From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   December 25th - Birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ   
      
   The birth of Jesus was both an ending and a beginning. It was the   
   fulfillment of the long awaited Old Testament "Promise of a Messiah" and the   
   birth of the New Testament "Promise of Salvation." Throughout the world   
   Christmas is celebrated with many and varied traditions. It is a time of   
   renewal and a time of peacemaking. Unfortunately it is also a birthday that   
   many have forgotten. Today is a good day to stop. To take some time, even if   
   only a few minutes to think about, "What Does Christmas really mean."   
      
   The "Catechism of the Catholic Church" tells us:   
      
   (525) Jesus was born in a humble stable, into a poor family. Simple   
   shepherds were the first witnesses to this event. In this poverty heaven's   
   glory was made manifest. The Church never tires of singing the glory of this   
   night.   
      
   The Virgin today brings into the world the Eternal   
   And the earth offers a cave to the Inaccessible.   
   The angels and shepherds praise him   
   And the magi advance with the star,   
   For you are born for us   
   Little child, God eternal! (Kontakion of Romanos the Melodist)   
      
   To become a child in relation to God is the condition for entering the   
   kingdom. For this, we must humble ourselves and become little. Even more: to   
   become "children of God" we must be "born from above" or "born of God." Only   
   when Christ is formed in us will the mystery of Christmas be fulfilled in   
   us. Christmas is the mystery of this "marvelous exchange."   
      
   O marvelous exchange! Man's Creator has become man, born of the Virgin. We   
   have been made sharers in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to   
   share our humanity. (Antiphon I of Evening Prayer for January 1st)   
      
   The name Christmas comes from the Old English Cristes-messe, which means   
   "Mass of Christ." There have been several explanations of how it came to be   
   celebrated on December 25th. The one most scholars accept today is that   
   Christ's birth was assigned to the date of the winter solstice, December 25   
   in the Julian Calendar and Jan. 6 in the Egyptian calendar. This coincided   
   with the pagan celebration of the birthday of the sun.   
      
   On Dec. 25th of the year 274, the emperor Aurelian dedicated a temple to the   
   sun-god and made him the primary patron of the empire. The celebration of   
   Christmas originated at a time when this pagan festival was especially   
   strong in Rome. From the beginning of the 3rd century the title, "Sun of   
   Justice," was given to Christ. The first verifiable date of the celebration   
   of this feast comes from the, "Depositio Martyrum," which was composed in   
   336 and the oldest Christmas sermon still in existence dates back to 383   
   from Numidia in Africa. While historians have not been able to prove with   
   certainty that our feast of Christmas was begun to counteract the pagan   
   festival, this seems to be the most plausible reason for Dec. 25th to have   
   been chosen.   
      
   The history of the Christmas creche or crib probably dates back to the   
   manger in Bethlehem itself, as told in Luke's Gospel, Chapter 2:7-8. It was   
   made very popular in 1223 by St. Francis of Assisi. The tradition of a   
   Christmas tree probably comes from 17th century Strasbourg, where it   
   originated from the Paradise Tree decorated with apples on Dec. 24th in   
   honor of Adam and Eve. Another tradition made popular by St. Francis of   
   Assisi was the Christmas Carol, although the first Christmas Hymns date back   
   to the 5th century and the more popular Christmas carols of today only date   
   back to the 19th century   
      
   The exchange of Christmas gifts may have first come from a pagan tradition   
   of exchanging gifts on January 1st. This tradition has gone through many   
   interpretations through the centuries, and presently most countries exchange   
   gifts on December 25th, but Italy and Spain do so on the feast of the Magi,   
   January 6th and France exchanges them on January 1st. Also the giver of the   
   gifts has been seen as different people. For some it is the Christ Child   
   himself, for others it is Father Christmas and/or St. Nicholas, in Italy it   
   is Befana, an old woman in the story of Epiphany. In the United States it is   
   generally Santa Claus, which originally was probably an evolution of St.   
   Nicholas.   
      
   Perhaps this would be a good time for you to get together with children,   
   grandchildren, nieces, nephews and read from the Bible, Luke chapters 1 and   
   2, especially Chapter 2 verse 11, "Today in the town of David a Savior has   
   been born to you; He is Christ the Lord." Then spend some time thinking   
   about and talking about what this means to each of you.   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   Divine providence often allows even good men to be expelled from the   
   Christian community.... By their patient endurance of such injury and   
   disgrace for the peace of the Church..., they will give man a lesson in true   
   affliction, in the really genuine charity, which God's service calls for.   
   The object of such men is to return when the gale has blown itself out; but   
   if this is not possible because the storm continues, or is more likely to   
   break out more furiously than ever if they go back, they cling to their   
   determination ... and are prepared ... to defend to the death the faith   
   which they know is preached in the Catholic Church, and to support it by   
   their loyal testimony. The Father sees these men in secret, and rewards them   
   in secret.   
   -St. Augustine   
      
   Bible Quote   
   Jesus answered, and said to him: If any one love me, he will keep my word,   
   and my Father will love him, and we will come to him, and will make our   
   abode with him.   (John 14:23)   
      
      
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   A prayer to the Infant Jesus, suitable for the Masses of the   
   Nativity of Our Lord:   
      
   Most dear Lord Jesus Christ, who, being made a Child for   
   us, didst will to be born in a cave to free us from the   
   darkness of sin, to draw us unto Thee, and to set us on fire   
   with Thy holy love; we adore Thee as our Creator and   
   Redeemer, we acknowledge and for tribute we offer Thee   
   all the affection of our poor hearts. Dear Jesus, our Lord   
   and God, graciously accept this offering, and that it may be   
   worthy of Thine acceptance, forgive us our sins, enlighten   
   us, and inflame us with that sacred fire which Thou camest   
   to bring upon the earth and to enkindle in our hearts. May   
   our souls thus become an altar, on which we may offer   
   Thee the sacrifice of our mortifications; grant that we may   
   ever seek Thy greater glory here on earth, so that one day   
   we may come to enjoy Thine infinite loveliness in heaven.   
   Amen.   
      
   Traditional indulgence of 3 years; plenary on usual conditions for   
   those who say these prayers daily for one month. (1-18-1894 & 2-21-1933)   
      
   Imprimatur:  Francis Cardinal Spellman [30 May, 1951]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)