December 01, 2011

December, the Christmas Month

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December used to be the tenth month of the Roman year, and it gets its name from the word 'decem', which means ten.

The Anglo-Saxons called it "Winter monath", or "Yule monath" because of the custom of burning the yule log around this time.
After many Anglo-Saxons became Christians they called it 'Heligh monath' or holy month, because Christmas, the birth of Jesus, is celebrated in December.

In the northern hemisphere December marks the beginning of winter, and it is the time of rain, wind and snow.

December is very much associated with Christmas and a lot of December customs and traditions have therefore been swallowed up by the festival.

Christmas, the mass of Christ, is held on 25th December and commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ 2010 years ago.

At the beginning of December, the season of Advent starts.
The word advent means 'coming', and as its name suggests it is a time of preparation for the coming feast of Christmas.

Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally observed on December 25 (with alternative days of January 6, 7 and 19) to commemorate the birth of Jesus, the central figure of Christianity.
The holiday was first sanctioned by the Roman state Church in the early-to-mid 4th century, and remains one of the central feasts in the Christian liturgical year.
The exact birthday of Jesus is not known, and the date for Christmas is thought to have been selected to coincide with either the date of the Roman winter solstice, one of various ancient winter festivals, or the day exactly nine months after Jesus’ traditional conception date.

The holiday was initially instituted to commemorate solely the nativity of Jesus, and many celebrants continue to incorporate this element at the forefront of their celebrations.
However, many customs associated with Christmas developed independently of the commemoration of Jesus’ birth, and are today considered secular.

Certain elements from pre-Christian festivals that were celebrated around the winter solstice by pagan populations who were later converted to Christianity, became syncretized into Christmas over the centuries, including the Yule log from Yule and gift giving from Saturnalia.

The prevailing atmosphere of Christmas has also continually evolved since the holiday's inception, ranging from a raucous, drunken, carnival-like state through the Middle Ages, to a tamer family-oriented and children-centered theme since a 19th-century reformation.
The celebration of Christmas has been banned on more than one occasion within Christendom due to concerns that it was too pagan or unbiblical.

The Christmas season is celebrated in different ways around the world, varying by country and region. Elements common to many areas of the world include the lighting of Christmas trees, the hanging of wreaths, Christmas stockings, candy canes, and/or the creation of Nativity scenes depicting the birth of Jesus Christ.

In addition to being widely celebrated by the adherents of most denominations of Christianity, Christmas is observed by an increasing number of non-Christians worldwide.
It is also an officially-recognized holiday in a vast majority of the world's nations, including ones that separate religion from government and/or have a negligible population of Christians.

Christmas carols may be sung and stories told about such figures as the Baby Jesus, St Nicholas, Santa Claus, Father Christmas, Christkindl or Grandfather Frost.
The sending of Christmas cards, the exchange of Christmastime greetings, observance of fasting and/or special religious observances such as a midnight Mass or Vespers on Christmas Eve, the burning of a Yule log, and the giving and receiving of presents.

Along with Easter, Christmas time is one of the most important periods on the Christian calendar, and is often closely connected to other holidays at this time of year, such as Advent, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, St. Nicholas Day, St. Stephen's Day, New Year's, and the Feast of the Epiphany.

In addition to being widely celebrated by the adherents of most denominations of Christianity, Christmas is observed by an increasing number of non-Christians worldwide.
It is also an officially-recognized holiday in a vast majority of the world's nations, including ones that separate religion from government and/or have a negligible population of Christians.

ETYMOLOGY

The word Christmas originated as a compound meaning "Christ's Mass". It is derived from the Middle English Christemasse and Old English Cristes mæsse, a phrase first recorded in 1038.
"Cristes" is from Greek Χριστός Christos and "mæsse" is from Latin missa (the holy mass).

DATE AND PLACE OF BIRTH

Altar in the Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem.

The nativity accounts in the New Testament gospels of Matthew and Luke do not mention a date or time of year for the birth of Jesus and Karl Rahner states that the gospels do not in general provide enough details of dates to satisfy the demands of modern historians.
But both Luke and Matthew associate Jesus' birth with the time of King Herod, and according to Karl Rahner many historians therefore estimate Jesus was born sometime around 4 BC.

However, many scholars see a contradiction, in that while the Gospel of Matthew places Jesus' birth under the reign of Herod the Great, who died in 4 BC, the Gospel of Luke also dates the birth ten years after Herod's death during the census of Quirinius, described by the historian Josephus.

Most critical scholars believe that Luke was simply mistaken, but other scholars have attempted to reconcile its account with the details given by Josephus. For instance, Steven Cox and Kendell Easley list four separate approaches to a solution, ranging from a grammatical approach to the translation of the Greek word prote used in Luke to be read as "registration before Quirinius was governor of Syria" to archeological arguments and references to Tertullian that indicate that a "two step census" was performed, involving an early registration.

Despite the celebration of Christmas in December, neither Luke nor Matthew mention a season for when Jesus was born. However, scholarly arguments regarding the realism of shepherds grazing their flock during the winter have taken place, both challenging a winter birth for Jesus, as well as defending it by relying on the mildness of winters in Palestine and rabbinic rules regarding sheep near Bethlehem before February.

The Gospels of both Matthew and Luke place the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. Matthew does not explicitly state that Joseph lived in Bethlehem prior to the birth of Jesus, however scholars have concluded that in Matthew, Joseph and Mary apparently live in Bethlehem before the birth.

Scholars question the birth narratives because they conflict with each other or with historical plausibility. Luke's account contradicts Matthew's as to Jesus' genealogy, Joseph's original home (Bethlehem or Nazareth), the year of Jesus' birth (during Herod's reign or during Quirinius' census), and where Joseph took his family when they left Jerusalem (Egypt or Nazareth).

The Gospel of Luke account states that Mary gave birth toJesus and laid him in a manger “because there was no place for them in the inn," but does not say exactly where Jesus was born.
The Greek word kataluma may be translated as either “inn” or “guestroom”, and some scholars have speculated that Joseph and Mary may have sought to stay with relatives, rather than in an inn, only to find the house full (whereupon they resorted to the shelter of a room with a manger.

In the 2nd century, Justin Martyr stated that Jesus had been born in a cave outside the town, while the Protoevangelium of James described a legendary birth in a cave nearby.
The Church of the Nativity inside the town, built by St. Helena, contains the cave-manger site traditionally venerated as the birthplace of Jesus, which may have originally been a site of the cult of the god Tammuz.
In Contra Celsum 1.51, Origen, who from around 215 travelled throughout Palestine wrote of the "manger of Jesus".

The Quran, like the Gospels, places the virgin birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.
In Islam, the prophet Muhammad is said to have been born 570 years after the birth of Jesus.

NATIVITY OF JESUS

The Nativity of Jesus, or simply The Nativity, refers to the accounts of the birth of Jesus in two of the Canonical gospels and in various apocryphal texts.

Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus to the Virgin Mary as a fulfillment of the Old Testament's Messianic prophecy. The Bible contains two accounts which describe the events surrounding Jesus' birth.
Depending on one's perspective, these accounts either differ from each other or tell two versions of the same story.
These biblical accounts are found in the Gospel of Matthew, namely Matthew 1:18, and the Gospel of Luke, specifically Luke 1:26 and 2:40.
According to these accounts, Jesus was born to Mary, assisted by her husband Joseph, in the city of Bethlehem.

According to popular tradition, the birth took place in a stable, surrounded by farm animals, though neither the stable nor the animals are specifically mentioned in the Biblical accounts.
However, a manger is mentioned in Luke 2:7, where it states, "She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."
Early iconographic representations of the nativity placed the animals and manger within a cave (located, according to tradition, under the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem).
Shepherds from the fields surrounding Bethlehem were told of the birth by an angel, and were the first to see the child.

The Gospel of Matthew also describes a visit by several Magi, or astrologers, who bring gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the infant Jesus.
The visitors were said to be following a mysterious star, commonly known as the Star of Bethlehem, believing it to announce the birth of a king of the Jews.
The commemoration of this visit, the Feast of Epiphany celebrated on January 6, is the formal end of the Christmas season in some churches.

Christians celebrate Christmas in various ways. In addition to this day being one of the most important and popular for the attendance of church services, there are other devotions and popular traditions.

In some Christian denominations, children re-enact the events of the Nativity with animals to portray the event with more realism or sing carols that reference the event.
Some Christians also display a small re-creation of the Nativity, known as a Nativity scene or crèche, in their homes, using figurines to portray the key characters of the event.

Prior to Christmas Day, the Eastern Orthodox Church practices the 40-day Nativity Fast in anticipation of the birth of Jesus, while much of Western Christianity celebrates four weeks of Advent.
The final preparations for Christmas are made on Christmas Eve.

A long artistic tradition has grown of producing painted depictions of the nativity in art. Nativity scenes are traditionally set in a barn or stable and include Mary, Joseph, the child Jesus, angels, shepherds and the Three Wise Men: Balthazar, Melchior, and Caspar, who are said to have followed a star, known as the Star of Bethlehem, and arrived after his birth.

USING THE JULIAN CALENDAR

Eastern Orthodox national churches, including those of Russia, Georgia, Ukraine, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and the Greek Patriarchate of Jerusalem mark feasts using the older Julian calendar.
December 25 on the Julian calendar currently corresponds to January 7 on the internationally-used Gregorian calendar. However, other Orthodox Christians, such as the churches of Greece, Romania, Antioch, Alexandria, Albania, Finland and the Orthodox Church in America, among others, began using the Revised Julian calendar in the early 20th century, which corresponds exactly to the Gregorian calendar.

CELEBRATION OF THE CHRISTMAS DAY

Christmas Day is celebrated as a major festival and public holiday in countries around the world, including many whose populations are mostly non-Christian. In some non-Christian countries, periods of former colonial rule introduced the celebration (e.g. Hong Kong); in others, Christian minorities or foreign cultural influences have led populations to observe the holiday.

Countries such as Japan and Korea, where Christmas is popular despite there being only a small number of Christians, have adopted many of the secular aspects of Christmas, such as gift-giving, decorations and Christmas trees.

Notable countries in which Christmas is not a formal public holiday include People's Republic of China, (excepting Hong Kong and Macao), Japan, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Thailand, Nepal, Iran, Turkey and North Korea.
Christmas celebrations around the world can vary markedly in form, reflecting differing cultural and national traditions.

Among countries with a strong Christian tradition, a variety of Christmas celebrations have developed that incorporate regional and local cultures. For Christians, participating in a religious service plays an important part in the recognition of the season.
Christmas, along with Easter, is the period of highest annual church attendance.

