The Holy Family: A Triple Threat

I suspect that when most people think about the Holy Family, they imagine a picture of total happiness, where there is no suffering of any kind and where every day just turns out perfectly. Yes, Jesus and Mary were completely sinless, and Joseph was a most chaste and righteous man. But, they still had their difficulties.

The movie The Nativity Story is what first gave me a sense of this, but if you think about it, Scripture reveals it too. The Holy Family had many trials, including public scorn, homelessness, harsh environments and traveling conditions, a power-hungry and blood-thirsty king, and the pressures -- and ultimately the suffering -- that comes with knowing that your son must die to save the world.

What we can learn from this is that the Holy Family can relate to a family that struggles. A sword pierced Mary's heart, so that the thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed (cf. Lk 2:35). Joseph, for his part, had always on his shoulders the task of protecting and providing for this holiest of holy families. They both had quite a scare when, for three days, they had no clue where to find their son (cf. Lk 2:41-49). Of course, if anyone knows suffering, it is Jesus. As a family, they are acquainted with struggle, but more importantly, they also know how to overcome and to survive.

Because of their family experience, they are powerful intercessors when we wrestle with family issues. If you suffer because of your mother, find solace in Mary. She cares greatly for the entire Body of Christ, just as she cared for the literal body of Christ. Just as Sarah was the spiritual mother of the Jews (cf. 1 Pet 3:6), Mary is the spiritual mother of "those who keep the commandments of God and bear testimony to Jesus" (Rev 12:17). Her prayer for us will always be powerful because her will is always united with her Son's, and because "the prayer of the righteous has great power in its effects" (Jas 5:16).

If you suffer because of your father, find solace in St. Joseph, Jesus' father in this world. St. Joseph will never forsake his fatherly duty. He is the patron saint and the protector of families. With his powerful intercession, he protects God's children, just like he protected God's Child. As Mary's most chaste spouse, he also teaches boys how to be good men, and men how to be good men too. Pray that St. Joseph will help your father to be the man that God is calling him to be.

Of course, there is no intercession, no solace, no love, no source of strength and courage and hope like that of the Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is our Rock and our Salvation. In Him, we can do all things, overcome all things, be all things. Together, the mother, the father, and the Son are a triple threat against anything that threatens the integrity of the family.

For more on the Holy Family, see the following articles. I conclude with the words from a song about the Holy Family that we often sing at Mass.

Jesus, Son of God and Son of Mary ... have mercy on us.
Mary, Mother of God and Mother of the Church ... pray for us.
Joseph, Protector of Families ... pray for us.

Pax Christi,
phatcatholic

- - - - - - - - - -

Articles:

• Liturgical Calendar: Feast of the Holy Family
• Holy Family Radiates Example of True Love
• Holy Family Teaches Us What Is Essential
• The Family at the Heart of a Culture of Life
• The Family for Families
• Mary and Joseph Lived Gift of Virginity
• The Holy Family as the Model for Contemporary Catholic Families
• The Holy Family: A Model for the Catholic Home
• Flight Into Egypt
• The World's Happiest Marriage
• What Makes a Marriage?: Consent, Consummation, and the Special Case of the Holy Family
• What Your Family Can Learn from the Holy Family
• Benedict XVI: General Address on the Feast of the Holy Family (12-28-08)

- - - - - - - - - -

Sing of Mary

Sing of Mary, pure and lowly, Virgin mothjer undefiled.
Sing of God's own Son most holy, Who became her little child.
Fairest child of fairest mother, God the Lord who came to earth;
Word made flesh, our very brother, Takes our nature by His birth.

Sing of Mary, pure and spotless, Born to bear the Holy Child;
Blest was she, to do God's bidding, Blessed, gentle, meek and mild.
Blessed, too, was good Saint Joseph, Foster father to the Lord;
Let us praise God's Holy Family Who brought forth God's Holy Word.

Sing of Mary, sing of Joseph, keepers of the wondrous Boy,
Called by God to high vocation, Sharing sorrow, sharing joy;
Sharing love, and by that loving in their home in Nazareth,
Forming One whose grace and glory suffered, died and conquered death.

Glory be to God the Father; Glory be to God the Son;
Glory be to God the Spirit; Glory to the Three in One.
From the blessed Virgin Mary, From Saint Joseph praise ascends,
And the Church the strain reechoes Unto earth's remotest ends.
- - - - -
Text: Vss. 1-2, Roland F. Palmer, SSJE, 1891-1985, © Estate of Roland Palmer. All rights reserved. Vs. 3, Herbert O'Driscoll, ©. Melody: Christian Lyre, 1830.

