Last week I came to the realization that I put up too many Christmas trees. Two in the living room, two in the family room, one in the downstairs bathroom, one in our guest bedroom and one in the entryway. The trees vary in size, but most of them are decorated.

Theme Trees

Before too long I realized that after 50 years of collecting ornaments, I needed a theme (or several for that matter). So instead of having one hodgepodge Christmas tree, it morphed into a Mexican Tree, a Holy Land Tree and the main tree with my religious ornaments. Thank God I finally stopped purchasing ornaments! This year it took five days to complete the decorating.

Tamales

No one was in the tamale spirit this year. I give tamales as gifts to friends and neighbors so, of course, I have to rally the family into making them. It was just us, minus our granddaughter Maddie who was at work. I had staged the kitchen for this messy production. Something always goes amiss with this assembly; this time the sauce was too runny! Sonja came up with the idea of adding corn starch, but I felt that adding this ingredient would compromise the flavor. No one ever listens to me!

We did our best, so under these circumstances the tamales came out tasting great. We had a lot of leftover masa, so instead of throwing it out we made pendejos (stupid tamales).

The Pendejos

It turns out that there is a small demand for these meatless tamales because vegetarians love them. Both Sonja and Mikos sang the same song: “Oh my gosh! Why are you making them? No one wants to eat them!”  I had one earlier today, and it was delicious! I had eaten a total of four tamales in one day! Then Mike wanted In–N–Out hamburgers for dinner! I honestly felt like a grazing cow, going through the green meadows without a care in the world.  I’m not only eating tamales, I’m  gorging on all the sweets my wonderful neighbors gifted us. I’m getting a little scared because Mike purchased the largest prime rib; so from here it’s all downhill until I get my head straight.

Mass

Because we’re so busy, who has time for Mass? I was questioning that on Tuesday evening when we had a special service for our teens at St. Norbert’s. We had a guest speaker, worship music, and followed with Adoration. I was immediately convicted for thinking that I was too busy to attend this service. Being before the Blessed Sacrament brought such peace to my spirit, a calming that we all need during this busy time.

The Birth of Our Savior

I praise God for how beautifully His spirit has manifested throughout Advent.  It is a time of miracles, and more and more people are turning their lives to the Lord. We all get caught up in the notion of the Christmas season and all that the world wants us to believe. It’s about Jesus, but how we receive this message is personal. Take time to reflect on the Christmas story in the Gospel of Luke, chapters one and two.  If you do not have a Bible, use your phone. Do not miss out on the greatest of all celebrations.

I recently read a post on Instagram describing how to make “Christmas about you.” No, it’s not about us! It’s about JESUS!

Prudie

By now most of you know that I have an elderly cat named Prudie.

Psalm 150:6   New American Bible (Revised Edition)

⁶ Let everything that has breath
    give praise to the Lord!
Hallelujah!

It started several years ago. Prudie decided that she needed to keep the Holy Family company, so she made a spot near baby Jesus and slept there. Prudie makes herself comfortable at different locations in the Nativity scene and she slept there eversince.   Of course she is the biggest animal in the Nativity scene, but she’s fine with that. If my cat can show reverence to Baby Jesus, why can’t the rest of the world?

Family

We are so blessed to have our family living so close to us. Mike and I decided that instead of purchasing gifts for our grandkids, we would take them shopping instead. Maddie and I had a great time picking out make-up, and the boys are easy to shop for because they keep it simple. We always have a nice lunch after shopping, so this, too, has become a tradition.

Traveling

We took our annual trip to New York and Connecticut with our friends Larry and Helen. Whenever we’re in the Big Apple we always visit  St. Patrick’s Cathedral. We prayed, lit candles, then walked over to Rockefeller Square to pose in front of the Christmas tree.

We stuck out like sore thumbs in this state, but I love the feel of a small-town community. We even caught a musical in a tiny theater in Iveryton. It was delightful! What I liked most about this visit were the family-owned restaurants that catered to our taste buds with locally grown products.

By far my favorite Christmas Carols are “O Holy Night and Silent Night.

Silent Night/Stille Nacht

Josephus Francisus Mohr, (Joseph Mohr) a Roman Catholic priest, had written the lyrics to “Stille Nacht/Silent Night.” He desperately needed a Christmas carol for the Midnight Mass. Father Mohr asked the choir director, Franz Xaver Gruber, to help him by composing a melody to “Silent Night.”