In Catholic countries, the people hold religious processions or parades in the days preceding Christmas. In other countries, secular processions or parades featuring Santa Claus and other seasonal figures are often held.
Family reunions and the exchange of gifts are a widespread feature of the season. Gift giving takes place on Christmas Day in most countries. Others practice gift giving on December 6, Saint Nicholas Day, and January 6, Epiphany.

DECEMBER, 25th. DATE OF CELEBRATION

For centuries, Christian writers accepted that Christmas was the actual date on which Jesus was born. John Chrysostom preached a sermon in Antioch c. 386 which established the date of Christmas as December 25 on the Julian calendar since the conception of Jesus (Luke 1:26) had been announced during the sixth month of Elisabeth's pregnancy with John the Baptist (Luke 1:10-13) as dated from the duties Zacharias performed on the Day of Atonement during the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar Ethanim or Tishri (Lev. 16:29, 1 Kings 8:2) which falls in September–October.

In the early 18th century, scholars began proposing alternative explanations. Isaac Newton argued that the date of Christmas was selected to correspond with the winter solstice, which the Romans called bruma and celebrated on December 25.

In 1743, German Protestant Paul Ernst Jablonski argued Christmas was placed on December 25 to correspond with the Roman solar holiday Dies Natalis Solis Invicti and was therefore a "paganization" that debased the true church.
In 1889, Louis Duchesne proposed that the date of Christmas was calculated as nine months after the Annunciation, the traditional date of the conception of Jesus.

In the early 4th century, the church calendar contained Christmas on December 25 and other holidays placed on solar dates:
"It is cosmic symbolism...which inspired the Church leadership in Rome to elect the winter solstice, December 25, as the birthday of Christ, and the summer solstice as that of John the Baptist, supplemented by the equinoxes as their respective dates of conception.
While they were aware that pagans called this day the 'birthday' of Sol Invictus, this did not concern them and it did not play any role in their choice of date for Christmas," according to modern scholar S.E. Hijmans.

However, today, whether or not the birth date of Jesus is on December 25 is not considered to be an important issue among mainstream Christian denominations; rather, celebrating the coming of God into the world in the form of man to atone for the sins of humanity is considered to be the primary meaning of Christmas.

CHRISTMASS TREE

The Christmas tree is a decorated evergreen coniferous tree, real or artificial, and a tradition associated with the celebration of Christmas. The Christmas tree is traditionally brought into the home and decorated with Christmas lights (originally candles), ornaments, garlands, tinsel, and candy canes during the days around Christmas.
An angel or star is placed at the top of the tree, representing the host of angels or the Star of Bethlehem from the Nativity.

The Christmas tree is sometimes called a Yule tree, particularly by those who wish to avoid Christian connection but others explicitly distinguish between the two or identify the Yule tree with an undecorated evergreen tree.

HISTORY

A Christmas tree for German soldiers in a temporary hospital in 1871In the German Middle Ages, mystery plays at Christmas time within churches often featured an evergreen "Paradise tree" from which an apple was plucked.

The first evidence of Christmas trees outside of a church is of the 16th century, with trees in guild halls decorated with sweets to be enjoyed by the apprentices and children. (A Bremen guild chronicle of 1570 reports that a small tree decorated with "apples, nuts, dates, pretzels and paper flowers" was erected in the guild-house for the benefit of the guild members' children, who collected the dainties on Christmas Day).

Soon after, they are seen in the houses of upper-class Protestant families as a counterpart to the Catholic Christmas cribs. In the 18th century they begin to be adorned with candles, which were expensive items.

Only in the 19th century did they come into use more widely, often in schools and inns before they appeared in homes. A decisive factor in winning general popularity was the German army's decision to place Christmas trees in its barracks and military hospitals during the 1870-1871 war.
Only at the turn of the century did Christmas trees again appear inside churches, this time in a new brightly lit form.

In Britain, the Christmas tree was introduced in the time of the personal union with Hanover, by George III's Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz in early 19th century, but the custom hadn't yet spread much beyond the royal family.
Queen Victoria as a child was familiar with the custom and a tree was placed in her room every Christmas. In her journal for Christmas Eve 1832, the delighted 13-year-old princess wrote, "After dinner… we then went into the drawing-room near the dining-room…

There were two large round tables on which were placed two trees hung with lights and sugar ornaments. All the presents being placed round the trees…"
After her marriage to her German cousin Prince Albert, by 1841 the custom became even more widespread throughout Britain.
In 1847, Prince Albert wrote: "I must now seek in the children an echo of what Ernest [his brother] and I were in the old time, of what we felt and thought; and their delight in the Christmas-trees is not less than ours used to be".

The United States' National Christmas Tree is lit each year on the South Lawn of the White House. Today, the lighting of the National Christmas Tree is part of what has become a major holiday event at the White House. President Jimmy Carter lit only the crowning star atop the Tree in 1979 in honour of the Americans being held hostage in Iran.
The same was true in 1980, except the tree was fully lit for 417 seconds, one second for each day the hostages had been in captivity.

The term Charlie Brown Christmas tree is used in the United States and Canada to describe any poor-looking or malformed little tree.
Some tree buyers intentionally adopt such trees, feeling sympathetic to their plights.
The term comes from the appearance of Charlie Brown's Christmas tree in the TV special A Charlie Brown Christmas.

In New Zealand, Pōhutukawa trees are described as "native Christmas trees", as they bloom at Christmas time, and look like Christmas trees with their red flowers and green foliage.

In Russia, the Christmas tree was banned shortly after the October Revolution but then reinstated as a New-year fir-tree (Новогодняя ёлка) in 1935.
It became a fully secular icon of the New year holiday, for example, the crowning star was regarded not as a symbol of Bethlehem Star, but as the Red Star.
Decorations, such as figurines of airplanes, bicycles, space rockets, cosmonauts, and characters of Russian fairy tales, were produced.
This tradition persists after the fall of the USSR, with the New Year holiday outweighting the Christmas (7 January) for a wide majority of Russian people.

IMPACT ON CHRISTIANITY

In the 1st and 2nd centuries, the Lord's Day (Sunday) was the earliest Christian celebration and included a number of theological themes.
In the 2nd century, the Resurrection of Jesus became a separate feast as Easter and in the same century Epiphany began to be celebrated in the Churches of the East on January 6.
The celebration of the feast of the Magi on January 6 may relate to a pre-Christian celebration for the blessing of the Nile in Egypt on January 5, but this is not historically certain.

The festival of the Nativity which later turned into Christmas was a 4th century feast in the Western Church notably in Rome and North Africa, although it is uncertain exactly where and when it was first celebrated.

There is historical evidence that by the middle of the 4th century the Christian churches of the East celebrated the birth and Baptism of Jesus on the same day, on January 6 while those in the West celebrated a Nativity feast on December 25 (perhaps influenced by the Winter solstice); and that by the last quarter of the 4th century, the calendars of both churches included both feasts.

The earliest suggestions of a fast of Baptism of Jesus on January 6 during the 2nd century comes from Clement of Alexandria, but there is no further mention of such a feast until 361 when Emperor Julian attended a feast on January 6 in the year 361.

The Chronography of 354 illuminated manuscript compiled in Rome includes an early reference to the celebration of a Nativity feast.
In a sermon delivered in Antioch on December 25, c. 386, Saint John Chrysostom provides specific information about the feats there, stating that the feast had existed for about 10 years.

By around 385 the feast for the birth of Jesus was distinct from that of the Baptism and was held on December 25 in Constantinople, Nyssa and Amaseia. In a sermon in 386, Gregory of Nyssa specifically related the feast of Nativity with that of the martyrdom of Saint Stephen, celebrated a day later. By 390 the feast was also held in Iconium on that day.

Pope Leo I established a feast of the "Mystery of Incarnation" in the 5th century, in effect as the first formal feast for the Nativity of Jesus.
Leo gave 10 sermons on Nativity and 7 have survived, the one on December 25, 451 demonstrates his concern to increas ethe importance of the feast.

Pope Sixtus III then instituted the practice of Midnight Mass just before that feast. In the 6th century, Emperor Justinian declared Christmas to be a legal holiday.

In the 14th and 15th centuries, the theological importance of the Nativity of Jesus, was coupled with an emphasis on the loving nature of Child Jesus in sermons by figures such as Jean Gerson.
In his sermons Jean Gerson emphasized the loving nature of Jesus at his Nativity, as well as his cosmic plan for the salvation of mankind.

By the early part of the 20th century, year 1900 Christmas had become a "cultural signature" of Christianity and indeed of the Western culture even in countries such as the United States which are officially non-religious.
By the beginning of the 21st century these countries began to pay more attention to the sensitivities of non-Christians during the festivities at the end of the calendar year.

FOOD

Christmas pudding.

A special Christmas family meal is traditionally an important part of the holiday's celebration, and the food that is served varies greatly from country to country.
Some regions, such as Sicily, have special meals for Christmas Eve, when 12 kinds of fish are served.

In England and countries influenced by its traditions, a standard Christmas meal includes turkey or goose, meat, gravy, potatoes, vegetables, sometimes bread and cider. Special desserts are also prepared, such as Christmas pudding, mince pies and fruit cake.

In Poland and other parts of eastern Europe and Scandinavia, fish often is used for the traditional main course, but richer meat such as lamb is increasingly served.

In Germany, France and Austria, goose and pork are favored. Beef, ham and chicken in various recipes are popular throughout the world. The Maltese traditionally serve Imbuljuta tal-Qastan, a chocolate and chestnuts beverage, after Midnight Mass and throughout the Christmas season.

Slovaks prepare the traditional Christmas bread potica, bûche de Noël in France, panettone in Italy, and elaborate tarts and cakes.
The eating of sweets and chocolates has become popular worldwide, and sweeter Christmas delicacies include the German stollen, marzipan cake or candy, and Jamaican rum fruit cake.
As one of the few fruits traditionally available to northern countries in winter, oranges have been long associated with special Christmas foods.

SANTA CLAUS AND FATHER CHRISTMAS

A number of figures of both Christian and mythical origin have been associated with Christmas and the seasonal giving of gifts. Among these are Father Christmas, also known as Santa Claus, Père Noël, and the Weihnachtsmann; Saint Nicholas or Sinterklaas; the Christkind; Kris Kringle; Joulupukki; Babbo Natale; Saint Basil; and Father Frost.

The most famous and pervasive of these figures in modern celebration worldwide is Santa Claus, a mythical gift bringer, dressed in red, whose origins have diverse sources.
The name Santa Claus can be traced back to the Dutch Sinterklaas, which means simply Saint Nicholas. Nicholas was Bishop of Myra, in modern day Turkey, during the 4th century.
Among other saintly attributes, he was noted for the care of Children, generosity, and the giving of gifts. His feast on December 6 came to be celebrated in many countries with the giving of gifts.

