As this blessed year draws to a close, I offer this version of Highland Saga presenting "Auld Lang Syne":
31 December 2022
On a DC Homeless Shelter With Many Faces, Using Tech to Keep Communities Safe, and Other Topics
A number of articles/posts have recently been published on a variety of subjects worth considering.
To access some of these, please visit:
Bloomberg CityLab: A DC Homeless Shelter With Many Faces (10 DEC 22)
Catholic News Agency: Who’s behind those 'He Gets Us' ads about Jesus? (5 DEC 22)
knowable Magazine: Fiber optics take the pulse of the planet (22 NOV 22)
US EPA: Bridging the Gap: Equitable Investment in City Greenspace (27 SEP 22)
Word Genius: 14 Shakespearean Phrases We Still Use Today
POLICE Magazine: Using Tech to Keep Communities Safe During New Year’s Eve and Other Mass Gatherings (26 DEC 22)
Anniversary Blessings to Debbie and Josh!!!
Anniversary greetings to niece Debbie and her husband Josh Kyle, whose wedding anniversary is today!!! May this day and each day of the upcoming year be filled with the Lord's choicest blessings!!!
Anniversary Blessings to Mark and Becky!!!
Anniversary greetings to brother Mark and his wife Becky, whose wedding anniversary is today!!! May this day and each day of the upcoming year be filled with the Lord's choicest blessings!!!
Anniversary Blessings to Joe and Erin!!!
Anniversary greetings to son Joseph and his wife Erin, whose wedding anniversary is today!!! May this day, and each day of the upcoming year, be filled with the Lord's choicest blessings!!!
Worcester Children's Chorus: "Do You Hear What I Hear?"
As we continue our celebration of Christmas, I offer this version of the Worcester (MA) Children's Chorus presenting "Do You Hear What I Hear?":
Msgr. Vito Buonanno on Embracing the Mystery of the Incarnation
"For centuries, the Israelites had prayed for a Messiah. They prayed for the Savior and every time there was a bad moment in their history, they believed it would be opportune for Him to come to rescue them from that hardship. Instead of coming during the midst of plagues, famine, or slavery, he came at this other, very specific, difficult time when the Jewish People had been conquered by a foreign power and were being policed by a gentile, pagan religion. In the midst of it all, the Lord God appeared, born in the most ordinary way imaginable."
In a recent commentary, Msgr. Vito Buonanno, Associate Rector and Director of Pilgrimages of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, reflected on the meaning of the Incarnation and on how we can embody Christ's incarnate love during the Christmas season.
To access Msgr. Buonanno's complete reflection, please visit:
National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception: Embracing the Mystery of the Incarnation
Reflection Starter from Edith Lovejoy Pierce
"The book is called Opportunity, and its first chapter is New Year's Day." - Edith Lovejoy Pierce
30 December 2022
Johnny Mathis: "What Child Is This?"
As we continue our celebration of Christmas, I offer this version of Johnny Mathis presenting "What Child Is This?":
Feast of The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. The assigned readings are Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14; and Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23. The Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 128 (Psalm 128:1-5).
For one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:
YouTube: Psalm 128: Blessed Are Those Who Fear the Lord and Walk in His Ways
The Gospel reading is as follows:
When the magi had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him." Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled,"Out of Egypt I called my son."
When Herod had died, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead." He rose, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go back there. And because he had been warned in a dream, he departed for the region of Galilee.He went and dwelt in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, "He shall be called a Nazorean."
Reflections on this feast:
Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Sunday Reflections: Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph December 30, 2022
Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Sundays Salesian: Holy Family (December 30, 2022)
Magis Center: Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph
Crossroads Initiative: Holy Family Feast - Piety in the 21st Century?
For additional reflection:
Christmas Brings Out the Best in People
Christmas tends to bring out the best in people. It's that time of year when we seem more naturally inclined to reflect God's divine light and love to others as we celebrate Jesus's birth. Consider this story. A member of the Conway Schools Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) arrived at Safeway to buy 24 hams for the school-sponsored Christmas party for students and families who couldn't afford presents or a full meal. After unloading them all onto the conveyor belt at the cashier's station, the male customer in front of her laughed and commented, "Wow, looks like you're having ham for dinner!"
