27 December: Feast of the Holy Family. Little is known about the life of Jesus’s earthly family. The gospels tell of the early years, including the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, the flight into Egypt, and the finding of Jesus in the temple. Pope Leo XIII promoted this feast day as a way to counter the breakdown of the family unit. The purpose was to present the Holy Family as the model for all Christian families, and for domestic life in general. Family life becomes sanctified when we live the life of the Church within our homes. This is called the “domestic church” or the “church in miniature.” St. John Chrysostom urged Christians to make each home a “family church,” thus sanctifying the family unit. A good way to do this is by making Christ the center of family and individual life. For example: read scripture regularly, pray together as a family, attend Mass, go to confession, teach children about virtues, learn about and imitate the lives of the saints, live liturgically (follow the church calendar at home), and so forth. It is important to note that we don’t become holy despite the busyness of family life, but in and through it. On this feast, may the virtuous example of the Holy Family of Nazareth inspire us to develop homes full of prayer, love, and holiness.
28 December: Feast of the Holy Innocents (‘Childermas’). On the fourth day in the octave of Christmas, the Church remembers the massacre of innocent children in Bethlehem as told in Matthew 2:16-18. King Herod had ordered the death of all male children aged two and under, in his attempt to kill the infant Jesus. “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.” These children are considered martyrs, Saints of God, by the Church. This feast day is often seen as a day of merrymaking for children. It is custom to give the youngest child in the household the power to rule the day. From what to eat, where to go and what to do, the youngest is in charge. In Mexico, it is a day for children to play practical jokes and pranks on their elders. The Holy Innocents are special patrons of babies and small children, who can please the Christ Child by being obedient and helpful to parents, by sharing toys and loving siblings. This feast is an excellent time for parents to inaugurate the custom of blessing children. Sign a cross on your child’s forehead with the right thumb and say: “May God bless you, and may He be the Guardian of your heart and mind, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
Ideas for celebrating at home:
Plan a family dinner, having all members involved. Each person can cook or choose a favorite dish (depending on age). Make a table centerpiece by surrounding a Christ-Candle with smaller white candles representing the Holy Innocents. The number of small candles might be as many as there are children in the family. Each child is allowed to light one small candle from the flame of the Christ-Candle, signifying that just as he received life from Christ, he will live and (if need be) die for Christ just as the Holy Innocents did.
Before or after dinner, do a whole family activity such as a game, movie or outing (hike, walk, bike ride, etc.) If you prefer to stay indoors try making popcorn balls, an activity that can get all hands involved from young to old.
Pray together: the rosary, especially the Joyful mysteries, is an excellent family prayer.
“The first witnesses of Christ’s birth, the shepherds, found themselves not only before the Infant Jesus but also a small family: mother, father and newborn son. God had chosen to reveal himself by being born into a human family and the human family thus became an icon of God! …Indeed, the family is the best school at which to learn to live out those values which give dignity to the person and greatness to peoples. …The Holy Family of Nazareth is truly the “prototype” of every Christian family which, united in the Sacrament of Marriage and nourished by the Word and the Eucharist, is called to carry out the wonderful vocation and mission of being the living cell not only of society but also of the Church, a sign and instrument of unity for the entire human race. …May [the holy family] help Christian families to be, in every part of the world, living images of God’s love.” – Pope Benedict XVI
26 December: Feast of Saint Stephen. On the second day in the octave of Christmas, we celebrate the Feast of St. Stephen, an early Church deacon and the first Christian martyr. The Book of Acts 6-7 tells us about Stephen. He came from a family of Hellenists, Jews who had emigrated from Palestine to the Greek-speaking provinces of the Roman Empire. Tension arose between the Greek Jewish converts to Christianity and the Palestinian Jewish converts. The Greeks thought their needy were being neglected in favor of the Hebrew’s poor. To resolve the problem, the apostles ordained seven men as deacons to serve the poor and preach the Faith. The first name on this list of seven is Stephen. Stephen was renowned for his care of the poor and was held in high esteem by the Apostles. In his zeal for the Faith, he also debated with members of four Greek synagogues. When Stephen’s eloquent speeches got the better of the Hellenist Jews, angry opponents dragged him to the Sanhedrin. False witnesses charged him with blasphemy and reviling the Law of Moses. In answer, Stephen gave a lengthy speech that traced the sacred history of the Jews and concluded with a denunciation of his accusers. Then, suddenly filled with the Holy Spirit, he looked up to heaven and cried, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” This was too much blasphemy for the angry mob of Jews. (The man later to become St. Paul was part of the mob.) They rushed upon Stephen, dragged him outside the city walls and stoned him to death. As the stones struck, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then, when down on his knees and near death, Stephen prayed again, “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.” After the mob had dispersed, Christians took his body away for burial.