Saint Nicholas traditionally appeared in bishop's attire, accompanied by helpers, inquiring about the behaviour of children during the past year before deciding whether they deserved a gift or not.

By the 13th century, Saint Nicholas was well known in the Netherlands, and the practice of gift-giving in his name spread to other parts of central and southern Europe.
At the Reformation in 16th–17th century Europe, many Protestants changed the gift bringer to the Christ Child or Christkindl, corrupted in English to Kris Kringle, and the date of giving gifts changed from December 6 to Christmas Eve.

The modern popular image of Santa Claus, however, was created in the United States, and in particular in New York.
The transformation was accomplished with the aid of notable contributors including Washington Irving and the German-American cartoonist Thomas Nast (1840–1902).

Following the American Revolutionary War, some of the inhabitants of New York City sought out symbols of the city's non-English past.
New York had originally been established as the Dutch colonial town of New Amsterdam and the Dutch Sinterklaas tradition was reinvented as Saint Nicholas.

Father Christmas, a jolly, well nourished, bearded man who typified the spirit of good cheer at Christmas, predates the Santa Claus character.
He is first recorded in early 17th century England, but was associated with holiday merrymaking and drunkenness rather than the bringing of gifts.

In Victorian Britain, his image was remade to match that of Santa.
The French Père Noël evolved along similar lines, eventually adopting the Santa image. In Italy, Babbo Natale acts as Santa Claus, while La Befana is the bringer of gifts and arrives on the eve of the Epiphany.

It is said that La Befana set out to bring the baby Jesus gifts, but got lost along the way. Now, she brings gifts to all children. In some cultures Santa Claus is accompanied by Knecht Ruprecht, or Black Peter.
In other versions, elves make the toys. His wife is referred to as Mrs. Claus.

Current tradition in several Latin American countries (such as Venezuela and Colombia) holds that while Santa makes the toys, he then gives them to the Baby Jesus, who is the one who actually delivers them to the children's homes, a reconciliation between traditional religious beliefs and the iconography of Santa Claus imported from the United States.

In South Tyrol (Italy), Austria, Czech Republic, Southern Germany, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Slovakia and Switzerland, the Christkind (Ježíšek in Czech, Jézuska in Hungarian and Ježiško in Slovak) brings the presents.

Greek children get their presents from Saint Basil on New Year's Eve, the eve of that saint's liturgical feast. The German St. Nikolaus is not identical with the Weihnachtsmann (who is the German version of Santa Claus/Father Christmas).
St. Nikolaus wears a bishop's dress and still brings small gifts (usually candies, nuts and fruits) on December 6 and is accompanied by Knecht Ruprecht.

Although many parents around the world routinely teach their children about Santa Claus and other gift bringers, some have come to reject this practice, considering it deceptive.

DIES NATALIS SOLIS INVICTI

Dies Natalis Solis Invicti means "the birthday of the unconquered sun".

Modern scholars have argued that the festival was placed on the date of the solstice because this was on this day that the Sun reversed its southward retreat and proved itself to be "unconquered".[citation needed]

Some early Christian writers connected the rebirth of the sun to the birth of Jesus. "O, how wonderfully acted Providence that on that day on which that Sun was born...Christ should be born", Cyprian wrote.
John Chrysostom also commented on the connection: "They call it the 'Birthday of the Unconquered'.
Who indeed is so unconquered as Our Lord . . .?"

Although Dies Natalis Solis Invicti has been the subject of a great deal of scholarly speculation, the only ancient source for it is a single mention in the Chronography of 354, and modern Sol scholar Steven Hijmans argues that there is no evidence that the celebration precedes that of Christmas: "While the winter solstice on or around December 25 was well established in the Roman imperial calendar, there is no evidence that a religious celebration of Sol on that day antedated the celebration of Christmas, and none that indicates that Aurelian had a hand in its institution."

CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS DAY IN INDIA

Being a British colony until 1947, many British traditions stayed on in India. Christmas is a state holiday in India, although Christianity in India is a minority with only 2.3% of the population.
Sincere devotees attend the church services. In many of the schools that are run by the Christian missionaries, the children actively participate in the programmes. Also in many non-religious schools, there is tradition of christmas celebration.

Christmas is also known as bada din (the big day). The presents are given to one another and "Merry Christmas" is wished.
India being a multicultural nation, many different languages are spoken there. In Hindi and Urdu, Happy/Merry Christmas is 'Bade Din ki Mubarak'; in Sanskrit it is 'Krismasasya shubhkaamnaa'; in Bengali 'Barodiner shubhechha janai'; in Telugu 'Christhu jayanthi shubhakankshalu'; in Tamil it's 'Christhu Jayanthi Nalvaalthukal'; and in Punjabi it's 'Christmas diya vadiyia'.

In India, Father Christmas or Santa Claus is held to be the giver of presents to children from a horse and cart. Santa Claus is known as 'Christmas Baba' in Hindi and 'Christmas Thaathaa' in Telugu and Tamil.
Commercialisation and open markets are however bringing more secular Christmas celebration to the public sphere, even though it is not widely celebrated as a religious holiday.

Days before the festival, markets take a colourful look as they are decorated with traditional Christmas trees, stars, images of Santa, balloons and festoons. Gift marketers too create many goods for Christmas and support them by launching advertising campaigns through newspapers, radio and television.

CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS DAY IN PHILIPPINES

Christmas in the Philippines, one of two predominantly Catholic countries in Asia (the other one being East Timor), is one of the biggest holidays on the calendar and is widely celebrated.

The country has earned the distinction of celebrating the world's longest Christmas season, with Christmas carols heard as early as September 1.
The season is traditionally ushered in by the nine-day dawn Masses that start on December 16. Known as the Misas de Aguinaldo (Gift Masses) or Misa de Gallo (Rooster's Mass) in the traditional Spanish.

These Masses are more popularly known in Tagalog as the Simbang Gabi. Usually, aside from the already legal holidays which are Rizal Day (December 30) and New Year's Eve (December 31), other days in close proximity such as Christmas Eve (December 24), Día de los Santos Inocentes (December 28), and the Epiphany (traditionally, January 6 but now on the first Sunday of January) are also declared non-working days.

As in many East Asian countries, secular Christmas displays are common both in business establishments and in public, including lights, Christmas trees, depictions of Santa Claus (despite the tropical climate), and Christmas greetings in English and various Philippine languages and dialects.

Occasionally such displays are left in place even in summer for example the parol representing the "Star of Bethlehem" which led the Three Kings to the newborn Baby Jesus.

In the capital Manila, Christmas Day is the start of the annual Metro Manila Film Festival during which locally produced films are featured in the city's theatres. The festival actually starts the day before with an annual float parade.

For Filipinos, Christmas Eve (Tagalog: Bisperas ng Pasko ; Spanish: Víspera del Día de Navidad) on December 24 is celebrated with the Midnight Mass, and immediately after, the much-anticipated Noche Buena – the traditional Christmas Eve feast.

Family members dine together around 12 midnight on traditional Nochebuena fare, which may include: queso de bola (Spanish: "ball of cheese"; this is actually edam cheese), Tsokolate (a hot chocolate drink), and jamón (Christmas ham), lechón, queso de bola, roast chicken or turkey, pasta, relleno (stuffed bangus or chicken), pan de sal, and various desserts including cakes and the ubiquitous fruit salad. Some would also open presents at this time.

Christmas officially ends on the Feast of the Three Kings (Tres Reyes in Spanish or Tatlong Hari in Tagalog), also known as the Feast of the Epiphany (Spanish: Fiesta de Epifanía). The Feast of the Three Kings was traditionally commemorated on January 6 but is now celebrated on the first Sunday after the New Year.

Some children leave their shoes out, in the belief that the Three Kings will leave gifts like candy or money inside. But the celebrations do not end there, they on on January 11 or the second Sunday of January in honor of the Lord Jesus's baptism in the Jordan.
The final salvo of these celebrations is marked by the feast of the Black Nazarene every January 9 in Manila, but can also, due to the celebrations in honor of the Santo Niño in the third and fourth Sundays of January in some places, can even extend till the final weeks of that month.

CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS DAY IN MALAYSIA

Although Christmas is a public holiday in Malaysia, much of the public celebration is commercial in nature and has no overt religious overtones. Occasionally, Christian activist groups do buy newspaper advertorials on Christmas or Easter but this is largely only allowed in English newspapers and permission is not given every year.

The advertorials themselves are usually indirect statements. There has been controversy over whether or not the national government has exerted pressure on Malaysian Christians not to use Christian religious symbols and hymns that specifically mention Jesus Christ.

CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS DAY IN SINGAPORE

Christmas is a public holiday in Singapore that is widely celebrated.
The Christmas season is also a popular period for shopping malls and business to conduct year-end sales, and will offer discounts and promotions that tie in with the festivities.
The famous Singaporean shopping belt Orchard Road, as well as the Marina Bay area will feature lights and other decorations from early November till early January.
The Christmas light-up and decorated shopping malls along Orchard Road often attract numerous visitors, locals and tourists alike. Other than the light-up, other activities such as caroling, concerts and parades can also be experienced in Orchard Road.
In addition, companies in Singapore usually arrange gift exchange programs on the last working day before Christmas.

CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS DAY IN PAKISTAN

Christmas ceremoney in Karachi, Pakistan
In Pakistan, Christmas Day is celebrated by Pakistani Christians as Big Day, or Great Day.
While December 25 is a public holiday in Pakistan, it is not officially designated as Christmas, but rather as the birthday of Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan.

Christianity in Pakistan constitutes the second largest religious minority community in Pakistan after Hindus. The total number of Christians is approximately 2,800,000 in 2008, or 1.6% of the population.
Of these, approximately half are Roman Catholic and half Protestant. Christians celebrate Christmas by going from house to house singing carols, and in return the family offers something to the choir.

Mostly the money collected from such carols is used for charity works or is given to the church. Their homes are decorated with local Christmas handicrafts while artificial stars signifying the Star of Bethlehem are hung on rooftops.
Christmas celebrations are also popular with the urban middle class in the country with hotels, cafes, restaurants and theme parks hosting festivities and special events.

CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS DAY IN UNITED KINGDOM

In the United Kingdom the Christmas season starts at Advent, where holly wreaths are made with three purple, one pink and one white candle.
However many shops sell Christmas decorations beforehand.
It lasts until 6 January (Epiphany), as it is considered bad luck to have Christmas decorations up after this date.