Online Catholic Scripture Commentaries on St. John's Gospel

In honor of St. John on his feast day, I present the following online Catholic commentaries on his Gospel:

• Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary
• Agape Bible Study
• Catena Aurea: Gospel of St. John [The Catena Aurea is a collection quotations from the Early Church Fathers arranged, by St. Thomas Aquinas, into a verse-by-verse commentary on the Gospels]
• Commentary on the Passion Narratives: The Passion in the Gospel of John
• Navarre Bible Commentary
• The Gospel of John: A Commentary and Meditation
• Reflections on the Scriptures of the Sacred Liturgy: The Gospel According to St. John
• Commentary on the Gospel of St. John by St. Thomas Aquinas
• Commentary on the Gospel of John by Origen
• Tractates on the Gospel of John by St. Augustine
• Homilies on the Gospel of John by St. John Chrysostom

Read John's Gospel ... and soar on eagle's wings to new heights of spiritual wisdom. If you know of any other Catholic commentaries on John's Gospel that exist online, please let me know.

St. John the Evangelist ... pray for us.

Pax Christi,
phatcatholic

Celebrating the Feast of St. Stephen with Good King Wenceslas

Many of you may have forgotten (I know I almost did!) that today is the Feast of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, who's life and death is accounted for us in Acts 6 and 7. Well, a popular Christmas carol gives us a helpful reminder. Listen via the YouTube video below. Follow along with the lyrics underneath.



Good King Wenceslas looked out
On the feast of Stephen
When the snow lay round about
Deep and crisp and even
Brightly shone the moon that night
Though the frost was cruel
When a poor man came in sight
Gath'ring winter fuel

"Hither, page, and stand by me
If thou know'st it, telling
Yonder peasant, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?"
"Sire, he lives a good league hence
Underneath the mountain
Right against the forest fence
By Saint Agnes' fountain."

"Bring me flesh and bring me wine
Bring me pine logs hither
Thou and I will see him dine
When we bear him thither."
Page and monarch forth they went
Forth they went together
Through the rude wind's wild lament
And the bitter weather

"Sire, the night is darker now
And the wind blows stronger
Fails my heart, I know not how,
I can go no longer."
"Mark my footsteps, my good page
Tread thou in them boldly
Thou shalt find the winter's rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly."

In his master's steps he trod
Where the snow lay dinted
Heat was in the very sod
Which the Saint had printed
Therefore, Christian men, be sure
Wealth or rank possessing
Ye who now will bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing

For more on St. Stephen, see the following resources:

• Catholic Culture: Feast of St. Stephen, first martyr
• Butler's Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and Other Principal Saints: St. Stephen, the first martyr
• New Advent: St. Stephen
• Patron Saints Index: St. Stephen the Martyr
• Wikipedia: St. Stephen

Pax Christi,
phatcatholic

Know the Reason for the Season

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

No politically-correct "Happy Holidays" around here! The following links are to articles that explore the true meaning of Christmas. With all the hustle and bustle, it's good to have a reminder. "Let every heart prepare him room / and heaven and nature sing." After these links is a Christmas poem by G. K. Chesterton.

Let us all make room for the birth of Christ!!

Pax Christi,
phatcatholic

- - - - - -

Articles

• Explore the Christmas Season
• About Christmas
• 12 Days of Christmas
• Prayers, Blessings, and Hymns
• Activities and Customs


• USCCB: Advent and Christmas Seasons:
  • Advent Season
  • Christmas Season
  • Vatican Christmas
  • Blessings and Prayers
  • Lessons and Carols
  • Holiday Movies
  • Resources


