Kreeft, Peter. We cannot please everyone all the time, but we can surely try to please God. Are we teaching them that He is why we celebrate this glorious day? Peter Kreeft, Ph.D., is a … What we mean is this – rather than focus on the birth of an infant Jesus Christ, let us think about Christmas as God being born into the world into the fully human form of Jesus Christ. If we do not receive Him from Bethlehem and take Him to the world, no one will. Sermon of St. Fulgentius, Bishop Yesterday we were celebrating the birth in time of our Eternal King; to-day we celebrate the victory, through suffering, of one of His soldiers. ORIGIN OF THE WORD. Attend Mass and rediscover the glory of the season. Christmas is such a beautiful time of year. Learn how your comment data is processed. six geese a-laying. You are the Beginning and the End, the Word made flesh, God in a manger. When we say that ‘God sent his son into the world’ (John 3:16) and ‘Jesus came into the world’ (1 Tim 1:15) we are really saying that God came to the world into a human form. Yet any action made by one of the Divine Persons is God’s action. There is a good chance you’ve seen them on bumper stickers or heard it spoken at mass. Let us pray, Lord, the symbolism of Christmas is replete with many secular symbols, all of which point to You. If you do encounter one of these scenarios (and you probably will), remember to stop and think about what God wants from us during Christmas. Then came the … The word for Christmas in late Old English is Cristes Maesse, the Mass of Christ, first found in 1038, and Cristes-messe, in 1131. The very word Christmas comes from the Old English words Crīstes mæss, or Christ-Mass. But the 12 days are really only part of our Christmas observance, which also includes important feast days in honor of Stephen, the first martyr (December 26); John the evangelist (December 27); and the Holy Innocents, the infants slain by King Herod (December 28, Matt. Many of us Catholics, however, are not aware of this. Republished by permission of the author. Have a Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year! But the 12 days are really only part of our Christmas observance, which also includes important feast days in honor of Stephen, the first martyr (December 26); John the evangelist (December 27); and the Holy Innocents, the infants slain by King Herod (December 28, Matt. Christmas day starts the Christmas season, which isn’t a day but actually continues. Legend has it that the Catholic Church did read the “12 Days of Christmas” lyrics with additional meaning, where each of the twelve gifts represented something significant from the … The commercial world has appropriated the Christmas tree as if it were simply a symbol of the “holidays” and completely ignore the centrality of the Our Lord’s role. The purpose is the same, according to the festive. The fear of disappointing someone, hurting someone’s feelings, or undercooking the turkey can take away from what God intended us to celebrate: the birth of His Son. Five Books to Help You Rediscover the Church this Lent, Turning an Argument Against Jesus’ Divinity on Its Head, What The Year B Lenten Psalms Have in Store For Us, 20/20 Vision on the Mystery of Garabandal – Part II, Tips On How To Write One Of The Best Kissing Scene - هتل بزرگ شیراز, How Having Faith Can Help You Find True Love, A Catholic Response to the Mental Health Crisis, How to Know if You Are Under a Spiritual Attack. True, Catholics recognize that Christmas is not only on December 25. Christmas. Recent Posts. The Symbolism Of The Three Christmas Masses. Here you will find the Christian meaning of Christmas symbols. Many times children are caught up in the materialistic side of Christmas. Weihnachtsfest, from the preceding sacred vigil. to Christmas trees, lots of Christmas stuff has Catholic roots. 332 West 23rd Street, New York City, NY 10011 | (212) 929-1010 ext 219. The twelve days of Christmas take us from the Nativity to the Epiphany. Go to confession during Advent and cleanse your soul from the burdens you carry. He is the reason for the season, and we need to be sure to celebrate his birth appropriately. He is the reason for the season. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. At the end of the day, does it make a difference if you say that the real meaning of Christmas is about Jesus or about God? From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Unfortunately, many of us Christians are only concerned with the material side of Christmas. Yet as we go about our business, we notice the days are getting shorter. When fall has given way to winter and snow covers the ground while lights twinkle from house to house, you know Christmas is coming. In fact, there are 12 whole days of Christmas, and they go all the way through the Epiphany! Each egg is a … Winfrid grew in holiness and piety but yearned to leave the monastery and bring the light of Christ to the pagan Germans just as the monks had brought the Faith to England a century earlier. Christmas Meaning in English Catholic and Hindi – Why is it Important. Guy McClung, San Antonio, Texas, Your email address will not be published. You are the Beginning and the End, the Word made flesh, God in a manger. Christ means "the anointed one." And if I get the chance, I add that the reason it is a holiday is that it began as a HOLY-day, holy because a baby was born 2000 yrs ago and slept in the first ever King-sized bed. Keep your nativity scene displayed up through this day, or better yet, until the Presentation of the Lord on February 2nd (which is a feast of the Baby Jesus). 2:16–18). When it comes to a traditional Catholic Christmas, there is more to it then just simply gathering together on December 25th. Let us pray, Lord, the symbolism of Christmas is replete with many secular symbols, all of which point to You. National Catholic Register (December 1986). With so much pressure and preparation behind making a perfect Christmas, at times we need to remind ourselves of the real meaning of Christmas. Christmas commemorates that God entered this world in human form. He is the reason for the season, and we need to be sure to celebrate his birth appropriately. We provide hospitality to travelers of all religions, both foreign and domestic. For Christians, the true meaning of Christmas is the celebration of the Savior, Jesus Christ. We get caught up in the hustle and bustle of sales and deadlines and so forget why this month is so important. Abortion Is Slavery VII:  Minority Genocide, The Joys of Revelation Transcend Philosophy. Merry Christmas!