As reported by the Twitter feed "Good News Correspondent," the PTO member made a joke in return, then explained what the hams would be used for. After hearing this, the customer told the cashier that he would pay for half the hams himself, which totaled more than $400. The PTO member was shocked and told him he didn't have to do this. But the man said he wanted to contribute. "So, there he went," said the PTO member, "paying for over $400 worth of ham for complete strangers he will never meet."
That incident served as a beautiful reminder of the Christmas spirit of giving. But a generous spirit doesn't have to involve money. Sometimes, it's about giving your time. For instance, life can get lonely for the seniors living at Encore Community Services housing in Manhattan, especially for those who don't have family to visit them during the holiday season. In 2021, the Joyful Noise Carolers brought smiles and plenty of Christmas spirit to residents at the facility, which "provides seniors with meals, mental health resources and housing," reported Rebecca Greenberg of NY1. The carolers' mission is to "spread love and hope to as many elders as possible. . . . All group members are volunteers who sing at nursing homes and assisted living facilities across the city."
Cheryllyn Carter has worked as a home health aide at Encore for nearly two decades and enjoys spreading holiday cheer. She said, "Some of [the seniors] don't have family, so I spend the majority of my holidays here, make them feel welcomed, loved, make jokes. . . . They feel like family."
Of course, the reason for the season remains the birth of Jesus, and Catholic journalist and author Peggy Weber recalled a funny memory from her childhood in a column for the website Catholic365.com. Since it was Jesus's birthday, her sister wanted to do something memorable. So, in church, she walked up to the candles near the altar and sang "Happy Birthday" to the Christ child. She then proceeded to blow out all the candles. Peggy’s family still laughs at this story, but it also makes her reflect on how much they all love to light candles in church, be they the old-fashioned ones with flames or the battery-operated ones with bulbs. Peggy recalled her grandchild recently lighting a candle and praying, "Dear Mary, you are love. Touch my heart! Amen."
Peggy concluded, "The Christophers have the motto that 'It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.' We are hearing about dark winters and more scary days. . . . But during the Christmas season, we celebrate light. So light that candle! And if you want to blow out some birthday candles for Jesus, go ahead. Maybe just don't do it in church."
On behalf of everyone at The Christophers, I wish you the hope and light of God that will sustain you throughout the coming year.
This essay is this week's "Light One Candle"
column, written by Tony Rossi, of The Christophers; it is one of a series of
weekly columns that deal with a variety of topics and current
events.)
Background information:
Reflection Starter from Pope St. John XXIII
"The family is the first essential cell of human society." - Pope Saint John XXIII
29 December 2022
J-P Mauro on Widespread Unawareness of Increasing Attacks on Churches
"A new report from the Family Research Council (FRC) has documented some 420 instances of attacks on churches in the United States between 2018 and 2022. While the crisis of violence against both Catholic and Christian churches is disheartening, so too is a new report from the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which recently found that only 37% of Americans have heard about the crisis at all."
In a recent commentary, writer J-P Mauro,
reflected on the lack of awareness of attacks on churches across the nation.
To access his complete post, please visit:
Aleteia: 420 church attacks in 4 years, but most Americans unaware (22 DEC 22)
Mat and Savanna Shaw: "The First Noel"
As our Christmas celebration continues, I offer this version of Mat and Savanna Shaw singing "The First Noel":
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of smiles we receive from the people we encounter each day,
Fr. David Whalen, OSFS, on Repetition for Mastery
"In an address to the early Oblates, on December 12, 1894, Oblate Founder Blessed Louis Brisson shared his dismay at the news that several seminarians from the Diocese of Troyes who had chosen to go to Paris for ordination spent more time organizing and celebrating their post-ordination dinner and visiting places of interest in the capital city than they did in properly preparing for and celebrating their ordination itself.