• Liturgical Calendar: Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
• Reflections of the Meaning and Lesson of Christmas
• Celebrating Christmas: With the Accent on Christ
• Seeing Clearly
• Introduction to the Christmas Eve Prayers from the Roman Martyrology
• The Christmas Tree: Legends, Traditions, History
• The Traditions of the Christmas Manger
• Pius XII's Christmas Radio Message
• Christmas Statement by Jerusalem Patriarch
• Making Christmas Come Alive
• The War Against the Light
• Benedict XVI Urges Rediscovery of Christmas Traditions
• C.S. Lewis on "Xmas" and "Christmas"
• Divine Revelation and Myth
• Bah Humbug
• Bring Back the Creche!
• The "X-mas" Files
• Hollywood Knows Him Not: Christmas Movies You Want to See
• Children's Literature for Christmas
• The Meaning of Christmas: Look Deeper
• The Holy Year Door
• Christmas Candles
• Silent Night
• The First Christmas
• St. Francis and the Christmas Creche
• The Tree of the Christ Child
• Are Christmas Decorations Pagan?
• The Peace of Christmas
• Christmas Eve with the Pope
• The Gift of Christmas
• Amid Roars of Happy Christmas Laughter
• Christmas Sacred and Secular
• The Real War on Christmas
• The Nativity Story
• Bringing Christmas to Life Again
• The Original Christmas Story
• A Hint for Next Christmas
• Breath of Heaven at Christmas Time
• Christmas in a Barn
• Is God Against Christmas?
• Night Before Christmas
• Oh Marvelous Exchange!
• Some Thoughts on the Star of Bethlehem
• Wood of the Cradle, Wood of the Cross
• The Family for Families
• True Christmas Spirit
• New Advent: Christmas
• Is Christmas a Pagan Feast?
• Santa or Satan?: A Reply to a Funny Fundamentalist
• Books that Celebrate the True Gift of Christmas
• 7 Good Reasons to Send Christmas Cards
• A Different Kind of Christmas List
• An Augustine Christmas: 10 Comments on the Incarnation of Christ
• The Apologetics of Christmas: Part 1 and Part 2
• Are You Lying to Your Children about Santa?
• Dec. 25: The Biblical Argument for the Birth of Christ in Late December (Answering Common Objections)
• Calculating Christmas
• In Defense of the Christmas Tree
• The Scandal of the Babe-God
• What Is the Nativity?
• Theosis: The Reason for the Season
• The Twenty-Plus Days of Christmas?
• Still Christmas: Advent and Christmas Family Traditions
• Still Christmas: Christmas Viewing (Good and Bad!)

- - - - - -

A Christmas Poem
by G. K. Chesterton

There fared a mother driven forth
Out of an inn to roam;
In the place where she was homeless
All men are at home.
The crazy stable close at hand,
With shaking timber and shifting sand,
Grew a stronger thing to abide and stand
Than the square stones of Rome.

For men are homesick in their homes,
And strangers under the sun,
And they lay their heads in a foreign land
Whenever the day is done.

Here we have battle and blazing eyes,
And chance and honour and high surprise,
But our homes are under miraculous skies
Where the yule tale was begun.

A child in a foul stable,
Where the beasts feed and foam;
Only where He was homeless
Are you and I at home;
We have hands that fashion and heads that know,
But our hearts we lost---how long ago!
In a place no chart nor ship can show
Under the sky's dome.

This world is wild as an old wife's tale,
And strange the plain things are,
The earth is enough and the air is enough
For our wonder and our war;
But our rest is as far as the fire-drake swings
And our peace is put in impossible things
Where clashed and thundered unthinkable wings
Round an incredible star.

To an open house in the evening
Home shall all men come,
To an older place than Eden
And a taller town than Rome.
To the end of the way of the wandering star,
To the things that cannot be and that are,
To the place where God was homeless
And all men are at home.

Dec. 23 - O Emmanuel

Here is the final O Antiphon for the Advent Season:



Also see my previous post, "What Are the O Antiphons?".

Christ is near!!!

Pax Christi,
phatcatholic

Dec. 22 - O Rex Gentium

Here is the O Antiphon for today:



Also see my previous post, "What Are the O Antiphons?"

Pax Christi,
phatcatholic

Dec. 21 - O Oriens

Here is the O Antiphon for today:



Also see my previous post, "What Are the O Antiphons?"

Pax Christi,
phatcatholic

Dec. 20 - O Clavis David

Here is the O Antiphon for today:



Also see my previous post, "What Are the O Antiphons?"

Pax Christi,
phatcatholic

Dec. 19 - O Radix Jesse

Here is the O Antiphon for today:



Also see my previous post, "What Are the O Antiphons?"

Pax Christi,
phatcatholic

Dec. 18 - O Adonai

Here is the O Antiphon for today:



Also see my previous post, "What Are the O Antiphons?"

Pax Christi,
phatcatholic

Dec 17 - O Sapientia

Here is the O Antiphon for today:



Also see my previous post, "What Are the O Antiphons?"

Pax Christi,
phatcatholic

What Are the "O Antiphons"?

The "O Antiphons" begin tomorrow, so now is a good time to consider what exactly they are and how they can enrich the Advent season.

An antiphon is a short verse from a psalm or other usually biblical source that is chanted (or at least recited) before and/or after a psalm. The O Antiphons are the antiphons chanted on each of the seven days before Christmas Eve, Dec. 17-23.

