These days the commercialization of the Christmas 'season' is almost unavoidable in American culture (I realize it happens other places, but this is where I live, thus where I see it). It seems that Halloween has barely passed, and the signature red & green decorations are coming out. I understand that stores need to operate for good people to make a living and support their families. But what has society made of this celebration in the latter half of the 20th century?
It may seem to some that campaigns for "Keep Christ in Christmas" are over-exaggerated, but if you're not celebrating the true reason for Christmas, what are you celebrating? Why are you upholding the acquired traditions of trees, lights, gifts and gatherings, if you're not remembering for whom this time is meant to glorify?
(From the Catholic Encyclopedia)
[The word for Christmas in late Old English is Cristes Maesse, the Mass of Christ, first found in 1038, and Cristes-messe, in 1131. In Dutch it is Kerstmis, in Latin Dies Natalis, whence comes the French Noël, and Italian Il natale; in German Weihnachtsfest, from the preceding sacred vigil.]
There are many ways to say it, but they all point to the same Reason for the Season. On the 25th of December each year, we the Church celebrate the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord, Jesus Christ.
[Mass: The Eucharist or principal sacramental celebration of the Church, established by Jesus at the Last Supper, in which the mystery of our salvation through participation in the sacrificial death and glorious Resurrection of Christ is renewed and accomplished. The Mass renews the paschal sacrifice of Christ as the sacrifice offered by the Church. It is called "Mass" (from the Latin missa) because of the "mission" or "sending" with which the liturgical celebration concludes (Catechism glossary).]
Yes, the mass is the remembrance of Christ's death and Resurrection, which culminates at Easter as the principal celebration of the year, but the beginning of this journey every year is with Christmas. It's the starting point that leads us to Easter.
[Catechism 1171: In the liturgical year the various aspects of the one Paschal mystery unfold. This is also the case with the cycle of feasts surrounding the mystery of the Incarnation (Annunciation, Christmas, Epiphany). They commemorate the beginning of our salvation and communicate to us the first fruits of the Paschal mystery.]
Our Christmas season doesn't kick-start when you flip to November on your standard Gregorian calendar, but begins on Christmas Day and concludes with the Epiphany. And before that is the beautiful season of Advent, in which we wait and anticipate the coming of our Redeemer.
[Catechism 524: When the Church celebrates the liturgy of Advent each year, she makes present this ancient expectancy of the Messiah, for by sharing in the long preparation for the Savior's first coming, the faithful renew their ardent desire for his second coming (Rev 22:17). By celebrating the precursor's birth and martyrdom, the Church unites herself to his desire: "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30).]
We are presently living in that little space between the first and second coming. We live in daily anticipation of our Lord's return. With this in mind, I think that the mentality shown by the majority of people during Christmas season nowadays should become part of our 'basics' of daily operation. We should be bringing our Christmas charity, kindness, hospitality and love that we show during this time of year, to every other space in the calendar. As Catholics, we are called to do as much, with whatever or whomever we encounter.
I do not feel obligated to tell someone 'Happy Holidays' over 'Merry Christmas'. I feel that the political part of political correctness shouldn't even be involved with our greetings. Yes, I understand there are other holidays during this time of year, I'm well aware. No one means offense, but of course someone is bound to get all worked up. I usually get worked up after a 'Merry Christmas' is returned with a 'Happy Holidays', but to each his own. There are dozens of scenarios where someone celebrates something else, but my point is that for any greeting or celebration, it should be just that, an expression of the joy of your belief. Getting angry or offended has no place in it.
By telling someone 'Merry Christmas', I'm just relaying to you what this time of year means to me and I hope you can share in this time of joy. And we should be willing to share such explanations why. Within this greeting should also come the invitation for those who do not know or believe, or an encouragement to explore the deeper meanings and the way to the Truth.
[St. Augustine:
“Let us, my brethren, rejoice, this day is sacred, not because of the
visible sun, but because of the Birth of Him Who is the invisible
Creator of the sun. He chose this day whereon to be born, as He chose
the Mother of whom to be born, and He made both the day and the Mother.
The day He chose was that on which the light begins to increase, and it
typifies the work of Christ, who renews our interior man day by day. For
the eternal Creator, having willed to be born in time, His birthday
would necessarily be in harmony with the rest of creation.” (Sermon On
the Nativity of Our Lord iii) ]
I think that writing can be compared to a good ole cast iron pot: the longer you use it and keep it up, the better seasoned it will be. I hope this and future writings will open up new doors in the backs of minds, to maybe some things that weren't thought of before. Or maybe just a fresh perspective on things.
I wish you and yours the best this Christmas, and pray that the Lord bless you with a year-long Christmas spirit!
~Nick
P.S. One of the 'Bayou Priests' I know sent me this, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?