Category: christmas

  • Joey, Joe, or Joseph?

    Joey, Joe, or Joseph?

    This is an edited repost from 2021. THERE IS A TRADITION that St Joseph was much older that the Blessed Virgin when they were betrothed. One saint suggests that Jesus’ Foster Father was 91 when he married the Blessed Virgin! Other teachers, suggest mid-fifties. The reason for this tradition is generally understood to be the…

  • Incarnation

    Incarnation

    The scriptures say he was like us in all ways except sin. Sometimes people need to be reminded that noisy, messy children are perfectly normal. And as of today, that is as of Christmas, they are also signs of the divine.

  • Like Mother, like Us

    Like Mother, like Us

    In the course of Advent we hear the reading of the Annunciation a couple of times between Mass and the Office, including daily readings, it’s come up 3 or 4 times in the last 3 weeks. additionally, this same Gospel pericope, as it is called “in the business”, is read several times a year: we…

  • Paper or Plastic?

    Paper or Plastic?

    A NEWBORN BABY, we are told (by Mr Google) has about 1 cup of blood. An adult human has about 1.5 gallons. In the Middle Ages may in Europe became fascinated with how many drops of blood that might be. How many drops of blood were shed by Jesus on the Cross? This quest became…

  • Joey, Joe, or Joseph?

    Joey, Joe, or Joseph?

    THERE IS A TRADITION that St Joseph was older that the Blessed Virgin when they were betrothed. One saint suggests that Jesus’ Foster Father was 91 when he married the Blessed Virgin! Other, more realistic teachers, suggest mid-fifties. The reason for this tradition is generally understood to be the idea that an older Joseph would…

  • A Child’s Christmas in Wurtsboro

    A Child’s Christmas in Wurtsboro

    IT BEGINS when, prompted by the Wurtsboro Village Council and borrowing a truck from his employer, Orange and Rockland electric company, my grandfather puts up the village lights. Driving slowly through town in a cherry picker, Grandpa puts up the aged white candles, the green wreaths, the red-lighted garlands. Snow has fallen. Trees have been…

  • The Gift

    The Gift

    ONCE UPON A TIME, back in the days when you could go to see Santa Claus in the department store and he would give you presents that were not just sticky candy, two best friends, Jimmy and Billy, went to their local Belks before Christmas. They stood patiently in line and, when their turns came,…

  • A Mission, OP

    Always on Christmas, there is a sense of disconnection for me. Back when I thought I was going to be an Episcopal Priest there was the same sense of disconnect. My Family was hundreds (and later thousands) of miles away. My friends all did their family things. Later I discovered the “orphans’ Christmas” which was…

  • The Three Christmas Gospels

    +JMJ+ There are three masses on Christmas. In fact this has been the case in the West since at least the 7th Century when Pope Gregory mentions it (see below). Each Mass has its own readings and its own prayers. Recently some friends and I, being Church Geeks, were comparing missals and became quite happy…

  • A Child’s Christmas in Wurtsboro

    IT BEGINS when, prompted by the Wurtsboro Village council and “borrowing” a truck from his employer, the electric company, my grandfather puts up the village lights. Driving slowly through town in a cherry picker, Grandpa puts up the aged white candles, the green wreaths, the red lighted garlands. Snow has fallen. Trees have been placed…

  • Come. Buy and Eat.

    ✙ JMJ The Readings for the Baptism  of Our Lord: Isaiah 55:1-11 Mark 1:7-11 Omnes sitientes, venite ad aquas, et qui non habetis argentum, properate, emite, et comedite: venite, emite absque argento et absque ulla commutatione vinum et lac. Quare appenditis argentum non in panibus, et laborem vestrum non in saturitate?  All you that thirst,…

  • Venite Adoremus

    ✙ JMJ The Readings for the Solemnity of the Epiphany of Our Lord: Isaiah 60:1-6 Ephesians 3:2-3A, 5-6 Matthew 2:1-12 Prout potestis legentes intelligere prudentiam meam in mysterio Christi: Gentes esse cohæredes, et concorporales, et comparticipes promissionis ejus in Christo Jesu per Evangelium. As you reading, may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ:…

  • Questions Not for Cowans.

    ✙ JMJ The Readings for the 8th Day before the Ides of January: I John 5:5-13 Mark 1:7-11 Si testimonium hominum accipimus, testimonium Dei majus estIf we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater.St John is writing to believers and not to the unbelieving. This argument that follows is of no…

  • Nemo Vos Seducat

    ✙ JMJ The Readings for the Day before the Nones of January,Memorial of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton: 1 John 3:7-10 John 1:35-42  Filioli, nemo vos seducat. Qui facit justitiam, justus est, sicut et ille justus est.  Little children, let no man deceive you. He that doth justice is just, even as he is just. You…

  • Non Solum Fides.

    ✙ JMJ The Readings for the 3rd Day before the Nones of January: I John 2:29–3:6 John 1:29-34 Et omnis qui habet hanc spem in eo, sanctificat se, sicut et ille sanctus est. And every one that hath this hope in him, sanctifieth himself, as he also is holy. On Sunday, Fr Joseph Illo preached an excellent…