Merry Christmas

Actually the word "merry" in the context of "Merry Christmas" means peaceful or pleasant. It's from old English.  We are familiar with the carol God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. So, we are wishing others to have a nice, peaceful Christmas, not a boisterous, fun-filled one.

It is true that Christmas is perhaps the most joyous time of year for Christians and even for some nonbelievers. Almost everyone remembers the happiness of their childhood Christmases. I think that this is why many of the secular traditions are maintained. So, many decorate (some extravagantly), send Christmas cards, listen to and sing carols, get together with family and friends, go to parties and eat well. A few have tried to maintain this spirit of joy while denying the Person responsible for it, Jesus Christ.

Christmas means Christ's Mass. It is the day on which the Mass of Christ is offered. Yet, every Mass is that of Jesus Christ. Every Mass is the unbloody Sacrifice of Jesus on Calvary whereby He redeemed us from our sins. The name Christmas was given to underscore the Mass commemorating his Birth. It is because of this Birth that the Redemption could take place.

So, Jesus is the reason for all the joy, giving and receiving. Without Him the celebration is empty, meaningless. The faithful Catholic keeps Jesus central in their life. Thus the happiness of Christmas day is real and lasting -- lasting into eternity.

Knowing this, let each of us make every effort to cooperate with God's grace and live our Faith. We should be in conversation with God and always consider how He wants us to act. It is good to remember that He sees us 24/7, not only to judge us but to help us -- to help us be like His Son, for whose birth we are most grateful!

Father Stanley

Mary and Joseph and Us Today

In this last week before Christmas, it is worthwhile to reflect upon the Holy Family and on what they were doing at this time about two thousand years ago. Mary and Joseph knew that they would have to uproot themselves and undertake a journey to Bethlehem. This was necessary because of the decree of Caesar for everyone to return to their native town for the census. Although Mary was with Child, they were not exempt. So, off they went: Mary, Joseph and the unborn Son of God and Mary. They had a tremendous trust in God, knowing that, if God said that Mary would be the mother of His Son, everything would turn out all right. They probably had to sleep outdoors. They had to endure the cold of night and whatever else mother nature delivered. They did not have reservations at an inn. So, there was the question of where they could be safe and warm. Just imagine how St. Joseph felt concern not about himself but about his wife and his foster child. Mary would have been concerned with the place in which Jesus would be born. They, nevertheless, cooperated with God, and He provided. They did not have the best of conditions for this first Christmas, but they were safe under God's protection.

We always can learn something new from the Holy Family. One lesson for mothers with child and the fathers is that they should not feel threatened by unfavorable circumstances. The political power twenty centuries ago was against the birth of Mary's Child. A king tried to kill Him. No matter how difficult it may seem to a woman to bring her unborn child to term, God will always get her through it. But, she needs trust in Him. We probably do not know the pressure that is put upon young girls and women to abort their children. They are urged to do so not just by friends and counselors but even by their own parents and family members. It really is a bad situation for many of them. Yet, in spite of it all, they are able to do the right thing and protect the lives of their little ones and have peace. God not only comforts them but also provides help. There are many Catholic groups that support and help women who think that abortion is the only option, such as Several Sources Foundation. They will even provide them with a place to live and help them take care of their children. So, this is God helping some through the cooperation of others.

We too can learn from the Holy Family. We may not have to protect a baby from adverse circumstances, but we often encounter unfavorable situations, some serious and some not so bad. We just need to have that hope that our heavenly Father gives us. We need to say what Jesus asked us to say through St. Faustyna: "Jesus, I trust in You."

Father Stanley

Our Need for Confession

Advent is the time of our spiritual preparation to celebrate the birth of our Savior. The best way to make spiritual progress is through continued conversion. This simply means a turning around. Turning away from sin to God. Without this there is no spiritual life. We need Confession, also called Reconciliation. In fact, we need frequent Confession. What person, say an athlete, does not continually examine his performance? Isn't our journey to Heaven immeasurably more important than achieving a victory in a stadium or any other kind of worldly success?

I would like to quote from a book of spiritual reflections, Conversations with God:

Sins involve a double disorder. First of all they are an offense against God. They make the soul his enemy. In the case of mortal sin the soul makes a radical choice contrary to its final end. Mortal sin merits eternal separation from God. For the forgiveness of mortal sins committed after Baptism we must have recourse to the sacrament of Confession.

In addition to the loss of friendship with God, sin also damages the sinner himself. It hampers ones personal growth and that of the community of the faithful. "For sin has diminished man, blocking his path to fulfillment."1 "A soul that lowers itself through sin drags down with itself the Church and, in some way, the whole world."2 The soul suffers from the consequences if sin even after receiving sacramental absolution. Besides his particular penance, the sinner needs to make reparation in his life through good works and indulgences.

Fernandez, Francis, Conversations with God vol. V. p. 405. Scepter Publishers, London, 1991

1 Second Vatican Council, Gaudium et Spes, 13.

2 Pope John Paul II, Apostolic Exhortation, Reconciliatio et Paenitentia, 2 Dec 1984, 16

Ordinarily, it is essential to receive sacramental absolution of mortal sins in order to have the Divine life within us. We need to confess all mortal sins. Moreover, a person who has mortal sins and has not gone to Confession, may not receive Holy Communion. Doing so, would incur another mortal sin, that of sacrilege.

Venial sins are slight offenses against God. Although they are not serious, we should not tolerate them because they still offend God Whom we love. An enormous number of venial sins cannot equal nor amount to one mortal sin. These sins can be forgiven through prayer, the Holy Mass especially, and through good works. Nevertheless, going to Confession with only these sins is an excellent practice because we receive the grace of this sacrament.

If we are not already frequenters of this great sacrament of mercy, hopefully we will begin to be so during this Advent.

Father Stanley

Saint John the Baptist and Us

The Preaching of St. John the Baptist by Baciccio 1690

We have begun using the updated translation from Latin into English in the Holy Mass.  It will take time before we get use to it. So, you and I will have to be careful and read what we are praying. Other language translations were accurate and did not need adjustment. As we continue to say and pay attention to the prayers of the Mass we will come to appreciate their beauty.

In the Gospel today St. John the Baptist was preparing the people for the advent of the Messiah. It is worth meditating on St. John the Baptist. He is a good example for us. St. John's whole life was determined by his vocation, that is, to prepare the people to receive Jesus. He carried out this task without holding back; he gave up his life for this purpose. He did not consider himself, nor his desires or comforts. He did not say that he was the cousin of the God's Son or that he was the son of Zachariah of the priestly tribe. No, he said that he was the voice of one crying in the wilderness, one who was not worthy to unfasten the sandal straps of Jesus.

Like the Baptist, we should want to bring others to Jesus. By being friendly and helpful to others, we are preparing an environment that can be receptive to God. Each of us can ask ourselves certain key questions. Do I desire to bring the people around us closer to God? Do I give good example in the workplace, at home and in public places? Do I speak about God to my relatives, friends and colleagues?

We should not make ourselves the center of attention. Without humility we cannot bring others to Jesus. What is important is that Christ should be announced, known and loved. Only He has the words of eternal life.

One most worthy way of imitating the zeal of St. John the Baptist is to invite someone to Church. We should not be hesitant to ask a friend, relative or coworker to come with us to Confession and to Mass. Sometimes such an invitation is much appreciated. This is something that we can always think about doing, not just now as we approach Christmas, but always throughout the year.

Father Stanley