It's been a gorgeous day just north of Wellington. Warm, sunny, slight breeze.Today is the last Friday before the Christmas season starts. Last Sunday was the Feast of Christ the King - the end of the Catholic year. So, belated Happy New Year everyone.
The Feast of Christ the King was established by Pope Pius XI in 1925 as an antidote to secularism, a way of life which leaves God out of man's thinking and living and organizes his life as if God did not exist. The feast is intended to proclaim in a striking and effective manner Christ's royalty over individuals, families, society, governments, and nations.Today is the Feast of Saint Andrew, the Apostle, as Andrei reminds us.
Last year at this time, it was my first Christmas as a Christian in nearly 20 years. I was acutely aware of when Advent (the countdown to Christmas) started. This year, Advent starts on Sunday on December 2nd.
During Advent, we are admonished to:
- to prepare ourselves worthily to celebrate the anniversary of the Lord's coming into the world as the incarnate God of love,
- thus to make our souls fitting abodes for the Redeemer coming in Holy Communion and through grace, and
- thereby to make ourselves ready for His final coming as judge, at death and at the end of the world.
Y'know Lucyna, politically I should really dislike your Catholicism but I just can't bring myself to. It must be something to do with my French heritage. I've gotta say I suspect we probably share a dislike of the oncoming frenzy of commercial Chritmas "cheer". I'm not sure if one don't notice it when one is a child or if it really has got worse. Any thoughts?
ReplyDeleteGood evening all. Nice to see you back Robinsod.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to Christmas; I think I am getting better at simply zoning out on the commercialism and focusing on the spirit of it all. This will culminate in a Christmas midnight mass and time and dinners over the following days with our extended families.
I haven't been to a Christmas mass for a very long time. I'm not sure I can zone out but it's going to be good to have time to catch up with family and friends. I don't want to sound picky but I like to comment on Friday nights as Robinson. It's kinda like 'sod is off the clock...
ReplyDeleteHi Robinson,
ReplyDeleteI suppose it depends on where you are whether you notice it or not. When I lived in Sydney, the commercialisation was overwhelming, but, beneath it all I could feel something more.
As a child for me, it was all about the tree and the presents. We always got the presents on Christmas Eve as per Polish tradition. I was in charge of the tree as I was the oldest (of 6 children).
Christmas was always there, you know?
But last year, I took my entire family to The Nativity Story as a preparation for Christmas, and I found myself totally overwhelmed at what Christmas meant through that movie.
God was born as a human being.
Maybe I'm reminding you of that. :)
Ok, now I've done it.
ReplyDeleteI was wondering what it would take to scare away all the commenters.
Not scared away at all, Lucyna--we're watching "Secondhand Lions" at the moment.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching "The Last King of Scotland".
I don't know whether to be homesick for Africa or Oz--that's the trouble with being a tramp. :-)
"Gipsy" may be a better term.
ReplyDeleteI've been out putting up a Christmas tree- a seven-meter one!
ReplyDeleteThat wont be too tall for Murray's Chucky Unit to take down, Oswald.
ReplyDeleteI believe The Teacher featured in the Dominion today, wasn't it? Anybody see the article?
Hi kg and oswald!
ReplyDeleteOh good.
A seven metre tree! Oswald, you must have a vaulted ceiling or something. How on earth are you going to decorate a 7 metre tree?
Keith, is it the place or your life there that you are homesick for?
Hi Rick,
ReplyDeleteOh yes, I did see the article with Murray in the Dom Post today.
Not my tree- I was helping set one up for the local Christmas fair tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteOswald, so I don't need to think of you as someone that loves Christmas so much that they'd put up a 7 metre tree in their living room. That image and the one you present on your blog, just didn't gel.
ReplyDeleteNormal transmission resumed.
Ahh, thought that was it.
ReplyDeleteI'm very pleased. I think Murray should be put to work building more stuff like that, for the kiddies.
There was a great 'Enchanted Forreest' I visited out of Vancouver. Should make the Kiwi version.
I won't even be home on Christmas day- I'm working.
ReplyDeleteoops--fell asleep. It was a very long day. My apologies.
ReplyDeleteGood morning everyone
ReplyDeleteI had the first of the work-related Xmas parties yesterday.
the Hunting Lodge near Kumeu was pretty good.
I always enjoy the Christmas lights up Franklin Road in Auckland.
But I fly off to the UK for the festivities in a week or so, staying with mum and dad.
Christmas is for families after all.