"In light of that, Father Brisson then directed that once a year the Ritual for Ordination was to be read aloud in the refectory during the meal."
In a recent commentary, Father David Whalen,
OSFS, reflected on the importance of repetition and its relationship to renewing our commitment to the true nature of our vows and other special events in our lives
To access Fr. Whalen's complete post, please visit:
De Sales Weekly: Salesian Reflection: Repetition for Mastery (29 DEC 22)
Reflection Starter from Washington Irving
"How
easy it is for one benevolent being to diffuse pleasure around him; and
how truly is a kind heart a fountain of gladness, making everything in
its vicinity freshen into smiles!" - Washington Irving, in "The Christmas Dinner"
28 December 2022
Mariah Carey: "Joy to the World"
As we continue our celebration of Christmas, I offer this version of Mariah Carey presenting "Joy to the World":
Fr. Peter John Cameron, O.P., on Our Need to Worhip
"Dstoyevsky wrote that 'the whole law of human existence consists merely of making it possible for every human being to bow down before what is infinitely great. If a person were to be deprived of the infinitely great, he would refuse to go on living, and die of despair.' To be ourselves, we need to worship. The Catechism tells us that creation itself was fashioned 'for the worship and adoration of God. Worship is inscribed in the order of creation' (347).
"Worship gives us a realistic perspective on life. . . ."
In a recent commentary, Fr. Peter John Cameron, O.P.,
reflected on the importance of worship, with special attention to Eucharistia, thanksgiving, in our lives.
To access Fr. Peter's complete post, please visit:
Aleteia; Fr. Peter John Cameron, OP: Prayer is worship: To be ourselves, we need it (25 DEC 22)
Reflection Starter from Bing Crosby
"Unless we make Christmas an occasion to share our blessings, all the snow in Alaska won't make it 'white.'" - Bing Crosby
27 December 2022
"Go Tell It on the Mountain"
As we continue our Christmas celebration, I offer this version of the Lake Grove Presbyterian Church (Lake Oswego, OR) Sanctuary Choir presenting "Go Tell It on the Mountain":
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of conscientious employees who strive to serve well the persons they interact with during the work day.
Br. John Henry Peters, O.P., on St. John and Christ's Sacred Humanity
"Have you ever pondered the fact that, one day, you will see Jesus with your own eyes? Our eternal bliss will consist in the immediate vision of the Blessed Trinity, and it will also include the vision of the Sacred Humanity of the Second Person of the Trinity, Jesus Christ.
"We have just celebrated Christmas. We look forward to Epiphany and, beyond that, to the Presentation of the Lord. All of these feasts involve the blessedness of seeing.. . ."
In a recent commentary, Brother John Henry Peters, O.P.,
reflected on St. John the Evangelist and the sacred humanity of Jesus,
To access Br. John Henry's complete post, please visit:
Dominicana: The Apostle of Christ's Sacred Humanity (27 DEC 22)
Reflection Starter from Psalm 97
"The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice; let the many islands be glad. Cloud and darkness surround him; justice and right are the foundation of his throne." - Psalm 97:1-2
26 December 2022
Pope Francis Offers Christmas Urbi at Orbi Blessing
On Christmas morning, Pope Francis presented his Christmas "Urbi et Orbi" blessing.
Text of the Pope's message:
Vatican News: Urbi et Orbi Message of His Holiness Pope Francis - Christmas 2022
Media reports:
Vatican News: Pope at Christmas Urbi et Orbi: 'The Lord’s birth is the birth of peace' (25 DEC 22)
Gaither Vocal Band: "The Little Drummer Boy"
As our Christmas celebration continues, I offer this version of the Gaither Vocal Band presenting "The Little Drummer Boy":
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, for the blessing our of Christmas manna - Your Real Presence in Holy Communion.