On each day, a different O Antiphon is sung during Evening Prayer, which is the portion of the Liturgy of the Hours that is prayed at sunset. They are called “O” antiphons because each one starts with the exclamation “O”, followed by a title of the Savior. They are meant to heighten our awareness of the coming of the Lord as we approach those precious few days before Christmas.

The seven O Antiphons are: O Sapientia (Oh Wisdom), O Adonai (Oh Lord), O Radix Jesse (Oh Root of Jesse), O Clavis David (Oh Key of David), O Oriens (Oh Rising Sun), O Rex Gentium (Oh King of the Nations), and O Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.” Each one is named after the title of the Savior that begins the antiphon. Here are the antiphons for each day, in full, followed by the passages from Isaiah that inspire them:

• Dec. 17 - O Sapientia: “O Wisdom, O holy Word of God, you govern all creation with your strong yet tender care. Come and show your people the way to salvation.” (cf. Isa 11:2-3; 28:29)
  
  Dec. 18 - O Adonai: “O sacred Lord of ancient Israel, who showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush, who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain: come, stretch out your mighty hand to set us free.” (cf. Isa 11:4-5; 33:22)
  
  Dec. 19 - O Radix Jesse: “O Flower of Jesse’s stem, you have been raised up as a sign for all peoples; kings stand silent in your presence; the nations bow down in worship before you. Come, let nothing keep you from coming to our aid.” (cf. Isa 11:1, 10)
  
  Dec. 20 - O Clavis David: “O Key of David, O royal Power of Israel controlling at your will the gate of Heaven: Come, break down the prison walls of death for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death; and lead your captive people into freedom.” (cf. Isa 9:6; 22:22)
  
  Dec. 21 - O Oriens: “O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.” (cf. Isa 9:2)
  
  Dec. 22 - O Rex Gentium: “O King of all the nations, the only joy of every human heart; O Keystone of the mighty arch of man, come and save the creature you fashioned from the dust.” (cf. Isa 2:4; 9:7)
  
  Dec. 23 - O Emmanuel: “O Emmanuel, king and lawgiver, desire of the nations, Savior of all people, come and set us free, Lord our God.” (cf. Isa 7:14)

Besides praying these during the Liturgy of the Hours, families can also make up their own prayer services using the O Antiphons. For example, everyone could recite the Antiphon for the day together, then the father could read the appropriate passage from Isaiah, and then end with everyone singing “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” During Advent, it is always good to set aside some time to pray as a family.

For more on the O Antiphons, see the following articles:

• Fr. William Saunders: What Are the O Antiphons
• Fisheaters: O Antiphons
• Jeanne Kun: The Antiphons of Advent
• Felix Just, SJ, PhD: "O Antiphons" for the Week Before Christmas
• Catholic Culture: O Antiphons Overview
• New Advent: O Antiphons
• Fr. Z: The O Antiphons, and O!

Finally, in a singularly enjoyable post, Patricius over at Singulare Ingenium makes a wonderful connection between the O Antiphons and Tolkien's Middle Earth. Pretty cool!

Have a Blessed Advent!

Pax Christi,
phatcatholic

Update: New Articles

I added some new links to my collection of Resources for Advent 2011. They include the following:

• Saying No: The Essential Gesture of Stewardship
• Advent: The Immaculate Conception and the Nightingale's Song
• Fr. Barron on Advent 2011:
• First Sunday of Advent: The Potter and the Clay
• Second Sunday of Avent: Prepare the Way of the Lord
• Third Sunday of Advent: A Not-Very-Cozy Advent - The True King Is Coming
• Advent Book Recommendations
• Reclaiming Advent

I added links to a few other areas of my blog as well. To the "Catechetical Materials" page, I added the following websites:

• First Reconciliation and First Eucharist Activity Sheets
• Gettin' Biblical (biblical artwork and designs)
• Word Bible Designs

To the "Online Works by Great Catholic Authors" page, I added The Faith of Our Fathers by James Cardinal Gibbons and the following works by Germain Grisez:

• The Way of the Lord Jesus
• Vol. 1: Christian Moral Principles
• Vol. 2: Living a Christian Life
• Vol. 3: Difficult Moral Questions
• Vol. 4: Clerical and Consecrated Service and Life (Coming Soon!)
• Abortion: The Myths, the Realities, and the Arguments
• Contraception and the Natural Law
• The Church and Contraception: Thirteen One-Page Analyses of Selected Questions
• For more works by Germain Grisez, see Germain Grisez's Publications

To the "Scripture Study Resources" section in my right sidebar, I added the following:

• The Five Gospels Parallels
• Fr. James Swetnam, S.J.: Close Readings
• Spark Notes: The Bible
• A Catholic Guide to Biblical Interpretation

Finally, I added Early Church Texts to the "Early Church Fathers" section.

