Tag Archive for ‘Christmas’
How to Have a ‘Mary’ Christmas
Let us learn from the Virgin Mary how to be bolder in obeying the Word of God. Lessons for Living – from Mary, the Mother of Jesus Pope Francis When friends and colleagues learned that Protestant theologian Dr Scot McKnight was writing a book about Mary, he was often asked, “Why?” His answer was simple and […]
The Legend of the Candy Stick Witness
A candy-maker in Indiana, USA, wanted to make a candy that would witness, so he made the ‘Christmas Candy Cane’. He incorporated several symbols for the birth, ministry and death of Jesus Christ. He began with a stick of pure white hard candy. White, to symbolise the virgin birth and sinless nature of Jesus; hard, […]
The grace of God has appeared
Extracts from the Pope’s homily at Midnight Mass, 24 December 2019 The grace of God, “bringing salvation to all” (Titus 2:11), has shone on our world this night. But what is this grace? It is divine love, the love that changes lives, renews history, liberates from evil, fills hearts with peace and joy. Tonight the […]
The Inspiring Story of Silent Night
He was illegitimate, grew up in a hangman’s cottage, and he wrote the words for ‘Silent Night’. His mother’s name was Anna Schoiberin. His father was a mercenary soldier and deserter called Franz Mohr, who never saw him. The hangman provided accommodation in his house for single mothers and their children, as he was trying […]
Blue Christmas
Tips for Dealing with Holiday Sadness Though the December holiday season inspires feelings of warmth, belonging, connection and joy for many people, there are others for whom the month is one of increased stress, sadness, anxiety, loneliness and depression. Their experience is called a ‘blue’ Christmas, something described by the Urban Dictionary this way: “It […]
A Christmas Letter
Two thousand years ago, a special baby was born far away in a town called Bethlehem. The baby’s name was Jesus. His parents were travelling at the time of his arrival, and the only shelter for them was a place where animals were kept. I guess it was like a barn. Anyway, he was born […]
The message of Christmas
Like the shepherds who first went with haste to the stable, let us halt in wonder before the sign that God has given us: “A baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12). In silence, let us fall to our knees and worship. What does that Child, born for us of […]
The Hope and Promise of Christmas
The sad list of what’s wrong with our world goes on and on. Christmas does not change the fact that many people live in desperate poverty. Children die of malnutrition and the gap between the rich and poor grows by the minute. Men and women are motivated to kill one another in the name of […]
The Light of the World
In ancient times, many people regarded the sun as the most important god. The sun gave the world warmth and light. Fires were lit during winter to boost the weakening strength of the sun. Sol, the sun-god, was the principal deity of the Roman Empire, and 25 December, by which day the sun had begun […]
Tidying up for Christmas
There’s nothing like the prospect of visitors to get me to tidy the house. Inertia is replaced by action and the house is sparkling before I know where I am. Christmas also spurs me into action. This year, December 25 is on a Tuesday, and my preparations began a year ago on the previous Boxing […]
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