"Ironically, the most sacred days of the year are often some of the most hectic. In fact, the American Psychiatric Association reports that Americans are five times more likely to report that their stress increases rather than decreases during the holiday season.
"There are so many
things outside of our control. We can’t control the pandemic: neither
case numbers nor variants. We can’t control the decisions of our
relatives and friends. We can’t control how our co-workers respond to
holiday chaos. We can’t control the long lines at stores or delays as we
travel. The holidays amplify how many things are simply beyond us. . . .
"In the chaos of the season, it's unlikely that we’ll find exterior peace. That doesn't mean we can't find peace though.
"The saints kept their peace, that is, they had true interior peace, in so many crazy situations. . . ."In a recent commentary, Father Patrick Briscoe, O.P., reflected on some of the ways one can keep peace this Christmas season (including prioritizing personal prayer, saying no to things, and giving meaningful gifts).
To access Fr Patrick's complete post, please visit:
Aleteia: Fr. Patrick Briscoe, OP: 5 Ways to keep peace this Christmas (that actually work!) (20 DEC 21)
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