Needless to say, my search for awesome resources on the internet is never-ending. I hope these are of help to you.

Pax Christi,
phatcatholic

Catholic Q&A: Part 19

This post continues my series of short answers to common questions about Catholicism. For the previous parts in the series, see the "Catholic Q-A Series" blog label.

Why do people love the pope so much?

Well, I can only speak for myself here, but I know that I love the pope for many reasons. For one, I very much respect his intelligence of the faith. Pope Benedict XVI is a supremely learned man, very knowledgeable and wise. I can't say I've read a great many of his books, but what I have read has always impressed me greatly. In particular, The Spirit of the Liturgy, and his two-volume work on the life of Christ (Jesus of Nazareth) have been very influential in my life.

I also love the pope because he is my shepherd and I have confidence in him. I am thankful for the office of the papacy, that it exists as a sure guide and a sturdy foundation in my life as a Catholic. But, that this man in particular would fill this office is a real dream come true for me. When Pope John Paul II died, it was my hope that Ratzinger would take his place, but I never thought in a million years that it would actually happen. When it actually did, I was exceedingly happy. I knew that this was a man who could lead us in the right direction.

I love the pope, furthermore, for his devotion to the liturgy, to the "reform of the reform", to helping the Church to better realize the intention of the Council while at the same time embrace a "hermeneutic of continuity" in liturgy, and faith, and life with what has come before. In particular, I consider his work to make the Extraordinary Form more available and to complete the work of John Paul II in publishing the third edition of the Roman Missal to be extraordinary gifts to the Church.

Finally, I think he is a charming man. He's much more personable and accessible than I think anyone ever thought he would be. He is very "grandfatherly" and endearing to me. He is not quite the "star of the show" or the center of attention like JPII was, but instead has a sort of quiet confidence and calming effect on people. Of course, I've never met the man, so I'm not really sure what gives me that impression of him. Maybe it's his smile, or his German accent. At any rate, I can imagine sitting with him by a fire and just talking forever ... and I really like that about him.

What are the elements that enter in the interpretation on the Bible?

The quickest way to answer this question is to refer you to the following website: A Catholic Guide to Biblical Interpretation: Exploring the Many Worlds of Scripture with Faith, Reason and Praxis. The title may sound a little intimidating, but this site is actually quite accessible and it gives brief overviews of the various contexts and approaches to Scripture that are important for an authentic Catholic interpretation of the Bible.

What are the four Marian dogmas?

The four Marian dogmas state that:

1. Mary is the Mother of God,
2. she was conceived without the stain of original sin (and consequently committed no sins in her entire life),
3. she remained a virgin before, during, and after the birth of Christ,
4. she was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory

For more on the four Marian dogmas, see the "Mary" topical index page.

Do you have any commentary on the bread of life?

I'm assuming you are referring to the "Bread of Life" discourse in Jn 6. For Catholic commentary on this and the entire Gospel of John see my blog post: "Online Scripture Commentaries on St. John's Gospel".

Pax Christi,
phatcatholic

For the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

• Catholic Culture: Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
• Shrines to Our Lady: Our Lady of Guadalupe
• I Express to the Indigenous People: Guadalupe and St. Juan Diego Have a Deep Religious Meaning
• Party for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
• Celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
• Enthronement of Our Lady of Guadalupe
• Recipe for Mexican Bread Pudding
• Shrine of Guadalupe
• Iniquis Afflictisque (On the Persecution of the Church in Mexico)
• Story of Guadalupe Begins with Little Hill in Mexico City
• Our Lady's Feast Days
• Our Lady of Guadalupe (a text translated from the Aztec language)
• Our Lady of Guadalupe: Historical Sources
• Patron Saints Index: Our Lady of Guadalupe
• Our Lady of Guadalupe: Patroness of the Americas
• Chronology of Events Related to the Miracle
• The Mystery in Our Lady's Eyes
• The Apparitions and the Miracle
• Protectress of the Unborn: Our Lady of Guadalupe vs. The Culture of Death
• Why the Name "of Guadalupe"?
• The Tilma's Symbolism
• Science Sees What Mary Saw from Juan Diego's Tilma
• The Amazing Truth of Our Lady of Guadalupe
• Marian Miracles
• The Basilica of Guadalupe
• Guadalupe Greeting Cards
• Guadalupe Picture Gallery
• Pictures to Download and Print
• Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Church Militant
• Our Lady of Guadalupe: Protectress of the Unborn
• "Fountain of Your Joy" Draws the Faithful to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe

