts on St. Servulus, St. Nicasius, and St. Anastasia, lesser observances are often overwhelmed during great celebrations such as Christmas and Easter.
Merry Christmas (and Feast of St. Anastasia)!
St. Anastasia shares in the Incarnation by sharing her feast day with the commemoration of Christ's Nativity on the Solemnity of Christmas.
Small Beginnings: 4th Sunday of Advent
How can it be that the Firstborn of All Creation was born again as a little human baby? A baby lying in a manger out of which animals feed? From small beginnings . . .
Evermore and Evermore: “Of the Father’s Love Begotten.”
Sixty human generations or more have passed since Aurelius Prudentius first published hymn IX of his Liber Cathereminon. We still sing it today as the Christmas hymn "Of the Father's Love Begotten."
Wonder at the Incarnation: O Magnum Mysterium
"O Magnum Mysterium" - I've often thought that, however amazing it is that God could create this immeasurable universe, there's something much more astounding: He chose to become one of us . . .
Fickle Fame and Salieri’s “Gloria”
Fickle Fame Fickle Fame is a confounding thing. It's often the way that a well-regarded artist falls out of fashion. Despite the worthiness of his or her work, the artist is forgotten by subsequent generations. Even truly great artists can meet this fate: The 16th century poet John Donne was largely unknown until another poet, … Continue reading Fickle Fame and Salieri’s “Gloria”