On Christmas Eve, presents are supposedly delivered in stockings and under the Christmas tree by Father Christmas, who previously had been something like The Ghost of Christmas Present in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, but has now become mainly conflated with Santa Claus.

The two names are now used interchangeably and equally known to British people, but Father Christmas tends to be used more often, and some distinctive features still remain. Many families tell their children stories about Father Christmas and his reindeer.
One tradition is to put out a plate of carrots for the reindeer and mince pies and sherry for Father Christmas, to help him on his way.

Few families open their presents on Christmas Eve, the Royal family being a notable exception, and Queen Victoria as a child makes note of it in her diary for Christmas Eve 1832, the delighted 13-year-old princess wrote, "After dinner...we then went into the drawing-room near the dining-room...
There were two large round tables on which were placed two trees hung with lights and sugar ornaments.
All the presents being placed round the trees.." Since the first commercial Christmas card was produced in London in 1843, cards are sent in the weeks leading up to Christmas, many of which contain the English festive greeting Merry Christmas.

On Christmas Day, a public holiday in the United Kingdom, nearly the whole population has the day off to be with their family and friends, so they can gather round for a traditional Christmas dinner, which is usually a turkey, traditionally with cranberries, parsnips, and roast potatoes, quite like the Sunday roast, and traditionally followed by a Christmas pudding.

During the meal, Christmas crackers, containing toys, jokes and a paper hat are pulled. Attendance at a Christmas Day church service is less popular than it used to be with fewer than 3 million now attending a Christmas Day Church of England service.
Watching the Queen's Speech on TV is a tradition that still remains hugely important in many households' Christmas Day, typically averaging 10 million viewers on TV and 2 million listeners via radio.

The Celebration of Boxing Day on the day after Christmas Day is a tradition practiced in the UK.
It is a bank holiday, and if it happens to fall on a weekend then a special Bank Holiday Monday will occur.
Also, depending on the day of the week, it is often a day when football matches are played in the professional leagues and many people go to watch their team play. Notably, for Catholics, it is one of the main Holy Days of Obligation.

Other traditions include carol singing, where many carols are sung by children on people's doorsteps and by professional choirs, and sending Christmas cards.
In public, there are decorations and lights in most shops, especially in town centres, and even in Indian and Chinese restaurants.
Churches and cathedrals across the country hold masses, with many people going to midnight mass or a service on Christmas morning.

Even though church attendance has been falling over the decades some people who do not go to church often think it is still important to go at Christmas, so Church attendance increases.
Most theatres have a tradition of putting on a Christmas pantomime for children.

The pantomime stories are traditionally based on popular children's stories such as Little Red Riding Hood and Aladdin, rather than being directly concerned with Christmas as such, although there is sometimes a link. Television is widely watched: for many television channels,Christmas Day is the most important day of the year in terms of ratings.
Many Britons still watch the Queen's annual Christmas message.

CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS DAY IN SCOTLAND

Christmas in Scotland was traditionally observed very quietly, because the Church of Scotland – a Presbyterian Church – for various reasons never placed much emphasis on the Christmas festival.

Christmas Day was commonly a normal working day in Scotland until the 1960s and even into the 1970s in some areas.
The New Year's Eve festivity, Hogmanay, was by far the largest celebration in Scotland.
The gift-giving, public holidays and feasting associated with mid-winter were traditionally held between the 11th of December and 6 January.

However, since the 1980s, the fading of the Church's influence and the increased influences from the rest of the UK and elsewhere, Christmas and its related festivities are now nearly on a par with Hogmanay and "Ne'erday".
The capital city of Edinburgh has a traditional German market from late November until Christmas Eve.

CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS DAY IN UNITED STATES AND CANADA

Christmas is a widely-celebrated and festive holiday in the United States and Canada irrespective of religion. The Christmas holiday season begins in end of November and ends in beginning of January.

The Christmas traditions are the most similar to those in England but have their own distinct style.
The celebration of the sacrosanct nature of "home and hearth" is associated with the tradition of Christmas.
The interior and exterior of the home is decorated during the weeks leading up to Christmas Eve.

Christmas tree cultivation in the United States and Christmas tree production in Canada provide families with trees for their homes including the White House Christmas tree. Artificial Christmas trees may be substituted for real trees.
The tree stands centrally in the home, decorated with ornaments, tinsel and lights, with an angel or a star symbolizing the Star of Bethlehem at the top.

Christmas Eve is popularly and appropriately described as the night before Christmas in the poem called "A Visit from St. Nicholas".
Better known as Santa Claus (occasionally still referred to as Father Christmas), he is said to visit homes while children are sleeping during the night before Christmas morning.

The chimney is now called the fireplace and may in some homes be an electric version but the Yule log in the firebox has remained a tradition.
Christmas stockings are hung on the mantelpiece for Santa Claus to fill with little gifts ("stocking stuffers").
It is tradition throughout the United States and Canada, for children to leave a glass of milk and plate of Christmas cookies for Santa Claus nearby and a carrot or oats for the reindeer.

Children are told the true story of a little girl named Virginia, whose 1897 letter to The Sun (a New York newspaper), inspired the now-famous editorial response, titled "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus". NORAD tracks Santa's sleigh on its journey across Canada and the United States.

The traditional Christmas dinner usually features either roasted turkey with stuffing (sometimes called dressing), ham, or roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. Potatoes, squash, roasted vegetables and cranberry sauce are served along with tonics and sherry. Mince pies, plum pudding and Christmas cake are served in Canada as Christmas desserts.

A variety of sweet pastry and egg nog sprinkled with cinnamon and nutmeg are served in the United States. Certain dishes such as casseroles and desserts are prepared with a family recipe (usually kept a secret). Fruits, nuts, cheeses and chocolates are enjoyed as snacks.

Other traditions include a special church service on the Sunday before Christmas and Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. Candlelight services are held earlier in the evening for families with children.
A re-enactment of the Nativity of Jesus called a Nativity play is another tradition.

In the Canadian province of Quebec and other French-speaking areas of North America, Christmas traditions include réveillon, Père Noël ("Father Christmas") and the bûche de Noël (Yule log), among others. Christmas crackers are another tradition throughout Canada.

The observation of Boxing Day (which coincides with the Christian Feast of St. Stephen) on the day after Christmas Day, December 26, is a tradition practiced in Canada, as it is in the other Commonwealth Realms, although not in the United States.

The Royal Christmas Message from Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada is televised nationwide in Canada, the occasion being an observance which unites Canadians with citizens of the other Commonwealth Realms worldwide.

CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS DAY IN NEW ZEALAND

Christmas Day and Boxing Day are statutory holidays in New Zealand.
Many of New Zealand's Christmas traditions are similar to those of Australia in that they are a mix of United Kingdom and North American traditions conducted in summer.

New Zealand celebrates Christmas with traditional Northern-hemisphere winter imagery, and the traditional Christmas tree is standard.
The traditional symbols of the holly and the ivy are sometimes replaced by the Pōhutukawa tree.
This blossoms in late December and is thus often called the "New Zealand Christmas tree".
Children in New Zealand are told of the surreptitious visit of Father Christmas to leave presents.

Traditional winter-styled hot roast food is served for Christmas dinner and Christmas crackers are pulled before eating.
Traditional Christmas desserts of Christmas pudding, trifle, Christmas cake and mince pies are consumed, along with the traditional dessert of pavlova. House decoration is common, usually featuring strings of lights on domestic exteriors.
Store chain The Warehouse hosts a competition to find the best-decorated house of the year.

Several Christmas themed parades are held in New Zealand. The most popular is Auckland's Santa Parade down Queen Street.
This features numerous floats and marching bands and attracts large crowds every year. It is held late November to accommodate holidaymakers and is seen as the preamble to the later festivities.

The Australian tradition of Carols by Candlelight is popular in New Zealand, especially in Auckland and Christchurch, where there is usually a large outdoor carol-singing gathering known as Christmas in the park.

As with Australia, the watching of television is not a strong part of New Zealand Christmas traditions.
Some Christmas-specific programmes are usually shown, usually a mix of religious programmes and the Christmas specials of regular television series (often UK and US series).
No advertising is allowed on New Zealand television or radio on Christmas Day, a rule that also applies on Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
The Queen's Christmas message is broadcast at around 7:00pm on Christmas evening.

CHRISTMAS PRAYERS

In every part of our Christmas days, joyful or otherwise, we can turn to God in prayer. These are suggested prayers for a variety of situations.
Use them or create prayers from your own heart to meet your own needs.

PRAYER BEFORE CHRISTMAS DINNER

God of all gifts, we thank you for the many ways you have blessed us this day.

We are grateful each of those who are gathered around this table. We ask you to bless us and our food and to bless those we love who are not with us today.

In our gratitude and love, we remember your humble birth into our lives and pray for those who are are without enough to eat.

We remember the stable in which you were born and pray for those who have no place to live.

We remember your challenging message of caring and giving and we pray for peace in families and nations throughout the world.

We bless you and give you thanks in your Spirit who brings our hearts to life the Christmas Day and forever. Amen.

CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS AFTER THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE

God of compassion, there is such a hole in my heart!
Today should be a day of joy, but I feel only the emptiness and loss of someone so beloved.

While the world celebrates around me, I remember Christmas celebrations of the past and I long to have my loved one with me.

I bring my sorrows to you, Lord, like some odd gift of the magi and dump them at your feet.

In my blind tears I wonder if anyone can possibly understand the depth of my sadness. Yes, you can.

You sent your son to be with us in our deepest sorrows and I know that even though I might not feel it at this minute, you are here with me, grieving with me, caring for me in my sadness and loving me.

Dearest lord, help me to turn to the one I miss so much today and speak.

Help me heal the loss of our parting and help me not to regret the things I didn't say.

Sorrow tears at my heart, but today I ask that my loss soften my heart and make me more compassionate with everyone I meet.

ADVENT WREATH

The Advent wreath, or Advent crown, is a Christian tradition that symbolizes the passage of the four weeks of Advent in the liturgical calendar of the Western church.
The Advent Wreath is traditionally a Lutheran practice, albeit it has spread to many other Christian denominations.

It is usually a horizontal evergreen wreath with four candles and often, a fifth, white candle in the center.
Beginning with the First Sunday of Advent, the lighting of a candle can be accompanied by a Bible reading and prayers.

An additional candle is lit during each subsequent week until, by the last Sunday before Christmas, all four candles are lit. Some Advent wreaths include a fifth, "Christ" candle which can be lit at Christmas.
The custom is observed both in family settings and at public church services.

In Catholic churches, the most popular colours for the Advent candles are purple and rose.
In the Western church, purple is the historic liturgical color for three of the four Sundays of Advent: once the color associated with royalty, it symbolizes Christ as the "Prince of Peace."
Rose is the color for the Third Sunday of Advent, known as Gaudete Sunday from the Latin word "rejoice".