ST. JUAN DIEGO

• Proofs of Mexican Indian Juan Diego's Existence
• Homily at the Canonization Mass of Blessed Juan Diego
• Mexican Bishops' Commission for Indigenous Peoples on the Canonization of the First Native American
• St. Juan Diego
• Juan Diego
• St. Juan Diego: A Model of Humility

PRAYERS

• Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe for the Unborn
• Novena in Honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe
• Prayers to Our Lady of Guadalupe

Pax Christi,
phatcatholic

Gaudete Sunday, Rose-Colored Vestments, and Advent Wreaths

Why does the priest sometimes wear pink on the third Sunday of Advent?

First, it’s important to define the exact color in question. The liturgical color that can be worn on the third Sunday of Advent (“Gaudete Sunday”) is rosacea, or “rose” – not pink. Rosacea has a slight orangish-red tint to it, sort of like a fresh salmon filet. If you’ve never actually seen rose-colored vestments before, you might be surprised to find that they are very distinguished and beautiful. Pink, on the other hand, is a paler, more feminine color. Think “Pepto-Bismol”.

In our modern times, vestments for this day have gotten a little bubble-gum crazy and, as a result, a priest risks looking like a big Care Bear every time Gaudete Sunday rolls around. Thankfully, he can also choose to simply wear violet.

Here are some examples of rose-colored vestments, courtesy of Fr. Z and New Liturgical Movement (go to each site and search for "Gaudete" and "rosacea"):

As you can see, there is some acceptable variation in color. Some of the vestments above are closer to red, others closer to purple. All of them are very dignified and appropriate for the third Sunday of Advent.

The reason for the color change is to emphasize in a poignant way that the Lord is near. Advent is now more than half-way over! The bursting forth of such an unusual color has the effect of a sudden exclamation in a quiet room. In the midst of our penances, and our quiet contemplation, a voice cries out: Gaudete in Domino semper! “Rejoice in the Lord always!” Those are the words of the Entrance Antiphon for today, and that’s why we call this day “Gaudete Sunday.”


Where does the Advent wreath come from? What does it mean?

The following explanation is from Fr. William Saunders, a popular Catholic apologist and theologian:

The Advent wreath is part of our long-standing Catholic tradition. However, the actual origins are uncertain. There is evidence of pre-Christian Germanic peoples using wreaths with lit candles during the cold and dark December days as a sign of hope in the future warm and extended-sunlight days of spring. In Scandinavia during winter, lit candles were placed around a wheel, and prayers were offered to the god of light to turn "the wheel of the earth" back toward the sun to lengthen the days and restore warmth.

By the Middle Ages, Christians had taken up this practice and infused it with profound symbolism as a way to prepare for Christmas. Since Jesus is the light of the world (cf. Jn 8:12), it is fitting that the wreath would produce more and more light the closer we get to Christmas, the celebration of the birth of Christ. The four candles represent the four weeks of Advent. Three of them are purple, a color traditionally associated with penance and prayer. One of them is rose, a symbol of our rejoicing. The circular shape of the wreath, which has no beginning or end, symbolizes the eternity of God, the immortality of the soul and the everlasting life found in Christ.

Pax Christi,
phatcatholic

For the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

This prayer, dedicated to Mary Immaculate, was composed by Pope Pius XII for the Marian Year (December 8, 1953-December 8, 1954), which was proclaimed to mark the centenary of the definition of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception.

• Enraptured by the splendor of your heavenly beauty, and impelled by the anxieties of the world, we cast ourselves into your arms, 0 Immacuate Mother of Jesus and our Mother, Mary, confident of finding in your most loving heart appeasement of our ardent desires, and a safe harbor from the tempests which beset us on every side.
  
  Though degraded by our faults and overwhelmed by infinite misery, we admire and praise the peerless richness of sublime gifts with which God has filled you, above every other mere creature, from the first moment of your conception until the day on which, after your assumption into heaven, He crowned you Queen of the Universe.
  
  O crystal fountain of faith, bathe our minds with the eternal truths! O fragrant Lily of all holiness, captivate our hearts with your heavenly perfume! 0 Conqueress of evil and death, inspire in us a deep horror of sin, which makes the soul detestable to God and a slave of hell!
  