The Church draws a comparison between St. Stephen and Christ: Stephen’s arrest and trial with false accusations parallels our Savior’s trial; he was stoned outside the city wall; he died echoing the words of Jesus on the cross (praying for his executioners). Saint Stephen is the patron of deacons, altar servers, bricklayers, stonemasons and horses.
Ideas for celebrating this feast day at home:
A traditional St. Stephen’s meal is mincemeat pie. Here is an old time recipe. OR, try a new twist on mincemeat pie using leftover holiday turkey or ham: click here.
Bake “St. Stephen’s Horns” called Podkovy: In honor of his patronage over horses, special sweet breads are baked in the form of horseshoes. These “horns” are much like coffeecake. Recipe here.
St. Stephen was stoned to death while praying for his enemies. Today, pray for your enemies and for the persecuted Church throughout the world.
Boxing Day: St. Stephen was one of the first ‘social workers’ in the Church; it was his task to feed the poor. In remembrance of his work, Britains used to collect money during the year in little clay boxes. On the feast of St. Stephen or ‘Boxing day’ as it is called in Britain, these boxes were broken and the money distributed to the poor. Perhaps you can revive this old tradition in your home!
Another idea: In some homes a box is labeled and set beside the Christmas tree. Family members, in gratitude for their Christmas blessings, choose one of their gifts for the “St. Stephen’s Box” and then donate the gifts to the poor.
“If you know what witness means, you understand why God brings St. Stephen, St. John, and the Holy Innocents to the crib in the cave as soon as Christ is born liturgically. To be a witness is to be a martyr. Holy Mother Church wishes us to realize that we were born in baptism to become Christ — He who was the world’s outstanding Martyr.” — Love Does Such Things, by Rev. M. Raymond, O.C.S.O.
14 December: Saint John of the Cross. Born in 1542 as Juan de Yepes, he was the son of a poor silk weaver in Spain. His father was of noble birth but had married much beneath him and thus had been cut off by family. He had taken to silk weaving as a means of livelihood, but had never been able to make much of it. Soon after the birth of Juan, he died. The family was left in dire poverty; the children grew up always underfed, so much so that to the end of his life, Juan remained dwarfed in stature. Unable to learn a trade, he became the servant of the poor in the hospital of Medina, while also pursuing sacred studies. In 1563, Juan became a lay-brother to the Carmelite friars, who had him ordained priest. St. Teresa of Avila then strongly persuaded him to help her reform the Carmelite Order. Together they founded the Discalced (meaning “barefoot”) Carmelites, an order devoted to service of the Blessed Mother through prayer and penance. He took the name “John of the Cross.” His reform of the Carmelites, though approved by the general, was rejected by the elder friars, who condemned him as an apostate, and cast him into prison. He escaped after nine months of suffering (being beaten and nearly starved to death). Twice again, John was persecuted by his brethren and publicly disgraced. This only deepened his interior peace and devout longing for heaven. He had a great devotion to Our Lord’s Passion and voluntarily sought out humiliations. When Our Lord asked him what reward he would ask for his labors, John answered: “To suffer and to be despised for Thee.” On December 14, 1591, John was dying of a painful infection at only 49 years old. He asked to have “Song of Songs” read to him. While listening, he was heard to say, “So beautiful are the flowers!” And then he died. St. John was a great contemplative and spiritual writer. His mystical poems on divine love are considered some of the greatest verses ever written in the Spanish language. Among the Church’s contemplatives, St. John is known as a master of mystical theology and has had a great influence on Catholic spirituality. Saint John of the Cross was beatified by Pope Clement X in 1675; canonized by Pope Benedict XIII in 1726; and proclaimed Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XI in 1926. He is the patron of contemplative life, mystical theology, mystics, and Spanish poets.