Gaudete Sunday anticipates the joy of the Christmas celebration, so its color is a mixture of Advent purple and Christmas white. It may also symbolize the color of early dawn.

In Protestant churches it is more common to use four red candles (reflecting their traditional use in Christmas decorations) because rose vestments and decorations are not commonly used in Protestant churches.

Blue is also a popular alternative color for both Advent vestments and Advent candles, especially in some Anglican and Lutheran churches. This is in keeping with the liturgical seasons; blue means hope and waiting, which aligns with the seasonal meaning of Advent.

Other variations of the Advent wreath add a white candle in the center to symbolize Christmas, sometimes known as the "Christ candle."
It can be lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. White is the traditional festal color in the Western church.
Four red candles with one white one is probably the most common arrangement in Protestant churches in Britain.

But for many people, the holidays can be filled with unrealistic expectations. Old hurts are sometimes revisited and new ones inflicted.
Hope can go deferred and result in heartsickness (Proverbs 13:12). In the midst of the tinsel and lights and shopping, let's remember what the season is really about!
Let's pray for a spirit of all things Christmas for ourselves and our loved ones.

CHRISTMAS DINNER PRAYER

We hope that the following words will provide spiritual comfort and inspiration. Remember that these online, inspirational words can be printed and used to create a personalised Prayer Book.

GRATITUDE FOR CHRISTMAS DINNER

In the peace of this dinner our spirits are joyful:
With the beasts and angels,
the shepherds and stars,
with Mary and Joseph we sing God's praise.
By your coming year our souls be filled with good things,
and may our table and home be blessed.
Bless us O Lord, and these Thy gifts,
which we are about to receive from Thy bounty
through Christ our Lord. Amen.

CHRISTMAS DINNER PRAYER

God of all gifts, we thank you for the many ways you have blessed us this day.

We are grateful each of those who are gathered around this table.

We ask you to bless us and our food and to bless those we love who are not with us today.

In our gratitude and love, we remember your humble birth into our lives and pray for those who are are without enough to eat.

We remember the stable in which you were born and pray for those who have no place to live.

We remember your challenging message of caring and giving and we pray for peace in families and nations throughout the world.

We bless you and give you thanks in your Spirit who brings our hearts to life the Christmas Day and forever. Amen.

SEEKING PEACE AND HARMONY FOR OUR SOUL IN CHRISTMAS TIME

Christmas is a glorious time of year! God brings us face to face once again with His design for and redemption of mankind.
His intentions toward us are for life live abundantly.
His plans for the kingdom are victorious!
Let´s praise God with our prayers, and let us give thanks for all things he give us everyday, and specially en Christmas time.

It is very useful for the body and the soul, think about it carefully each day of December and so arrive at Christmas time, with a spirit full of God.
Take each day a word, eg: LOVE, look in the Bible and reflect on it.
It finds much peace and happiness. Do not let of practise it.

1. LOVE - Lord, help us follow the way of love - let the love of Christ compel us (1 Corinthians 14:1; 2 Corinthians 5:14).

2. JOY - Restore the joy of Your salvation to us; let us experience the joy of Your presence (Psalm 51:12; 16:11).

3. PEACE - Let Your peace rule and guard our hearts; give us more of You - You are our peace (Colossians 3:15; Philippians 4:7; Ephesians 2:14).

4. HOPE - Enlighten the eyes of our heart so that we may know the hope You called us to (Ephesians 1:18).

5. FAVOR - Let Your favor rest on us (Luke 2:52).

6. LIFE - Shine Your light of life on us; help us to walk in it (Job 33:30; Psalm 56:13).

7. SALVATION - Help us to fear You so we can unlock the treasure of Your salvation (Isaiah 33:6).

8. SELFLESSNESS - Keep us from self-seeking attitudes that reject truth (Romans 2:8).

9. GENEROSITY - Make us rich in ways that result in generosity on our part so You will be praised (2 Corinthians 9:11).

10. RECEIVING - Help us receive Your kingdom, Your Spirit, and Your grace (Daniel 7:18; John 20:22; Romans 5:17).

11. SEEKING - Encourage us to seek Your face with all our hearts (Deuteronomy 4:29; Psalm 27:8).

12. PRAISE - We ascribe glory to Your name, Lord; we come before You in worship for You are holy (1 Chronicles 16:28-29).

HOW WILL BE CHRISTMAS IN YOUR HOUSE THIS YEAR?

Remember Christmas is Jesus's birth, we must remember to him. If you do it, will be best Christmas you ever had spent.

We can start singing: "Bless the Lord, O My Soul" we are praising Him with the blessings He puts in our lives.
This Christmas, as we exchange gifts blessing others, and in turn are blessed ourselves, remember to give praise to God, from Whom all blessings flow!

LOOK FOR WISDOM, IS FOR EVER

Wisdom from the Wise Men - The Magi.
The Bible encourages each of us when it says that:
"getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do!
And whatever else you do, develop good judgment." (Proverbs 4:7)

It would seem then that we would all want to become as wise as we could, and to use the best judgment in every situation in which we are found.

It recently said that only men could possibly bring gifts like the "Magi" brought to Jesus.
They said that if it were women doing the giving, the gifts would have been far more useful and appropriate, easier for Joseph and Mary to transport, and would have been beautifully wrapped!

It can't really make any meaningful comments on that - but I can say that the Magi - the Wise men - most surely demonstrated great wisdom in their actions as they went to visit the newborn King of Kings.
In fact, there are four very specific areas that not only prove their wise actions, but more importantly, serve as examples of wisdom that each of us should be using in our own life!

JESUS WALKED OUT OF HEAVEN AND HE HUMBLED HIMSELF

He came from splendor to be born in poverty. He left the presence of angels, for the company of me.
He laid down a scepter in heaven to be laid in a manger, and exchanged the worship of Arch-angels, for the praise of lowly shepherds.

He walked into the world with all the power of Almighty God at his bidding, but He was carried out a mutilated body lowered from a cross.

He rebuked the pious, but He comforted the sinner.
He refused earthly Kingship, although He was still a King. He loved His mother yet gave her away at the Cross.
He healed the broken-hearted, yet He himself, died with a broken heart.

He loved the fellowship of friends, yet was cast out by His kinsmen. He rebuked both sage and seer, and then blessed the little children.
He held an executive meeting on the Mount of Transfiguration, then wept alone in the Garden of Gethsemane.

He could walk on water, but could not walk away from the tears in the eyes of the Widow from Nain.
He could command the stars in their orbits, but he refused to change the circumstances of His own execution.
His mission was a commitment to free all men, yet He was imprisoned on the testimony of one man.

He delivered many from pain, but He was delivered to suffer agonizing pain.
He dried the eyes of multitudes, but no one dried His eyes in Gethsemane.
He carried the burdens of the world, but only one was brought forth to help Him bear His Cross to Calvary.

His execution was thought to be insignificant, but became the controversy of the ages.
His life was extinguished in a brief second of time, but then ignited to lighten the world.
His short span of thirty-three years on Earth should have passed unnoted were it possible, but no one life has ever had such impact on the minds of men.

He was in the public's eye and was brief indeed, but His achievements are the greatest ever recorded.

He has inspired more men, conquered more hearts, delivered more prisoners, consoled more mourners, than any figure in the history of man.
He spoke of love, but was murdered with hate.

He shared all that he had, and then on the Cross...He shared paradise with a thief.
He gave the World light, only to be driven into the cavern of Death.
He gave mankind guidance, only to be guided to Golgotha.
He pointed men to the Tree of Life, and they nailed Him to a tree on a hill called the Skull.
He laid down a scepter in heaven, to be laid in a borrowed tomb.

He walked out of heaven, pure, perfect, and beautiful.
He returned beaten, mutilated, and nail scarred.

He fulfilled all that was written of Him, and yet man did not believe Him.
His coming changed the course of nations; His return will be to judge the nations.
His title was simple as stated on the Cross, "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews," but to those who have ever known Him, He is Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God.

Dear brother, knowing all this what Jesus did for us by coming this world, don´t you feel wish love him each day a little more?.
Think about it carefully. Jesus loves you deeply!

TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR CHRISTMAS

1. Thou shalt prepare early. Don't wait until the last minute to get into the Christmas spirit.

2. Thou shalt keep Christ at the center of Christmas. Don't allow yourself to be overwhelmed by the commercialism of the season.
Resolve to read one of the Gospels during December.
Mediate upon what it means that Christ came into the world.

3. Thou shalt make Christmas a family time.
Do things together: Decorate the tree, play games, bake cookies, shop, write cards, have devotionals, go caroling, attend church together and hear mass, and make the communion.

4. Thou shalt remember those who are less fortunate. Contribute significantly to an organization serving the needs of others throughout the year.
Give a Christmas gift to your needy brother.

5. Thou shalt give thyself with every gift.
Put some thought into the gifts you purchase. Give a gift that represents you. If possible, make something instead of buying something.

6. Thou shalt learn to be a good receiver. Many of us have trouble receiving graciously and gracefully.

7. Thou shalt put music into Christmas. Buy several Christmas CD's.
Attend church choir cantatas and special Christmas programs. Sing carols with loved ones.

8. Thou shalt slow down. Remember: Christmas is supposed to be a season of peace, not hypertension.

9. Thou shalt remember to worship. The church is the place you are most likely to be reminded of the true meaning of Christmas, that´s why make a confession and communion.

10. Thou shalt receive Christ into thy life. Don't just talk about the Christ of Christmas, receive him into your life as Lord and Savior.

November 01, 2011

Hyperdulia

December, the Christmas month--->
<---Sins and its many consequences




Hyperdulia it´s the special veneration due to the Blessed Virgin Mary offered by Roman Catholics to the Virgin Mary as the most exalted of human beings.
Vatican II’s Dogmatic Constitution on the Church states:

It is substantially less than the cultus latria (adoration), which is due to God alone.
But it is higher than the cultus dulia (veneration), due to angels and other saints.
As the Church understands the veneration of Mary, it is to be closely associated but subordinated to that of her Son.

"The various forms of piety towards the Mother of God, which the Church has approved within the limits of sound and orthodox doctrine according to the dispositions and understanding of the faithful, ensure that while the mother is honored, the Son through whom all things have their being and in whom it has pleased the Father that all fullness should dwell, is rightly loved and glorified and His commandments are observed".
(Second Vatican Council, Lumen Gentium, VII, 66). (Etym. Latin hyperdulia, virtue of deep submission.)

Roman Catholic Church, Orthodox Church and Eastern Catholic Churches.