Fr. Roger Landry on Christmas Manna and St. Francis de Sale
"In the middle of the Christmas Octave this year, on Dec. 28, we will celebrate the 400th anniversary of the death and birth into eternal life of the great French doctor of the Church, St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622). The patron saint of journalists and an avid apostle of the sanctity of the laity, he is one of the most revered bishops, apologists, reevangelizers, spiritual writers and directors of souls in Catholic Church history. . . .
"In a couple of Christmas homilies, St. Francis de Sales explores the initially surprising connection between Christmas and the manna God rained down for the Israelites in the desert. Prior to God's giving this heavenly bread for the first time, Moses had told the grumbling children of Israel, 'In the morning you shall see his glory' (Exodus 16:7), and St. Francis used it as an analogy for what the angels said to the Bethlehem shepherds in the cave at night and what the Church says to us at the Christmas vigil."
In a recent commentary, Father Roger Landry (a priest of the Diocese of Fall River, MA, and national chaplain for Catholic Voices USA)
reflected on the encouragement we receive from St. Francis de Sales to avail ourselves of this Christmas manna - Holy Communion - regularly (daily, if possible).
To access Fr. Landry's complete essay, please visit:
National Catholic Register: Commentary: Father Roger Landry: Christmas Manna and St. Francis de Sales (25 DEC 22)
Reflection Starter from William Shakespeare
"'is not enough to help the feeble up, but to support them after." - William Shakespeare
25 December 2022
O Come, All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles)
As our Christmas Day celebration continues, I offer this version of O Come, All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles):
The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)
Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas). The assigned readings for the Mass during the day are Isaiah 9:1-6, Titus 2:11-14, and Luke 2:1-14. The Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 96 (Psalm 96: 1-3, 11-13).
For one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:
YouTube: Psalms 96: Today Is Born Our Savior By Paul Inwood
The Gospel reading is as follows:
In
those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world
should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was
governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. And
Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to
the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house
and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was
with child.
While they were there, the time came for
her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She
wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there
was no room for them in the inn.
Now there were
shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night
watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the
glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great
fear. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim
to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today
in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and
Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped
in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”
And
suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel,
praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace
to those on whom his favor rests.”
Reflections on this solemnity:
Community in Mission: The Nativity Set is Snapshot of the Church (24 DEC 22)
St. Paul Center: New Song: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Nativity of the Lord
Ex Corde at Benedictine College: This Sunday, Consecrate Yourself to Jesus for Christmas (22 DEC 22)
Magis Center for Catholic Spirituality: The Nativity of our Lord
Word on Fire: God Became a Baby (Cycle A * Christmas * Christmas Time)Msgr. Pope on Why We Need a Savior
"As Christmas draws so near, we should ponder why we need a savior. In short, we've got it bad and that ain't good. But praise the Lord, there is a doctor on the way. His name is Emmanuel; His name is Jesus, which means 'God saves.'"
In a recent commentary, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish,
Washington, DC) reflected on an Advent reading that describes five reasons we need a savior.
To access Msgr. Pope's complete post, please visit:
Community in Mission: Five Reasons We Need a Savior - An Advent Meditation on a Text from Isaiah (21 DEC 22)
Birthday Blessings, Robin!!!
Birthday greetings to Myrna's daughter Robin, whose birthday is today!!! May this day, and each day of the upcoming year, be filled with the Lord's choicest blessings!!!
Reflection Starter from Pope Francis
"Jesus asks us to go to the bare reality of things, to lay down all our excuses, our justifications and our hypocrisies at the feet of the manger. He whom Mary tenderly wrapped in swaddling wants us to be clothed in love." - Pope Francis
24 December 2022
The Petersens: "Oh Holy Night"
As this blessed week draws to a close and we celebrate the eve of Christmas and enter into our Christmas celebration, I offer this version of The Petersens presenting "O Holy Night":
On St. Francis and the Story of the First Nativity Scene
"It's a well-known origin story: how the young and wealthy Francis of Assisi freely abandoned his noble patrimony to serve Chris'’s Church as a poor, itinerant preacher.