It took Franz Gruber only a few hours to compose the melody to Silent Night. The two men stood before the altar, accompanied by the choir and for the first time on December 24, 1818, performed “Silent Night” at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Oberndorf, Austria.

O Holy Night/Cantique de Noel

Placide Cappeau, a poet,  wrote the lyrics to the song  “O Holy Night”. Placide, not being a religious man, was surprised when a  priest from the local parish first approached him with the request. He studied  the Christmas story in the Gospel of Luke and imagined himself there. When he finished the song, he thought that it was more than a poem, so he asked his friend Adolphe Charles Adam to write the melody.

Adolphe Charles Adam

Adolphe Charles Adam, a famous classical musician renowned throughout Europe, complied with this unusual request. It was unusual because he was Jewish. He did not celebrate Christ or anything having to do with Christianity.

But he  did compose the music to go along with the words of his friend Placide. Three weeks later the song was performed at the Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve.

Placide Cappeau 

When Placide joined a socialist movement and it was discovered that Adolphe Adam was a Jew, the French Catholic Church leaders cancelled “O Holy Night.” The French Catholic Church  may have been one of the  first “cancel culture”societies, a movement in our country that is frowned upon by many.

Banned

For nearly two decades “O Holy Night” was banned from being sung at church services, but the French loved the song so much that they continued singing it in their homes.

The Rebirth

In 1870 the song regained popularity during the Franco–Prussian War, when a lone French soldier stepped out of the trenches, lifted his eyes toward heaven and sang “O Holy Night.”  This was followed by a German soldier singing a German Christmas carol.  For 24 hours peace filled the air and there was a ceasefire from both sides in observance of Christmas Day.

John Sullivan Dwight

John Sullivan Dwight, an American abolitionist, fell in love with this song. He was particularly moved by these verses:

“Truly He taught us to love one another; His law is Love and His gospel is Peace. Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother, and in His name all oppression shall cease.” In 1855 he translated “O Holy Night” from French to English.

Mr. Dwight published “O Holy Night” in his magazine and it found great favor in America, especially in the North during the Civil War. The Christmas carol became an anti-slavery anthem during the 1850’s.

Reginald Fessenden

Reginald Fessenden took “O Holy Night” to a higher level. This 33-year-old university professor and former chief chemist for Thomas Edison accomplished something that at that time was considered impossible.

 The Airwaves

In 1906 he used the radio telegraphic communication across the Atlantic Ocean. Introducing a new type of generator, Reginald Fessenden spoke into a microphone and, for the first time,  a man’s voice was heard over the airwaves. Imagine ships at sea hearing a man’s voice preaching the gospel  instead of receiving coded messages. The airwaves were created to send the gospel to the world.

The Christmas Story

Fessenden read from:

The beauty of this incredible story is that it occurred on Christmas Eve. Mr. Fessenden ended the broadcast by playing “O Holy Night” on his violin.

The Connection

Discovering the history of these timeless Christmas carols is a clear message on how God uses us for His glory. Father Mohr was an illegitimate child whose father had abandoned him before his birth. Despite this he became the priest who wrote the lyrics to one of the most beloved songs: ” Silent Night.”

Placide, inspired by the Christmas Story in the Book of Luke, wrote about what he experienced reliving the birth of Christ. Adolphe Charles Adam, a Jew, was  used mightily by God to compose the melody for  “O Holy Night.” Though they were cancelled by the Catholic Church in France, no one can deny the fact that together they did a glorious job collaborating this master piece.

God used John Sullivan Dwight, a magazine publisher, to give “O Holy Night” new recognition.  Reginald Fessenden’s contribution was introducing the Gospel through the airwaves for the first time.

All these talented men will go down in history for their contribution of reaching those who are in the Valley of Decision because these songs tug at your heart.

My Prayer

Dear Lord, we are in the trenches of life, not certain about our future with the war at our doorstep. Lord, may the world listen to the words of these songs and cause a ceasefire in Ukraine and Israel and Hamas in Gaza. We pray for the miracle of peace throughout this earth. Amen.

We exchange gifts because the Magi presented gifts to the Christ child.

The Gifts

The Wisemen, the Three Kings, presented  gifts of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh.

– The gold represents Christ deity; a gift fit for a king.

– Frankincense represents Christ’s ministry, because it was used for religious worship.

– Myrrh represents Christ’s death and burial.

The Season Of Giving

We are in the Christmas season. Whether providing gifts for our loved ones or not, we all need to be in the spirit of giving. Give yourselves through volunteering, and, if you don’t have time for that, donate funds to a Christian organization that will assist families during the holidays. You can also contribute by sharing the gifts God has given you.

