In the midst of our celebrating the coming of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, into the world during the Christmas season, some are perhaps wondering if or to what extent, Pope Francis is joy-filled at Christmas since his Christmas homily or Christmas address, "Urbi et Orbi" focuses so much on the suffering of those who are victims of injustice, violence and poverty. He does indeed speak about the "darkness" that exists througout the world including the threats against religious liberty and the dignity of all human life. While bringing up realities, he ALWAYS turns to and rejoices in the "Light of God" that comes most perfectly in His Son, Jesus Christ, and encourages those who are children of the "Light" not to give in to discouragement or despair, but to cooperate daily with God's powerful grace to shine brightly and hopefully in every difficulty and trial, and proclaim that "the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness will not overcome it." (John 1:5) Let us begin the new year committed to shining in the brightness of Christ's light and do what we can to curse the darkness and ALWAYS rejoice in His everlasting light.
A Blessed New Year to all of you and continued blessings in this Christmas season!
A Blessed New Year to all of you and continued blessings in this Christmas season!
First of all I want to wish all of you a Blessed Christmas Day and Christmas Season. Please remember that in the Octave Days of Christmas, we celebrate many great Feasts throughout the Church and at Mass (which is 9:00 a.m. Monday through Friday here at Sacred Heart Church). Besides the feast of martyrs, Stephen (December 26), The Holy Innocents (December 28) and Thomas Becket (December 29), we also celebrate the Feast of St. John the Apostle and Evangelist (December 27), and this year, (due to Christmas falling on Sunday) the Feast of the Holy Family will be celebrated on Friday, December 30. Please make a special effort to join us as we continue on a high note to celebrate the 12 days of Christmas (though this year it is 15 days since the Solemnity of the Epiphany falls on January 8).
If you are reading this on Christmas, no doubt you have attended one of our three Christmas Masses (and if you are in our choir, two of them). Thanks for making a Christmas Mass a priority in your life and activities! Don't forget the chapel, with Jesus visible in the Monstrance, is open for all to "Adore Him."
I might need to backtrack on a statement I made in a recent homily that the National Football League (NFL) doesn't allow anything (even the tradition of the Rose Bowl falling on January 1), to stop it from playing a full set of games on Sunday, January 1, which in fact, bumped the Rose Bowl this year to January 2. I was shocked and happy to find out recently that this year the NFL is actually deferring to the tradition of families gathering together on Christmas morning and into the afternoon, to share presents, fellowship and usually, a delicious meal. There are, in fact, only two NFL games on Christmas and the first one doesn't start until 3:30 p.m. I guess even the NFL did not dare conflict with the "family time" of Christmas morning and, at least, the early afternoon.
I ask us to consider a Christmas family tradition that was observed by many (including most of you) for much, much longer than the NFL has been around. That tradition was gathering with the family of believers (brothers and sisters of the Lord) at Midnight Mass or a Christmas morning Mass, and then, gathering with some of our biologial family after that. What a lesson that taught young people about the priority of God and my family in Christ, before anything or anyone else.
I know that the Christmas Masses have come and gone for this year, but I invite everyone to store what I have said somewhere, and consider next year, participating in the longstanding tradition of Mass on Christmas Day (if that is not too difficult for you at this point of your life); and at least encourage the younger members of your family to start this tradition. I believe many blessings will flow from it.
If you are reading this on Christmas, no doubt you have attended one of our three Christmas Masses (and if you are in our choir, two of them). Thanks for making a Christmas Mass a priority in your life and activities! Don't forget the chapel, with Jesus visible in the Monstrance, is open for all to "Adore Him."
I might need to backtrack on a statement I made in a recent homily that the National Football League (NFL) doesn't allow anything (even the tradition of the Rose Bowl falling on January 1), to stop it from playing a full set of games on Sunday, January 1, which in fact, bumped the Rose Bowl this year to January 2. I was shocked and happy to find out recently that this year the NFL is actually deferring to the tradition of families gathering together on Christmas morning and into the afternoon, to share presents, fellowship and usually, a delicious meal. There are, in fact, only two NFL games on Christmas and the first one doesn't start until 3:30 p.m. I guess even the NFL did not dare conflict with the "family time" of Christmas morning and, at least, the early afternoon.