  O well-beloved of God, hear the ardent cry which rises up from every heart. Bend tenderly over our aching wounds. Convert the wicked, dry the tears of the afflicted and oppressed, comfort the poor and humble, quench hatreds, sweeten harshness, safeguard the flower of purity in youth, protect the holy Church, make all men feel the attraction of Christian goodness. In your name, resounding harmoniously in heaven, may they recognize that they are brothers, and that the nations are members of one family, upon which may there shine forth the sun of a universal and sincere peace.
  
  Receive, O most sweet Mother, our humble supplications, and above all obtain for us that, one day, happy with you, we may repeat before your throne that hymn which today is sung on earth around your altars: You are all-beautiful, O Mary! You are the glory, you are the joy, you are the honor of our people! Amen.
  
  [Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954]

THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

It his Apostolic Constitution Ineffabilis Deus, Pope Pius IX declared as a dogma the belief that "the most Blessed Virgin Mary, in the first instance of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege granted by Almighty God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race, was preserved free from all stain of original sin." This is the Immaculate Conception, and today we celebrate it as a Holy Day of Obligation.

Make sure you get to Mass today, but also try to spend some time learning more about the Immaculate Conception. It's much deeper than you probably ever imagined! To facilitate that study and reflection, I offer the following links:

General Arguments

• "All Have Sinned" (Mary?)
• EWTN: The Immaculate Conception of Mary
• How Do We Respond to Romans 3?
• How to Defend the Immaculate Conception
• If Mary Was Sinless, Why Did She Go to the Temple for Purification?
• If Mary Was Sinless, Why Didn't She Redeem Us?
• Immaculate Conception
• Immaculate Conception and Assumption
• Mary Conceived Without Sin: The Dogma of the Immaculate Conception
• Mary's Conception in Sacred Scripture and Tradition
• Mary's Immaculate Conception
• Mary's Sinless Life
• Memorandum on the Immaculate Conception
• New Advent: Immaculate Conception
• On the Immaculate Conception
• The Graceful Bridge: How Commonly Held Christian Beliefs Explain and Defend the Catholic Doctrine of the Immaculate Conception
• The Immaculate Conception in the Feasts and Liturgy of the Church
• The Immaculate Conception in the Thought of Adrienne von Speyr
• The Immaculate Conception of Mary
• The Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin
• The Immaculate Conception, the Bible, and the Church Fathers
• The Necessity of the Immaculate Conception
• The Universe of Discourse and Questions about Mary's Sinlessness
• Was Mary's Immaculate Conception Absolutely Necessary?

Exegesis of Luke 1:28

• Kecharitomenae: Comparing Luke 1:28 and Acts 6:8
• The Navarre Commentary: Luke 1:26-38
• Luke 1:28 and the Immaculate Conception: Linguistic and Exegetical Considerations
• Aquinas on the Angelic Salutation
• Mary: Full of Grace
• The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
• The Annunciation: A Scriptural Commentary
• The Meaning of Kecharitomene: Full of Grace

The Ark of the New Covenant

• Ark of the New Covenant
• Catholic Culture: Ark of the Covenant
• Catholic Legate: Ark of the Covenant
• Mary, Ark of the Covenant
• Mary, New Ark of the Eternal Covenant
• Mary, Overshadowing the Shadows
• Mary, the Ark of the New Covenant
• The Ark of the New Covenant
• Church Fathers on Mary as Ark of the New Covenant

For my own defense of Mary's Immaculate Conception, see Mary's Sinlessness: Part 1 and Part 2.

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!

Pax Christi,
phatcatholic

Myth vs. Fact on the Feast of St. Nicholas

Today we celebrate the optional memorial of St. Nicholas, bishop of Myra. Of course, since my name is Nicholas, there's nothing "optional" about it.

Unfortunately, there's a lot of myth mixed in with fact regarding the story of his life, so here's some resources on St. Nick and how he came to be associated with the jolly fat man in the red suit. Also, ever wonder why you always find candy in your shoes on this day? That will be answered here too.