It is practiced by the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic, and Eastern Catholic Churches.
In some denominations, veneration is shown outwardly by respectfully bowing or making the sign of the cross before a saint's icon, relics, or statue.

In Roman Catholic, and Orthodox theology, veneration is a type of honor distinct from the adoration due to God alone.
According to Deacon Dr. Mark Miravelle, of Franciscan University of Steubenville, the English word "worship" has been associated with both veneration and adoration:

There are three levels of reverence that we in this life offer:

LATRIA:
is reserved for God alone.
The highest honor that is possible is given to God alone, and that is called in Latin “latria.” The adoration, which is known as latria in classical theology, is the worship and homage that is rightly offered to God alone.
It is the acknowledgement of excellence and perfection of an uncreated, divine person.

It is the worship of the Creator that God alone deserves.

The honor given to God through latria or adoration is the highest honor that can be given. It recognizes God as being the Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier.
God is infinite. He is all good in Himself. Obviously He is our just judge.
None of that honor can be given to a creature, and if it is done it is idolatry.

HYPERDULIA:
is reserved for the Blessed Virgin.
The seconds highest honor that is given is “hyperdulia,” and that is given to the Blessed Virgin alone.
Catholic theology also includes the term hyperdulia for the type of veneration specifically paid to Mary, mother of Jesus, in Catholic tradition.

Hyperdulia or veneration is given to only one created being, and that is the Blessed Virgin Mary. It shows that Mary, the Mother of God, is so highly blessed and endowed by God that she stands alone in her class.
She is above all the angels and all the Saints. She is the Queen of Heaven.

This distinction is spelled out in the dogmatic conclusions of the Seventh Ecumenical Council (787), which also decreed that iconoclasm (forbidding icons and their veneration) is a heresy that amounts to a denial of the incarnation of Jesus.

Now, the Roman Catholic tradition has a well established philosophy for the veneration of the Virgin Mary via the field of Mariology with Pontifical schools such as the Marianum specifically devoted to this task.

DULIA:
The third type of honor is “dulia,” and that is given specially to all the angels and saints in heaven, or a dead person who has been identified by a church committee as singular in the traditions of the religion, beside icons and relics of the saints.

Dulia or veneration goes to all the good angels and to all the Saints. No matter how good a person is he will not receive veneration in the Catholic Church until he is declared venerable and finally a Saint by the Church.

The veneration, known as dulia in classical Catholic theology, is the honor due to the excellence and a created person.
This refers to the excellence exhibited by the created being who likewise deserves recognition and honor.

After that there are various grades of honor. We are told to honor our parents.
We must honor our superiors. The wife must honor her husband and the husband must honor the wife.

As noted above, simple honor must be given to all those in honorable positions. Among men the person who rightly receives the highest honor is the Pope, the Vicar of Christ.
After him come the dignitaries in the Church.
Then come the dignitaries in the civil order. They are kings, governors, judges, police and the like.

In the domestic order, that is, in the family the highest honor goes to the father. Then comes the mother. The children likewise must honor their teachers and elders in general.

There is nothing contrary to the proper adoration of God when we offer the appropriate honor and recognition that created persons deserve based on achievement in excellence.
Here a further clarification should be made regarding the use of the term "worship" in relation to the categories of adoration and veneration.

Some schools of theology use the term "worship" to introduce both adoration and veneration.
They would distinguish between "worship of adoration" and "worship of veneration."
The word "worship" (in the same way the theological term "cult" is traditionally used) in these classical definitions was not at all synonymous with adoration, but could be used to introduce either adoration or veneration.
Hence Catholic writers will sometimes use the term "worship" not to indicate adoration, but only the worship of veneration given to Mary and the saints.

Church theologians have long adopted the terms latria for the type of worship due to God alone, and dulia for the veneration given to saints and icons.

DEFINITION BETWEEN ABSOLUTE AND RELATIVE HONOR

In order to avoid confusion we must explain what is done in the honoring of the relics of Saints.
We likewise give honor to statues and pictures of Saints and angels.
Heretics are wont to accuse us of idolatry when we pray before a holy picture or a statue of a Saint or angel.
They are confused over the method of our honor.

The words to remember are absolute and relative.
When honor is give directly to the person involved, the honor is called absolute.
When it is directed to an image of the person it is called relative honor.
Even little children who grow up in a Catholic home know this distinction.

We have an example to explain that distinction.
A teacher asked the children in catechism class: what is the difference between a Crucifix and the Holy Eucharist (after consecration).
A child answer correctly when she said: on the Crucifix we see Jesus, but he is not there.
In the Eucharist we do not see Jesus, but He is there.

In the above definition of terms we can say that Christ is present relatively on the wood of the crucifix, and in the Eucharist He is present absolutely.
We state it again. To images we give relative honor, and to the persons we give absolute honor.

If one pins a flower on his mother on Mothers’ Day he gives her absolute honor, and if he pins a flower on her picture he gives her relative honor.
The honor given with relative honor does not stop in the manufactured image.
It really glances on to the one who is absent.

IDOLATRY. Who is idolatry?

When a heathen prays before an image, he makes his honor go directly to and remain in that manufactured object.
If one held before him a sack of wool and had him shoot a bullet into it, the bullet would stick in that wool.
However, when we have relative honor it is as if one shot a bullet against a stone. It will not stay there, but it hits another object.

There are times when we find books that say we venerate sacred objects.
That statement needs correction. We give relative adoration (latria) to the images of God.
We give relative super veneration (hyperdulia) to images of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We give relative veneration (dulia) to the images of the angels and Saints
(other than the Blessed Virgin Mary).

We need a few examples. When we give our honor before a Christmas crib we give relative adoration to the Infant Jesus. We give relative super veneration the Blessed Virgin. Finally we give relative veneration to St. Joseph.

When we worship before the Holy Eucharist (say at Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament) we give absolute adoration to the Eucharist because Jesus is really, truly and substantially present there.
Let us take a picture of that divine service. We can mount that picture of the Eucharist on a wall in our home.
Then we give that picture of the Eucharist relative adoration.

When we pray without images before us to God, the angels and the Saints we give absolute honor to them.
There is no mediator (image) for our honor to go to them.
The reason that images are used is to lead us to think of and pray to God, His angels and His Saints.

DISCTINCTION BETWEEN HONOR TO GOD AND HONOR TO SAINTS

What follows is not intrinsic to honor except that it makes clear that we Catholics always make a clear distinction between the honor given to God and that given to the angels and the Saints.

Take for example the Litany of the Blessed Virgin. We respond to the opening invocations with “have mercy on us.” However, as soon as we say, “Holy Mary” we say: “Pray for us.” We ask the angels and Saints to go to God and plead for us before God.
Holy Mother Church directs us in that method of prayer, and it most pleasing to God.

Whenever goodness is honored in an angel or a Saint we recognize that all of their goodness is from God.
Of course, we honor the angels and Saints for their faithfulness to God.
It was that faithfulness that moved God to give many of the extraordinary gifts we see in the angels and the Saints.

Our entering heaven depends on our treatment of God in our practice of the Catholic faith.
Only those who have sanctifying grace in their souls are able to give to God an honor (latria) which is supernaturally pleasing to Him.
Only sanctifying grace makes man God-like, and therefore they belong to His family on earth, and they belong to His family in heaven forever.

Given, March 17, 1999. By Pope Pius XIII.

SWEETNESS OF THE NAME OF VIRGIN MARY DURING LIFE AND AT DEATH

by St. Alphonsus de Ligouri.

The great name of Mary, which was given to the divine Mother, did not come to her from her parents, nor was it given to her by the mind or will of man, as is the case with all other names that are imposed in this world; but it came from heaven, and was given her by a divine ordinance.

This is attested by St. Jerome (De Nat. M. V.), St. Epiphanius (Or. de Praes. Deip.), St. Antoninus (Hist. p. 1, t. 4, c. 6, #10), and others.
"The name of Mary came from the treasury of the divinity" ("De thesauro Divinitatis, Mariae nomen evolvitur"--S. de Annunt.), says St. Peter Damian.

Ah, yes, O Mary, it was from that treasury that thy high and admirable name came forth; for the most Blessed Trinity, says Richard of St. Laurence, bestowed on thee a name above every other name after that of thy Son, and ennobled it with such majesty and power, that he willed that all heaven, earth, and hell, on only hearing it, should fall down and venerate it; but I will give the author's own words:
"The whole Trinity, O Mary, gave thee a name after that of thy Son above every other name, that in thy name every knee should bow, of things in heaven, on earth, and under the earth"
("Dedit tibi, Maria, tota Trinitas nomen quod est super omne nomen, post nomen Filii sui, ut in nominee ejus omne genu flectatur coelestium, terrestrium, et infernorum"--De Laud. B. M. l. 1, c. 2).

But amongst the other privileges of the name of Mary, and which were given to it by God, we will now examine that of the peculiar sweetness found in it by the servants of this most holy Lady during life and in death.

"The name of Mary is a tower of strength, which saves sinners from punishment,
and defends the just from the assaults of hell."--St. Laurence Justinian.

And in the first place, speaking of the course of our life, the holy anchorite Honorius used to say, that "this name of Mary if filled with every sweetness and divine savor" ("Hoc nomen Mariae plenum est omni dulcedine suavitate divina"--Ap. Lyr. Tris. Mar l. 2, m. 13); so much so, that the glorious St. Anthony of Padua found the same sweetness in the name of Mary that St. Bernard found in that of Jesus.

"Name of Jesus!" exclaimed the one. "O name of Mary!" replied the other; "joy in the heart, honey in the mouth, melody to the ear of her devout clients" ("Jubilus in corde, mel in ore, melos in aure"--Dom. 3 Quadr. s. 2).

It is narrated in the life of the Ven. Father Juvenal Ancina, Bishop of Saluzzo, that in pronouncing the name of Mary he tasted so great and sensible a sweetness, that, after doing so, he licked his lips.
We read also that a lady at Cologne told the Bishop Massilius, that as often as she uttered the name of Mary she experienced a taste far sweeter than honey.
The Bishop imitated her, and experienced the same thing" (Casarius, Dial. l. 7, c. 50).

St. Laurence once said, "do the angels so often ask the name of their Queen?"
He answers, "That it was so sweet even to the angels to hear it pronounced, that they desired to hear that sweet name in reply" ("Forsitan quia dulce nomen sibi desiderant responderi"--De Laud. V. M. l. 1, c. 2).

But here I do not intend to speak of that sensible sweetness, for it is not granted to all; I speak of that salutary sweetness of consolation, of love, of joy, of confidence, of strength, which the name of Mary ordinarily brings to those who pronounce it with devotion.