I ask us to consider a Christmas family tradition that was observed by many (including most of you) for much, much longer than the NFL has been around. That tradition was gathering with the family of believers (brothers and sisters of the Lord) at Midnight Mass or a Christmas morning Mass, and then, gathering with some of our biologial family after that. What a lesson that taught young people about the priority of God and my family in Christ, before anything or anyone else.
I know that the Christmas Masses have come and gone for this year, but I invite everyone to store what I have said somewhere, and consider next year, participating in the longstanding tradition of Mass on Christmas Day (if that is not too difficult for you at this point of your life); and at least encourage the younger members of your family to start this tradition. I believe many blessings will flow from it.
Firstly, I want to say "I'm sorry" for any confusion or possible negative feelings when I announced a change in our Christmas Mass schedule. I had been pondering and prayinbg about the schedule of Masses for Christmas, and finally had peace with the decision to have a Midnight Mass as we have been doing for Christmas at Sacred Heart Church almost every year since I came here. I like to say that in the long history of the Catholic Church, there are some traditions with a little "t" that have changed over the years, while being true to the essence for what is being taught or done. There are also big "T" (Traditions) that have been constant throughout most, if not all, of the Church's long history. I believe one of those is Midnight Mass for Christmas. I do realize that, for various reasons, people, some of whom used to go to Midnight Mass, no longer do so and choose one of the other Christmas Masses. I'm glad we are able to offer other times for "Christmas Mass," (Christmas Eve at 4:00 p.m. and Christmas Day at 10:00 a.m.) Remember - no 8:00 a.m. Mass on that Sunday (Christmas Day) only.
At least a few of our Christmas hymns like "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear" and "Lo, How a Rose E're Blooming" seem to point tot the birth of Christ as happening around Midnight, though honestly, there is no historical evidence to indicate at what time of the day or night the Christ Child was born. Jesus Himself told the story of the ten foolish and ten wise Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13) which speaks of a cry "Behold the Bridegroom is Coming" (verse 6) as happening at midnight. It concludes by encouraging vigilant waiting for the Son of Man to come. The reference "the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light" in Isaiah 9:1-6, which is the first reading at the Midnight Mass, has great power when it is proclaimed with the darkness outside surrounding the light of the Church.
I am the first to admit that I need to take a long nap in order to be at my best for Midnight Mass, but this is something I did (or tried to do) when I was younger and my parents let me go to Midnight Mass, and I hope some of you will consider joining in this "Tradition" this year at Sacred Heart Church. And whether you are coming to the Midnight Mass here or wherever you will be for Christmas, consider informing your "non-Catholic" friends about our Midnight Mass for Christmas. Over the years I have seen and welcomed these Christians into our worship of the Lord at this special Mass and plan to do so here as well. There will be special music sung by our combined choirs and one guest vocalist, Amy Lefler-Williams, at 11:30 p.m. (before Midnight Mass and 3:30 p.m. before Christmas Eve Mass. Please come early to experience the beautiful music that will be played and sung (and join in as you wish).
At least a few of our Christmas hymns like "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear" and "Lo, How a Rose E're Blooming" seem to point tot the birth of Christ as happening around Midnight, though honestly, there is no historical evidence to indicate at what time of the day or night the Christ Child was born. Jesus Himself told the story of the ten foolish and ten wise Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13) which speaks of a cry "Behold the Bridegroom is Coming" (verse 6) as happening at midnight. It concludes by encouraging vigilant waiting for the Son of Man to come. The reference "the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light" in Isaiah 9:1-6, which is the first reading at the Midnight Mass, has great power when it is proclaimed with the darkness outside surrounding the light of the Church.
I am the first to admit that I need to take a long nap in order to be at my best for Midnight Mass, but this is something I did (or tried to do) when I was younger and my parents let me go to Midnight Mass, and I hope some of you will consider joining in this "Tradition" this year at Sacred Heart Church. And whether you are coming to the Midnight Mass here or wherever you will be for Christmas, consider informing your "non-Catholic" friends about our Midnight Mass for Christmas. Over the years I have seen and welcomed these Christians into our worship of the Lord at this special Mass and plan to do so here as well. There will be special music sung by our combined choirs and one guest vocalist, Amy Lefler-Williams, at 11:30 p.m. (before Midnight Mass and 3:30 p.m. before Christmas Eve Mass. Please come early to experience the beautiful music that will be played and sung (and join in as you wish).