• St. Nicholas Society
• About Us
• History
• A Little Office
• How to Celebrate
• Stories
• Holy Cards
• Postmarks


• St. Nicholas Center: Discovering the Truth about Santa Claus
• Who Is St. Nicholas?
• Around the World
• How to Celebrate
• Events
• For Kids


• Optional Memorial of St. Nicholas, bishop
• Feast of St. Nicholas
• Catholic Online: St. Nicholas
• Domestic Church: St. Nicholas
• Patron Saints Index: Nicholas of Myra
• St. Nicholas of Myra
• The Real St. Nicholas
• St. Nicholas and the Origin of Santa Claus
• Who Is St. Nicholas?
• Santa Claus vs. St. Nicholas?
• Lives of Saints: St. Nicholas of Myra, Bishop, Confessor
• The Life of the Holy Hierarch and Wonderworker, Nicholas, Bishop of Myra
• Selections from The Life of Nicholas by Symeon the Metaphrast
• St. Nicholas Coloring Pages: One and Two (who doesn't like to color?)
• Wikipedia: St. Nicholas
• A Baptist Take on St. Nicholas
• Santa Claus
• Celebrating the Feast of St. Nicholas
• St. Nicholas Eve
• Visit of St. Nicholas
• St. Nicholas and the War Against Christmas
• St. Nicholas Reveals the True Spirit of Giving
• Spirituality: The Feast of St. Nicholas
• Celebrate the Real Santa Today

Pax Christi,
phatcatholic

What Is Advent?

The Modern Catholic Dictionary, by Fr. John A. Hardon provides the following definition:

• A period of prayer in preparation for Christmas, including four Sundays, the first nearest the feast of St. Andrew, November 30. It is the beginning of the Church's liturgical year. The use of the organ and other musical instruments is restricted in liturgical functions. However, it is allowed 1. in extraliturgical functions, 2. for exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, 3. to support singing, and 4. on Gaudete Sunday, feasts and solemnities, and in any extraordinary celebration. Altars may not be decorated with flowers. In the celebration of matrimony, the nuptial blessing is always imparted. But the spouses are advised to take into account the special character of the liturgical season. Masses for various needs and votive Masses for the dead are not allowed unless there is a special need. (Etym. Latin adventus, a coming, approach, arrival.)

Advent marks the beginning of a new year in the Church’s liturgical calendar. It is a time of preparation for and anticipation of the coming of the Lord that we celebrate on Christmas Day. It is an opportunity to place ourselves in the shoes of the Jewish people who waited so long for the coming of the Messiah. It is an opportunity to renew our appreciation for the Incarnation, the moment when the Son of God became man, one like us in all things but sin.

Advent takes on a somber tone, similar to Lent, because our minds are focused on what life is like without Christ, without God’s entrance into our world. Of course, in waiting for this coming of the Lord, Advent takes on an eschatological tone as well since, as Christians, we also await the Second Coming, when Jesus will come again and make all things new.

Unfortunately, the same world that God so desired to save can often squelch the spirit of Advent that we are called to embrace. If we are somber it is not because we anxiously await the coming of the Lord, it is because traffic to the mall is backed up, Wal-Mart is all out of Nintendo Wii’s, and the kids are yelling in the back seat because they want to go see Santa Claus. It’s easy in times like this to forget what Christmas is really all about.

This is where Advent comes in. Once we understand Advent for what it is truly meant to be, it can be the antidote to the stress that often accompanies the holiday season. Advent calls us to refocus are minds back to what is important and to remember again the true reason for the season.

Over 2,000 years ago, God asked a virgin a simple question: “Will you let me use you to bring my Son to the world? Will you give me your flesh, your life, your time, your entire being?” In a sense, this is the same question that God asks us today, and Advent is a time to prepare ourselves so that when God wishes to come through us, we like Mary, will be able to say “Yes” to Him.

Let's also remember that with Advent's past significance (in the Incarnation) and future significance (in the Parousia) is also a present reality. Jesus comes, here and now, wherever the Eucharist is celebrated. In a sense, every Mass is a new Advent, and it only makes sense that, during this time of preparation, we should remain close to Christ in the Eucharist. It is in that advent that He is preparing us for the advent that awaits the end of time.

Pax Christi,
phatcatholic

New Thanksgiving and Advent Articles

Just wanted to make a quick update and let you know about some new links that I have added to my Thanksgiving and Advent collections. I know, Thanksgiving is already over, but the virtue of thanks is one that we should always foster, especially during the Season of Advent, when our thoughts are focused on a world without Christ and the great gift that was His coming:

• Thanksgiving and Desire
• Fr. Kenneth Baker, S.J.: Thanksgiving


• Eight Super Simple Ways to Celebrate Advent
• During Advent the Domestic Church Is the School of Love
• Advent with Jean Cardinal Daniélou
• Advent and the Art of Waiting
• The Essence of Advent

Pax Christi,
phatcatholic