“With what procrastinations do you wait, since from this very moment you can love God in your heart?”
(Excerpt from Prayer of a Soul Taken with Love — St. John of the Cross)
Ideas for celebrating this feast day at home:
A Spanish-inspired dinner would be perfect for St. John’s feast day. Try this easy recipe for Spanish rice with beef. Other ideas would be gazpacho soup, tapas, or a Spanish paella!
St. John was a prolific writer and poet. Today, ask children to write a small poem in honor of Christ or the Cross. These little poems of faith could be placed in the Christmas manger as a gift to Jesus.
Three of St. John’s works, Ascent of Mount Carmel, Dark Night of the Soul, and Spiritual Canticle of the Soul and the Bridgegroom Christ are available online at the Christian Classics Ethereal Library.
Reflect on the following sayings from St. John of the Cross: “In the evening of your life you will be judged by your love.” / “Where there is no love, put love and you will find love.” / “Keep your heart in peace; let nothing in this world disturb it; everything has an end.”
9 December: Saint Juan Diego and 12 December: Our Lady of Guadalupe. It is fitting to celebrate these two feast days together. The beautiful story of Juan Diego and Our Lady of Guadalupe is well known. A poor Indian man named Juan Diego was walking for many miles to attend Mass on December 9, 1531. Near a hill called Tepeyac, he heard beautiful music that sounded like birds. A radiant cloud appeared, and in it stood an Indian maiden dressed like an Aztec princess. The lady spoke to him and sent him to the bishop of Mexico to ask for a chapel to be built in that place. The bishop was skeptical and told Juan to ask for a sign. Juan promised to do so but that day his uncle became very ill and Juan stayed to care for him instead. When Juan later went to the priest, he took the long way around the mountain, trying to avoid the lady he had let down. The lady appeared to Juan along his detour and chided him for not coming to her for help. “Am I not here, I who am your mother?” The lady assured Juan that his uncle would recover. For the bishop’s sign, she instructed Juan to gather roses in his cloak, called a tilma. The roses were miraculously growing out of season on the mountaintop. When Juan opened his tilma in the bishop’s presence on December 12, the roses fell to the ground, and the bishop sank to his knees in reverence. On the tilma was an image of Our Lady, exactly as she had appeared at Tepeyac. The symbolism of Our Lady of Guadalupe’s image was obvious to the Native Mexicans: she is more powerful than the Aztec gods, yet she herself is not God. Our Lady of Guadalupe did not appear again, for her mission was complete. She had come to offer faith, hope and consolation to the oppressed natives of Mexico and to reconcile them with their Spanish rulers. She put an end to the bloody human sacrifice of the Aztecs and converted ten million natives in the next 10 years. The church she asked for was built and remains there today, in a suburb of Mexico City. Juan Diego’s tilma, woven from cactus fibers (with a shelf-life of just 30 years) remains miraculously preserved there. With the Bishop’s permission, Juan Diego moved to a small room attached to the chapel that housed the sacred image. There he cared for the tilma and church. Millions made pilgrimages to see the miraculous tilma, and to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe. Great miracles continue to occur, even today. In 1945, Pope Pius XII decreed Our Lady of Guadalupe to be the “Patroness of all the Americas.” Juan Diego died on May 30, 1548, at the age of 74. In 1990 he was declared Blessed and was canonized in 2002. Saint Pope John Paul II praised Juan Diego for his simple faith and considered him a model of humility for all.