The Abbot Francone, speaking on this subject, says, "there is no other name after that of the Son, in heaven or on earth, whence pious minds derive so much grace, hope, and sweetness".

After the most sacred name of Jesus, the name of Mary is so rich in every good thing, that on earth and in heaven there is no other from which devout souls receive so much grace, hope, and sweetness.

"For," he continues, "there is something so admirable, sweet, and divine in this name of Mary, that when it meets with friendly hearts it breathes into them an odor of delightful sweetness."
And he adds, in conclusion, "that the wonder of this great name is, that if heard by the lovers of Mary a thousand times, it is always heard again with renewed pleasure, for they always experience the same sweetness each time it is pronounced"

The Blessed Henry Suso (Dial. c. 16), also speaking of this sweetness, says, "that when he named Mary, he felt himself so excited to confidence, and inflamed with such love and joy with which he pronounced the beloved name, he desired that his heart might leave his breast; for he declared that this most sweet name was like a honeycomb dissolving in the inmost recess of the soul;" and then he would exclaim:

"O most sweet name! O Mary, what must thou thyself be, since thy name alone is thus amiable and gracious!"

The enamoured St. Bernard, raising his heart to his good Mother, says with tenderness,
"O great! O pious! O thou who art worthy of all praise!
O most Holy Virgin Mary!
Thy name is so sweet and amiable, that it cannot be pronounced without inflaming those who do so with love towards thee and God.

It only need occur to the thought of thy lovers to move them to love thee more, and to console them."
"Thou canst not be named without inflaming; thou canst not be thought of by those who love thee without filling their minds with joy"
"And if riches comfort the poor, because they relieve them in their distress,
O how much more does thy name, O Mary," says Richard of St. Laurence, "comfort us than any earthly riches!
It comforts us in the anguishes of this life."
"Thy name, O Mary, is far better than riches, because it can better relieve poverty.

Thy most sweet name, O Mary, according to St. Ambrose, "is a precious ointment, which breathes forth the odor of divine grace."
The saint then prays to the divine Mother, saying:
"Let this ointment of salvation enter the inmost recesses of our souls"
that is, grant, O Lady, that we may often remember to name thee with love and confidence; for this practice either shows the possession of divine grace, or else is a pledge that we shall soon recover it.

"And truly it is so, O Mary; for the remembrance of thy name comforts the afflicted, recalls those who have erred to the way of salvation, and encourages sinners, that they may not abandon themselves to despair."

It is thus that Ludolph of Saxony addresses her ("O Mariae! Tui recordation nominis, moestos laetificat, errantes ad viam salutis revocat et peccatores, ne desperent, confortat"--Vita Chr. p. 2, c. 86).

Father Pelbart says, "that as Jesus Christ by his five wounds gave a remedy for the evils of the world, so also does Mary, by her most holy name which is composed of five letters, daily bring pardon to sinners"

For this reason is the holy name of Mary likened in the sacred canticles to oil: Thy name is as oil poured out ("Oleum effusum, nomen tuum"--Off. B. V. resp. 6).
On these words blessed Alan says that the glory of her name is compared to oil poured out; because oil heals the sick, sends out a sweet odor, and nourishes flames.
Thus also does the name of Mary heal sinners, rejoice hearts, and inflame them with divine love.

Hence Richard of St. Laurence "encourages sinners to have recourse to this great name," because it alone will suffice to cure them of all their evils; and "there is so disorder, however malignant, that does not immediately yield to the power of the name of Mary"

Cant. i. 2: "Thy name is as oil poured out"

In fine, "This admirable name of our Sovereign Lady," says Richard of St. Laurence, "is like a fortified tower, in which, if a sinner takes refuge, he will be delivered from death; for it depends and saves even the most abandoned"

He says, "there is not such powerful help in any name, nor is there any other name given to men, after that of Jesus, from which so much salvation is poured forth upon men as from the name of Mary."

The same author in his commentary on the words of St. Luke, and the Virgin's name was Mary ("Et nomen Virginis Maria"--Luke i. 27), remarks that these two words, Mary and Virgin, are joined together by the Evangelist, to denote that the name of this most pure Virgin should always be coupled with the virtue of chastity"

Hence St. Peter Chrysologus says, "that the name of Mary is an indication of chastity" ("Nomen hoc, indicium castitatis"--Serm. 146), meaning, that when we doubt as to whether we have consented to thoughts against this virtue, if we remember having invoked the name of Mary, we have a certain proof that we have not sinned.

"If then, O brethren," concludes Thomas ˆ Kempis, "you desire consolation in every labor, have recourse to Mary; invoke the name of Mary, honor Mary, recommend yourselves to Mary, rejoice with Mary, weep with Mary, pray with Mary, walk with Mary, seek Jesus with Mary; in fine, desire to live and die with Jesus and Mary.

By acting thus you will always advance in the ways of God, for Mary will most willingly pray for you, and the Son will most certainly grant all that his Mother asks.

"Blessed is the man who loves thy name, O Mary" , exclaims St. Bonaventure. "Yes, truly blessed is he who loves thy sweet name, O Mother of God! for," he continues, "thy name is so glorious and admirable, that no one who remembers it has any fears at the hour of death"
Such is its power, that none of those who invoke it at the hour of death fear the assaults of their enemies.

Let us then, O devout faithful, beg God to grant us, that at death the name of Mary may be the last word on our lips. This was the prayer of St. Germanus:
"May the last movement of my tongue be to pronounce the name of the Mother of God"

O sweet, O safe is that death which is accompanied and protected by so saving a name; for God only grants the grace of invoking it to those whom he is about to save.
O my sweet Lady and Mother, I love thee much, and because I love thee I also love thy holy name. I purpose and hope, with thy assistance, always to invoke it during life and at death.

And to conclude with the tender prayer of St. Bonaventure: "I ask thee, O Mary, for the glory of thy name, to come and meet my soul when it is departing from this world, and to take it in thine arms"
"Disdain not, O Mary," the saint continues, "to come then and comfort me with thy presence. Be thyself my soul's ladder and way to heaven.
Do thou thyself obtain for it the grace of forgiveness and eternal repose"

He then concludes saying, "O Mary, our advocate, it is for thee to defend thy clients, and to undertake their cause before the tribunal of Jesus Christ"

MARY, THE POWER OF HER NAME ON EARTH AND IN HEAVEN

Richard of St. Laurence states "there is not such powerful help in any name, nor is there any other name given to men, after that of Jesus, from which so much salvation is poured forth upon men as from the name of Mary."

He continues, "that the devout invocation of this sweet and holy name leads to the acquisition of superabundant graces in this life, and a very high degree of glory in the next life."

The Abbot Francone, speaking on this subject, says:
"there is no other name after that of the Son, in heaven or on earth, whence pious minds derive so much grace, hope, and sweetness."
After the most sacred name of Jesus, the name of Mary is so rich in every good thing, that on earth and in heaven there is no other from which devout souls receive so much grace, hope, and sweetness.

Hence Richard of St. Laurence "encourages sinners to have recourse to this great name," because it alone will suffice to cure them of all their evils;
and "there is no disorder, however malignant, that does not immediately yield to the power of the name of Mary."

The Blessed Raymond Jordano says:
"that however by very hardened and diffident a heart may be, the name of this most Blessed Virgin has such efficacy, that if it is only pronounced in heart or in thought will be wonderfully softened."

Moreover, it is well known, and is daily experienced by the faithful of Mary, that her powerful name gives the particular strength necessary to overcome temptations against purity.

In fine, "thy name, O Mother of God, is filled with divine graces and blessings," as St. Methodius says.

So much so, that St. Bonaventure declares:
"that thy name, O Mary, cannot be pronounced without bringing some grace to him who does so devoutly." . . .
Grant, O Lady, that we may often remember to name thee with love and confidence; for this practice either shows the possession of divine grace, or else is a pledge that we shall soon recover it.

On the other hand, Thomas a Kempis affirms:
"that the devils fear the Queen of heaven to such a degree, that only on hearing her name pronounced, they flee terrified as if it were a burning fire and consumes them".

The Blessed Virgin herself revealed to St. Bridget:
"that if a sinner is so far away from God, and devoid of all love, but if he only invokes the holy name of Mary with a determination to repent, the devil is obliged immediately to flee from him"

On another occasion she repeated the same thing to other saint, saying:
"that all the devils venerate and fear her name to such a degree, that on hearing it they immediately loosen their claws with which they hold to the souls captive."

Our Blessed Lady also told St. Bridget:
"that in the same way as the rebel angels flee from sinners who invoke the name of Mary, so also the good angels are approached more to the just souls who pronounce her name with devotion."

PROMISES OF HELP MADE BY JESUS TO ST. BRIDGET

Consoling indeed are the promises of help made by Jesus Christ to those who have devotion to the name of Mary; for one day in the hearing of St. Bridget, He promised His most holy Mother that He would grant three special graces to those who invoke that holy name with confidence:

first: that He would grant them perfect sorrow for their sins;

secondly: that all their crimes (sins) should be atoned for in this world; and,

thirdly: that He would give them strength to attain perfection, and at length the glory of paradise.

first: that He would grant them perfect sorrow for their sins;

secondly: that all their crimes (sins) should be atoned for in this world; and,

thirdly: that He would give them strength to attain perfection, and at length the glory of paradise.

first: that He would grant them perfect sorrow for their sins;

secondly: that all their crimes (sins) should be atoned for in this world; and,

thirdly: that He would give them strength to attain perfection, and at length the glory of paradise.

"For thy words, O My Mother, are so sweet and agreeable to Me, that I cannot deny what thou askest."

St. Ephrem goes so far as to say:
"that the name of Mary is the key of the gates of heaven," in the hands of those who devoutly invoke it.

And thus it is not without reason that St. Bonaventure says:
"that Mary is the salvation of all who call upon her."
"O most sweet name! O Mary, what must thou thyself be, since thy name alone is thus amiable and gracious," exclaims Blessed Henry Suso.

Let us, therefore, always take advantage of the beautiful advice given us by St. Bernard, in these words:
"In dangers, in perplexities, in doubtful cases, think of Mary, invokes Mary;
that thy lips always pronounce her name; let her not depart from thy heart."

NAMES OF JESUS AND MARY

In every danger of forfeiting divine grace, we should think of Mary, and invoke her name, together with that of Jesus; FOR THESE TWO NAMES ALWAYS GO TOGETHER.

O, then, never let us permit these two most sweet names to leave our hearts, or be off our lips; for they will give us strength not only not to yield, but to conquer all our temptations.