Trevor

I would like to share a story about my friend Trevor, a young man who is part of St. Norbert Parish. I met him several years ago at the church parking lot.   His commitment  to attending daily Mass intrigued me. One day I approached him and asked, “Are you studying to become a priest?”  With a broad smile, he answered, “No.” I discerned that he was a quiet, kindhearted man.

Sacristan

I noticed that Trevor was serving as a sacristan during daily Mass. A sacristan is a person who is in charge of the sacristy and its contents. I thought to myself, “What a great position for Trevor because he is familiar with the holy matters of God.”

The Flyer

I had shared with Trevor that I was a blogger. Ultimately, I want the  community of our parish to read the blog because many stories are about our church.   As I was leaving, Trevor handed me a flyer about a project he created “Catholic Stories for Children.”  Trevor received the idea for these stories from the Holy Spirit.

Mary

In Trevor’s words, “Mary always leads us to Christ.” He found an animator and an illustrator and produced his first series dedicated to the”Hail Mary.”

I watched the video on Youtube, and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. For this reason, I believe that Trevor’s stories are not only going to teach children but also going to lead others to the simple understanding of our Catholic faith,

Franciscan University

Trevor is currently working on his Master of Theology degree as an online student. Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, conducts an annual event called GRACE (Gallery of Research, Artistry and Community Engagement).

Trevor was reluctant to enter the competition because he felt that it was not for him. He was only taking one online class, but submitted the project after someone persuaded him. Much to his surprise, he ended up winning the Dr. James Coyle Media Award.
The Abbey

Trevor is a contemplative, who prays for direction for his projects. He was spending quiet time with the Lord at St. Michael’s Abbey.  The Abbey is located in Silverado Canyon, California, tucked away in the hills surrounded by God’s landscape of natural beauty. As Trevor was leaving the Abbey, a man approached him and asked if he was okay. After a short conversation, they  decided to meet for coffee.

Providence  of God

The coffee session included the man and his sister, who happened to run The International Hollywood Film Festival!  Even though the organization was no longer accepting submissions, the lady encouraged him to enter his film. But in order to be considered for the festival, all the paperwork had to be filled out that night.  Again, Trevor felt that maybe this was not for him; after all this was Hollywood and his film was about the Hail Mary prayer.  That night, after much prayer, he filled out the forms and sent them via email.

After Trevor submitted his film, he received an email stating that it was accepted. A few months passed before he received another update. His film became a nominee. Then another email informed him that his film would be screened at the iconic Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles!

Before the showing, they would select five films to show a trailer and to talk about the project. Trevor was not comfortable doing this; he was afraid that the Hollywood audience would not receive this film. He thought that it would be difficult to present to an audience that does not respect the Catholic Church. He received another email stating that there was only one spot left.

Mary Again

That evening, Trevor received a call from the man that he met at St. Michael’s Abbey. He encouraged Trevor to submit the film. He told him to go to Mary and to pray about it. Once again Trevor put it in the hands of God.

Hollywood

Trevor was terrified to present this talk to a very large crowd, mostly because he was unaccustomed to being on any stage, let alone one from Hollywood.  He made the one-minute trailer for his three-minute film, prepared a short talk about his project, and submitted it. The Hail Mary story was greatly received. He met fallen away Catholics who were reminded of their Catholic upbringing.

The animated film was shown in the iconic theater and received six awards from the film festival!

Behind the Scenes

The cost for the first animated film was $10,000; it involved three animators, an illustrator and a sound designer. The new series could cost from $20,000 to $30,000 each. They included a screen writer, illustrator, animation studio, music composer, voice actors/singers and a 3-D designer. The animation studio is located in Mexico City, the music composers are  in Ohio and the 3-D illustrator is in Italy, making it an international virtual project.

Trevor was blessed to receive a generous grant from a foundation who wishes to remain anonymous. You can also donate to this holy project by:

https://catholicstoriesforchildren.com

Disney

On the contrary, Disney’s last “woke” movie, Wish cost over $200 million to produce. I do not believe anyone at Disney is praying about their productions because  both the feminist Marvel and Wish flopped in the box office. Besides, Disney is still trying to recoup the $300 million lost from Marvel.

My Prayer

Dear Lord, Thank You for all the favor You have bestowed on Trevor. Lord, even in our state of doubt, remind us of our gifts. May Trevor’s “Catholic Stories for Children” spread throughout the world. Amen.