"One of the world's most beloved saints, the founder of the Franciscan order cared deeply for God's creation. He also loved Christmas, the feast of the Nativity of Our Lord."
A recent National Catholic Register article reported on how St. Francis' meditations on the life of Christ led him to create the first-ever Nativity scene.
To access the complete National Catholic Register report, please visit:
National Catholic Register: St. Francis and the Story of the First Nativity Scene (24 DEC 22)
Reflection Starter from St. Francis de Sales
"Let us come close to the crib. Like the kings, you will find the rich love of the Savior. Like the shepherds, delight in the life of the newborn king. Like the Holy Family, find joy because you belong to Him." - Saint Francis de Sales
23 December 2022
Johann David Heinichen: Sonata for Oboe, Bassoon and Basso Continuo in G minor
It's time for some classical music. This is a presentation of Johann David Heinichen's Sonata for Oboe, Bassoon and Basso Continuo in G minor:
A Healing Leads to Beatification
Several causes for sainthood were recently advanced by the Vatican, including the elevation from venerable to blessed for Maria Berenice Duque Hencker, a Columbian nun who founded multiple religious congregations, including the Little Sisters of the Annunciation. The miracle Pope Francis approved for her cause to advance was the 2004 healing of a 13-year-old boy named Sebastian Vasquez, who had a rare degenerative disease that had caused multiple comas and near-death experiences, leaving him consigned to a wheelchair and fed through tubes from the age of seven. In a Columbian newscast reporting on his healing, Sebastian said, "A little sister found out about the case and went to take a prayer to the clinic and a photo of Mother Maria Berenice and told me to make friends with her."
Mother Maria Berenice was born in 1898 and died in 1993, only a couple of years after Sebastian was born. His healing took place a decade after her passing. Earlier this year, Sebastian passed away, after enjoying many years free from the illness that plagued his childhood. A statement issued by the General Directorate of the Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Annunciation read, "There are God's designs that we do not understand, but we are certain that [Sebastian] is enjoying the presence of God and Mother Berenice."
A little over a month after Sebastian's passing, thousands gathered at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Medellin, Columbia, for the Beatification of Mother Maria Berenice. In the homily, Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Dicastery for the Cause of Saints, praised the way she emulated our Blessed Mother through her love for the poor, saying that the poor "were at the center of her existence" and noting that "she had, in particular, a love for the poorest children, whom she considered the favorites of the Lord."
Blessed Maria Berenice started the Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Annunciation in 1943 to serve children and families. In 1957, she founded the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Jesus and Mary for Afro-Columbian women called to religious life, an initiative begun in opposition to racial discrimination of the time. In 1964, she founded the Missionary Brothers of the Annunciation as the men's branch of her congregation to work with the poor, the imprisoned, and the marginalized.
In an interview with ACI Prensa given shortly before his death last year, Cardinal Jorge Urosa Savino, former archbishop of Caracas, Venezuela, said of Mother Maria Berenice, "She was a woman of living and firm Christian faith, of intense Marian piety and great mettle, an enthusiastic entrepreneur, with many initiatives to announce the name and love of God to those most in need." Talking about a long illness she suffered later in life, he said, "The Lord gave her a special strength to join the passion of Christ in the pain of illness and the weakness that it brings."
In looking at the life of Blessed Mother Maria Berenice, we see an amazing example of what it looks like to follow in the footsteps of Christ and our Blessed Mother. In her strength, she lifted up the most destitute people in society and was a tireless advocate for those on the margins and those facing racial and economic discrimination. And in her weakness, she turned everything over to God, uniting herself to Christ on the Cross. May she continue to watch over the marginalized and lead all who call upon her intercession to healing in Christ.
This essay is a recent "Light One Candle"
column, written by Fr. Ed Dougherty, M.M, of The Christophers' Board of Directors; it is one of a series of
weekly columns that deal with a variety of topics and current
events.)