"The invocation of the sacred names of Jesus and Mary," says Thomas a Kempis:
"is a short prayer which is as sweet to the mind, and as powerful to protect those who use it against the enemies of their salvation, as it is easy to remember."
Let us remember that Sister Mary Consolata Bertrone also prayed the same prayer:

JESUS, MARY, I LOVE THEE, SAVE SOULS!

St. Camillus de Lellis urged the members of his community to remind the dying often to utter the holy names of Jesus and Mary.
Such was his custom when assisting people in their last hour.

When he himself came to die he gave an edifying example of confidence in the holy names.
His biographer relates that when death was approaching, the saint invoked the sweet names of Jesus and Mary with such tender devotion that all present were inflamed with love for the sacred names.
With his eyes fixed on the images of Jesus and Mary, and his arms crossed on his breast, an expression of heavenly peace rested on his face when his soul took its flight.
His last words were the sacred names of "Jesus and Mary".

THE HOUR OF OUR DEATH

Thus we see that the most holy name of Mary is sweet indeed for the faithful during life, on account of the very great graces that she obtains for them.
But sweeter still will it be to them in death, on account of the tranquil and holy end that it will insure them.

Let us then, O devout soul, beg God to grant us, that at death the name of Mary may be the last word on our lips.

This was the prayer of St. Germanus:
"May the last movement of my tongue be to pronounce the name of the Mother of God;" O sweet, O safe is that death which is accompanied and protected by so saying a name; for God only grants the grace of invoking it to those whom He is about to save!.

Father Sertorius Caputo, of the Society of Jesus, exhorted all who assist the dying frequently to pronounce the name of Mary; for this name of life and hope, when repeated at the hour of death, suffices to put the devils to flight, and to comfort such persons in their sufferings.

"Blessed is the man who loves thy name, O Mary" exclaims St. Bonaventure.

"Yes, truly blessed is he who loves thy sweet name, O Mother of God!," he continues:
"thy name is so glorious and admirable, that no one who remembers it has any fears at the hour of death."
Such is its power, that none of those who invoke it at the hour of death fear the infernal assaults of their enemies vanish as smoke.

St. Camillus de Lellis urged the members of his community to remind the dying often to utter the holy names of Jesus and Mary.
Such was his custom when assisting people in their last hour.

Oh, that we may end our lives as did the Capuchin Father, Fulgentius of Ascoli, who expired singing,
"O Mary, O Mary, the most beautiful of creatures! let us depart together."

Let us conclude with the tender prayer of St. Bonaventure:

"I ask thee, O Mary, for the glory of thy name, to come and meet my soul when it is departing from this world, and to take it in thine arms."

DEVOTION TO THE VIRGIN MARY IN THE FIRST CENTURIES

Recent Mariology studies have resulted in the Virgin Mary has been honored and revered as the Mother of God and Mother of us since the dawn of Christianity, from the early centuries, around the year 100.

An example of this is a painting on the wall of a catacombs of St. Priscilla, where we see a representation of the Virgin Mary.

In the first three centuries, ie almost to the year 400, the veneration of Mary is contained primarily within the worship of His Son Jesus Christ.

A Father of the Church summarizes the feelings of the primitive cult of Mary, referring to Mary with these words:
"The prophets and apostles announced with the highest praise, and also all generations will do."

From these early centuries only indirect evidence can be collected of Marian devotion. Among them are some archaeological remains in the catacombs, which demonstrate the worship and veneration, that the early Christians had for Mary.

Such is the case of Marian paintings of the catacombs of Priscilla: in one of them shows the Virgin surrounded with a halo on his head, with the Child Jesus to the chest and a prophet (Isaiah perhaps) aside, the other two represent the Annunciation and the Epiphany. All are from the late second century.

In the catacombs of St. Peter and St. Marcelino is also admires a painting of the century III / IV which shows Mary in the middle of St. Peter and St. Paul, with outstretched hands and praying.

A magnificent example of devotion to Mary is prayer "Sub tuum praesidium" (We fly to thy patronage) that goes back to the III-IV, in which we turn to the intercession of Mary.

Parents of the fourth century praise in many different ways to the Mother of God.
St. Epifanio, combating the error of a sect of Saudi where will be venerated the cult of latria to Mary, in a wrong way, after rejecting such a cult, writes: "Be honor Mary!, Be worshiped the Lord!".

The same distinction is seen in St. Ambrose who, after praising the "Mother of all virgins" is loud and clear, while, when he says that "Mary is the temple of God and not the God of the temple," to put in its true Marian devotion, professed as distinct from God.

There is evidence that in the time of Pope St. Sylvester, in the forum, where he had previously erected a temple to Vesta, whose avocation was built was a St. Mary of the Antique.
Likewise, Bishop Alexander of Alexandria consecrated a church in honor of the Mother of God.
We also know that in the Church of the Nativity in Palestine, dating back to the time of Constantine, by the worship of the Lord, Mary was honored by recalling the miraculous conception of Christ.

In the Eucharistic liturgy is reliable data showing that the mention of Mary venerated in the Eucharistic Prayer dates back to the year 225 and in the feasts of the Lord, Incarnation, Nativity and Epiphany, etc .- also the name of Mary is honored as the Mother of God.

Often noted that by the year 380 the first festival of Mary was instituted interchangeably called "Memory of the Mother of God," "Feast of the Blessed Virgin", or "Feast of the glorious Mother."

OTHER RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS

In Protestantism churches, veneration is sometimes considered to amount to the heresy of idolatry, and the related practice of canonization amounts to the heresy of apotheosis.

Protestant theology usually denies that any real distinction between veneration and worship can be made, and claims that the practice of veneration distracts the Christian soul from its true object, the worship of God.

In his Institutes of the Christian Religion, John Calvin writes that "(t)he distinction of what is called dulia and latria was invented for the very purpose of permitting divine honours to be paid to angels and dead men with apparent impunity."

Likewise, Islam also condemns any veneration of icons. The Hindu honoring of icons and murtis, often seen as idolatry, may also be looked upon as a kind of veneration.

In Green Christianity (or Creation-centered theology) animals, plants, and other parts of nature may be said to be venerated simply by taking good care of them, thereby showing honor and respect for God who made them.
Creation, being regarded as an icon of the Creator, is a valid object of veneration.

Philologically, to venerate derives from the Latin verb, venerare, meaning to regard with reverence and respect.

HYMN: TO BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

"The name of Mary is a tower of strength, which saves sinners from punishment,
and defends the just from the assaults of hell."--St. Laurence Justinian.

Mother Mary, Queen most sweet,
Joy and love my heart inflame;
Gladly shall my lips repeat
Every moment thy dear name.
Ah I that name to God so dear
Has my heart and soul enslaved;
Like a seal it shall appear
Deep on heart and soul engraved.

When the morning gilds the skies
I will call on Mary's name;
When as evening twilight dies,
Mary! still will I exclaim.
Sweetest Mary, bend thine ear,
Thou my own dear Mother art;
Therefore shall thy name so dear
Never from my lips depart.

If my soul is sore opprest
By a load of anxious care,
Peace once more will fill my breast
When thy name reechoes there.
Waves of doubt disturb my peace.
And my heart is faint with fear;
At thy name the billows cease,
All my terrors disappear.

When the demon hosts invade,
When temptation rages high,
Crying, "Mary, Mother, aid!"
I will make the tempter fly.
This shall be my comfort sweet,
When the hand of death is nigh,
Mary! Mary! to repeat
Once again,--and then to die.

LITANY OF THE HOLY NAME OF MARY

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Son of Mary, hear us.

Son of Mary, graciously hear us.

Heavenly Father, of Whom Mary is the Daughter, Have mercy on us.
Eternal Word, of Whom Mary is the Mother, Have mercy on us.
Holy Spirit, of Whom Mary is the spouse, Have mercy on us.
Divine Trinity, of Whom Mary is the Handmaid, Have mercy on us.

Mary, Mother of the Living God, pray for us.**

Mary, daughter of the Light Eternal,**

Mary, our light,**

Mary, our sister,**

Mary, flower of Jesse,**

Mary, issue of kings,**

Mary, chief work of God,**

Mary, the beloved of God,**

Mary, Immaculate Virgin,**

Mary, all fair,**

Mary, light in darkness,**

Mary, our sure rest,**

Mary, house of God,**

Mary, sanctuary of the Lord,**

Mary, altar of the Divinity,**

Mary, Virgin Mother,**

Mary, embracing thy Infant God,**

Mary, reposing with Eternal Wisdom,**

Mary, ocean of bitterness,**

Mary, suffering with thine only Son,**

Mary, pierced with a sword of sorrow,**

Mary, torn with a cruel wound,**

Mary, sorrowful even to death,**

Mary, bereft of all consolation,**

Mary, submissive to the law of God,**

Mary, standing by the Cross of Jesus,**

Mary, Our Lady,**

Mary, Our Queen,**

Mary, Queen of glory ,**

Mary, glory of the Church Triumphant,**

Mary, Blessed Queen,**

Mary, advocate of the Church Militant,**

Mary, Queen of Mercy,**

Mary, consoler of the Church Suffering,**

Mary, exalted above the Angels,**

Mary, crowned with twelve stars,**

Mary, fair as the moon,**

Mary, bright as the sun,**

Mary, distinguished above all,**

Mary, seated at the right hand of Jesus,**

Mary, our hope,**

Mary, our sweetness,**

Mary, glory of Jerusalem,**

Mary, joy of Israel,**

Mary, honor of our people,**

Mary, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception,**

Mary, Our Lady of the Assumption,**

Mary, Our Lady of Dolors,**

Mary, Our Lady of Mercy,**

Mary, Our Lady, Star of the sea,**

Mary, Our Lady of the Joy of Heaven,**

Mary, Our Lady of Victory,**

Mary, Our Lady of The Holy Rosary,**

Mary, Our Lady of Mount Carmel,**

Lamb of God, Who didst rejoice Mary,
Spare us, O Lord Jesus.

Lamb of God, Who didst afflict Mary,
Graciously hear us, O Lord Jesus.

Lamb of God, Who didst glorify Mary,
Have mercy on us, O Lord Jesus.

Son of Mary, hear us.
Son of Mary, graciously hear us.

V. I will declare thy name unto my brethren.
R. I will praise thee in the assembly of the faithful.

Let Us Pray:

O Almighty God, Who beholdest Thy servants earnestly desirous of placing themselves under the shadow of the name and protection of the Most Holy Virgin Mary;
vouchsafe, we beseech Thee, that by her charitable intercession, we may be delivered from all evil on earth, and may arrive at everlasting joys in Heaven.
Through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

(For private use only. We found no objection to make it known. Quite the contrary. It is full of beauty and devotion to Mary. We submit to all orders of the Holy Catholic Church.)