Ideas for celebrating these feast days at home:
Join POP for a special candlelit 6.30a Rorate Mass on Saturday, 12 December
Roses: buy dark pink roses or make tissue paper roses to place on your dinner table in memory of the Castilian roses that Juan Diego picked on the mountainside.
Decorate Tilmas: turn brown paper bags into homemade “tilmas” in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Click here for idea.
FORMED has a wonderful children’s video about Juan Diego and Guadalupe – available for free using your parishioner account! Click here to watch.
Prayers to Our Lady of Guadalupe can be found at this link.
If you have a statue of Our Lady, decorate it beautifully with flowers, Christmas lights, or candles in honor of this special feast day. You can encourage devotion to the miraculous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe by purchasing one to display in your home. Or, you can print one here.
Click here to learn more about the amazing symbolism of Our Lady’s image on the tilma.
The Catholic Identity Committee at POPCS has identified 10 local families who are in need of a Christmas dinner. When we say “need,” we mean that without our support, they will not have a holiday meal.
This opportunity for service is a beautiful way to teach children how to put virtue into practice. Please look through this sign up for the specific food items and quantities needed. Our goal is to gift each family a basket containing all the fixings for Christmas dinner.
Food Collection will be EASY: we will collect all food items during morning AND afternoon carline on Friday, 11 December.
6 December: Feast of St Nicholas. St Nicholas is the patron of children, the hungry, brides and scholars! He was born in the year 270 and grew up on the coast of what is now Turkey with his wealthy Greek parents. He became bishop in Myra and died there on December 6, 343. He was also known as “Nikaolaos of Myra” and “boy bishop”, because he became a bishop at the young age of 30. He was known for being incredibly generous, especially to children. In the year 800, he was officially recognized as a Saint. In France in the 1200s, Catholics began celebrating Bishop Nicholas Day on December 6. Throughout the years, Saint Nicholas became more well-known and Dutch immigrants brought their traditions to America. They added their pronunciation of his name — Sinter Klass. This began to lead the way to the tradition of gifts being brought in the night by the name of Santa Claus on Christmas Eve.
Traditions: The most popular way to celebrate St. Nicholas Day is to put shoes out for St. Nicholas to leave small treats and gifts in. This tradition is done in remembrance of how St. Nicholas himself would leave gifts for the poor outside their windows or doors at night. Children love this tradition! They put their shoes out the night before St. Nicholas Day. Shoes can be placed outside a door or by the fireplace. When they awake, it is a delight to find that St. Nicholas has left special surprises in their shoes!
St. Nicholas Day shoe gift ideas:
· Chocolate gold coins (to represent the gold coins St. Nicholas left for 3 poor daughters)
· Candy canes, Life Savers, or other little candies
· Small toys or trinkets
· Ginger or gingerbread cookies
· Clothing or new shoes (to represent how St. Nicholas gave clothing to the poor)
· A Christmas ornament
· Clementines (because they also represent the gold St. Nick gave away)
· Religious items (medals, holy cards, rosaries, saints books or videos, saints peg dolls, etc)
Some fun St. Nicholas feast day activities for children include coloring pages or printable ornaments:
· Another neat tradition is the blessing of candy canes. The candy cane shape reminds us of St. Nicholas’ crozier (bishop’s staff). On St. Nicholas day, you may purchase candy canes and say this blessing
· Most importantly, be sure to pray together and ask St. Nicholas to intercede for you and your family.
God our Father, we pray that through the intercession of St. Nicholas, you will protect our children. Keep them safe from harm and help them grow and become worthy in your sight. Give them strength to keep their Faith in You; and to keep alive their joy in your creation. Through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.
God of joy and cheer, we thank you for your servant, the good bishop Nicholas. In loving the poor, he showed us your kindness; in caring for your children, he revealed your love. Make us thoughtful without need of reward so that we, too, may be good followers of Jesus.
Be sure to visit the FORMED website (using the free account for POP parishioners) to find great videos about St. Nicholas such as Nicholas: The Boy Who Became Santa!
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