Background information:
The Christophers
Reflection Starter from Bishop Thomas Tobin
"A recent Gallup poll says that fewer people now believe in God. That's the bad news. The good news is that God still believes in us, despite our sins and our disbelief. That's what Christmas is all about. God still loves us, cares for us, and wants to save us - from our folly." - Bishop Thomas J. Tobin
22 December 2022
U.S. Army Jazz Ambassadors: "Welcome Christmas"
It's time for some jazz, a genre of music I enjoy. Here is a presentation of "Welcome Christmas" by the United States Army Field Band's Jazz Ambassadors:
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of Your call that leads to keeping our hearts restless until they rest in You.
Fr. Jack Loughran, OSFS, on Christmas
"Many things make me smile during the holidays. One is a memory of a
nephew when he was about 6 years old. A few days before Christmas, I
was visiting his family with my parents. My nephew was sitting in a
chair in the living room corner, obviously pondering something. He was
naturally one of those kids who never stopped moving, so his posture
and mood were out of character. I was looking at him, wondering what
was going on in his head, when suddenly he popped out of the chair and
announced to the room, 'I hate Christmas!' Asked why he hated
Christmas, he stated, 'Because it's never gonna get here!' His Advent
'patient waiting' had reached its limit but he certainly brought a smile
to my face."
In a recent commentary, Father Jack Loughran, OSFS, reflected on how "God is part of our history through the Incarnation in a new way" and, related to this, why we "light things up to proclaim our hope and joy with this gift."
To access Fr. Loughran's complete post, please visit:
De Sales Weekly: Provincial's Reflection: Christmas (22 DEC 22)
Reflection Starter from Fr. Isaac Hecker
"Our religious needs are our deepest needs. There is no peace till they are satisfied and contented. The attempt to stifle them is in vain. If their cry be drowned by the noise of the world, they do not cease to exist. They must be answered." - Father Isaac Thomas Hecker
21 December 2022
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of words of encouragement as we work on little improvements each day.
Fr. Michael Rennier on Why Saying 'Don't Judge Me' Isn't Quite Right
"'Don't judge me.'
"We've all heard it. Maybe we've even said it.
"The inevitable followup is, 'You do you. I'll do me.' Or even worse, 'I'm just living my truth. You live yours.' The first phrase at least makes me laugh, the second only makes me shake my head.
"There is a helpful virtue buried in the attitude that underlies those sayings, though."
In a recent commentary, Father Michael Rennier
reflected on why "Christ is clear that a judgmental attitude is harmful" and also on the necessity of adhering to "some sort of collective truth which, even as it's acknowledged
we all fall short of it (so let's be nice about it), is nevertheless a
real, objective standard."
To access Fr. Rennier's complete post, please visit:
Aleteia: Fr. Michael Rennier: Why saying "don't judge me" isn't quite right (18 DEC 22)
Reflection Starter from Theodore Levitt
"Sustained success is largely a matter of focusing regularly on the right things and making a lot of uncelebrated little improvements every day." - Theodore Levitt
20 December 2022
Birthday Blessings, Christopher!!!
Birthday greetings to nephew Christopher Gonzalez, whose birthday is today!!! May this day, and each day of the upcoming year, be filled with the Lord's choicest blessings!!!
Br. Thomas Nee, O.P., on Advent and Our Culture
"Do you hear what I hear? The streets outside permit no escape from this sound. Any refuge at home is invaded by a TV ad. Even the inner confines of your mind find no protection from that same string of notes playing over and over again. Of course, I speak of the four horsemen of Christmas: Bing Crosby, Burl Ives, Michael Bublé, and Mariah Carey.
"Love it or hate it, Christmas music is perennially around. . . ."In a recent commentary, Brother Thomas Nee, O.P.,
reflected on how, each year, "our most secular of cultures offers us a unique opportunity to contemplate the greatest of mysteries."
To access Br. Thomas' complete post, please visit:
Dominicana: Now That’s What I Call Advent (16 DEC 22)
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