Christmas 2009
December 25
Today is one of those days when, probably the least said, is the better. St. Francis of Assisi is to have said: the best sermons preached are those without words.
So, to those of you out there who read this blog, I wish you a very Holy and Happy Christmas.
The Manger Scene and Christmas still bring out the best in me and the kid in me. I really do wish that everyday would be Christmas Day. Not because of all the decorations but because of the spirit that brings us together in a unique way. It is Jesus who does that.
For your reading pleasure, may I suggest the article in today's Inquirer on the editorial page by Susan Fitzgerald "More Than Health Care Gets Us Through the Year".
Pax et Bonum
Monsignor Deliman
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
December 20 - O Radiant Dawn
... is the "O" antiphon for today.
It is the day after a snowfall that will make many happy. We will have a White Christmas.
The crest of the new fallen snow reminds us of the purity of the Virgin Mary and our own baptismal innocence. The innocence that we risk at times, due to sin.
Let our prayer today be that on Christmas Morning we will have prepared well - through a good confession - to celebrate the Birthday of the Lord.
Pax et Bonum.
... is the "O" antiphon for today.
It is the day after a snowfall that will make many happy. We will have a White Christmas.
The crest of the new fallen snow reminds us of the purity of the Virgin Mary and our own baptismal innocence. The innocence that we risk at times, due to sin.
Let our prayer today be that on Christmas Morning we will have prepared well - through a good confession - to celebrate the Birthday of the Lord.
Pax et Bonum.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
December 18 - O Adonai - O Lord
O Leader of the House of Israel, giver of the law to Moses on Sinai: come to rescue us with your mighty power. This is our plea today.
May the Law of Moses and the Law of Jesus, the new Moses , be ever engraved in our hearts and minds.
I had a Canon Law professor in the seminary who always insisted that "Law is for liberty". I have never forgotten that pithy little statement. When you think about it - and I ask you to do just that - think about it, Law does free us. It shows us the way to living a just and upright life.
For a Catholic, a Christian - our laws are not binding and restrictive. They point us in the direction of He who is the Way, the Truth and the Life.
Pax et Bonum.
O Leader of the House of Israel, giver of the law to Moses on Sinai: come to rescue us with your mighty power. This is our plea today.
May the Law of Moses and the Law of Jesus, the new Moses , be ever engraved in our hearts and minds.
I had a Canon Law professor in the seminary who always insisted that "Law is for liberty". I have never forgotten that pithy little statement. When you think about it - and I ask you to do just that - think about it, Law does free us. It shows us the way to living a just and upright life.
For a Catholic, a Christian - our laws are not binding and restrictive. They point us in the direction of He who is the Way, the Truth and the Life.
Pax et Bonum.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
December 16 - The Christmas Novena Begins
It is nine days before Christmas. Our Catholic tradition has utilized the Novena as a way of preparing ourselves for a great feast of the Church.
Remember, the first novena took place in the Upper Room where the Disciples, together with Mary, waited prayerfully for the coming of the Holy Spirit.
So, we have begun the Christmas Novena today here at SMT. This year I chose prayers that we used in the seminary. I am going back some 47 years ago. They are very traditional, but remind us of the joys and sorrows of the Holy Family on that first Christmas night.
The Spanish community begins Posadas tonight,- going from house to house with the baby Jesus seeking shelter. Is there room in the inn of your heart for Christ? If, perhaps, sin has displaced Grace, why not resolve to make a good Confession before Christmas?
Pax et Bonum.
Monsignor D.
It is nine days before Christmas. Our Catholic tradition has utilized the Novena as a way of preparing ourselves for a great feast of the Church.
Remember, the first novena took place in the Upper Room where the Disciples, together with Mary, waited prayerfully for the coming of the Holy Spirit.
So, we have begun the Christmas Novena today here at SMT. This year I chose prayers that we used in the seminary. I am going back some 47 years ago. They are very traditional, but remind us of the joys and sorrows of the Holy Family on that first Christmas night.
The Spanish community begins Posadas tonight,- going from house to house with the baby Jesus seeking shelter. Is there room in the inn of your heart for Christ? If, perhaps, sin has displaced Grace, why not resolve to make a good Confession before Christmas?
Pax et Bonum.
Monsignor D.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Me and Christmas
Yes, I have grown to like Christmas very much. And I have learned to be able to mesh the great season of Advent with the Christmas Season and not diminish either. As an aside, I do wish that we could learn to celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas with as much energy as we celebrate the days before Christmas. But this being the reality, I have managed to adapt.
I took a walk this morning, leaving the house at about 6:15. I wanted to be out and about for a December dawn. It was magnificent, the early morning, purple December sky giving way to the new day, prayerfully reminded me of Emmanuel - God is with us!. I suggest that you do the same. You will like it.
This just past second week of Advent was filled with wonderful delights. On Monday our children visited homes while caroling. The Spirit truly moved our young spirits as they dug in without any apparent inhibitions. They sang to neighbors and parishioners reminding themselves and other of the "Reason for the Season".
Then on Thursday we celebrated the "Mass in the Stable". In was brrrrrr.....cold. But the icy December wind didn't dull the enthusiasm of the young and the "young at heart". We tried our best to teach the children. I have always found the Mass in the Stable to be a good catechetical experience.
Today we round out the week with a Mass in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe. What would Christmas be like without December 12. I am told that after Christmas and Easter, Guadalupe is the next biggest liturgical celebration in our Catholic World. Today we offer homage to Mary in her role as Mother of God, Mother of the Church and Queen of the Americas.
I will listen to some Christmas Carols in between today and be glad for December Joy on this Gaudete Weekend.
Pax et Bonum
December 12, 2009
Yes, I have grown to like Christmas very much. And I have learned to be able to mesh the great season of Advent with the Christmas Season and not diminish either. As an aside, I do wish that we could learn to celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas with as much energy as we celebrate the days before Christmas. But this being the reality, I have managed to adapt.
I took a walk this morning, leaving the house at about 6:15. I wanted to be out and about for a December dawn. It was magnificent, the early morning, purple December sky giving way to the new day, prayerfully reminded me of Emmanuel - God is with us!. I suggest that you do the same. You will like it.
This just past second week of Advent was filled with wonderful delights. On Monday our children visited homes while caroling. The Spirit truly moved our young spirits as they dug in without any apparent inhibitions. They sang to neighbors and parishioners reminding themselves and other of the "Reason for the Season".
Then on Thursday we celebrated the "Mass in the Stable". In was brrrrrr.....cold. But the icy December wind didn't dull the enthusiasm of the young and the "young at heart". We tried our best to teach the children. I have always found the Mass in the Stable to be a good catechetical experience.
Today we round out the week with a Mass in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe. What would Christmas be like without December 12. I am told that after Christmas and Easter, Guadalupe is the next biggest liturgical celebration in our Catholic World. Today we offer homage to Mary in her role as Mother of God, Mother of the Church and Queen of the Americas.
I will listen to some Christmas Carols in between today and be glad for December Joy on this Gaudete Weekend.
Pax et Bonum
December 12, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)