Merry Christmas, Day 11, Epiphany in the U.S.

 

Image credit: Virgin and Child flanked by Archangels by a follower of Fre Seyon. 

Shamelessly pinched from here. 

Highly recommend Pope Leo's homily for New Year's Day. It's a reflection on human freedom and the best way to use our freedom in the new year. 

In Mary’s divine motherhood, then, we see the meeting of two immense, “unarmed” realities: that of God, who renounces every privilege of his divinity to be born in the flesh (cf. Phil 2:6-11), and that of a human person who, trustingly and fully, embraces God’s will. In a perfect act of love, she offers him the greatest power she possesses: her freedom.

And because it's Epiphany in the U.S.: Nations Shall Walk by Your Light

Habemus Papam Americanum!

 Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, native of Chicago, is now Pope Leo XIV.  Just gonna enjoy it for a few days, ignoring all commentary. 

Here is his first urbi et orbi blessing. 

Happy Epiphany, 2025!

 

Image: Adoration of the Magi (unfinished), Leonardo DaVinci, shamelessly pinched from here.

A little BXVI Epiphany homily for reflection (from 2013): 

Let us return to the Wise Men from the East. These were also, and above all, men of courage, the courage and humility born of faith. Courage was needed to grasp the meaning of the star as a sign to set out, to go forth – towards the unknown, the uncertain, on paths filled with hidden dangers. We can imagine that their decision was met with derision: the scorn of those realists who could only mock the reveries of such men. Anyone who took off on the basis of such uncertain promises, risking everything, could only appear ridiculous. But for these men, inwardly seized by God, the way which he pointed out was more important than what other people thought. For them, seeking the truth meant more than the taunts of the world, so apparently clever.

For further reflection, James Taylor's Epiphany song, w/ accompanying images.

Merry Christmas, Day 11, Elizabeth Ann Seton 2025

 

Image: Journey of the Magi, Sasseta, shamelessly pinched from the MET

The day's almost gone, but Merry Christmas nonetheless! 

Happy Feast of Elizabeth Ann Seton, first American-born saint. 

And: Angels We Have Heard Down Low? 

Merry Christmas! Day 9, Jan 2025

 

Image: The Nativity of Christ, unknown artist from what is now India, around 1800 Shamelessly pinched from @HerreidJohn's X feed.

• Archbishop Chaput on Woman & Women of the Year. 

It's only Jan 2, not too late to get in on "....in a year" podcast action.  Something edifying for car, walk, or meal prep listening, in manageable chunks. 

The one that started it all: Bible in a Year 

New this year: 

• Rosary in a year (really about how to pray and #1 podcast in USA as of yesterday) 
• Desert Fathers in a Year w/ Bishop Erik Varden (Exodus 90 collaboration, so geared esp toward men) 
• Vatican II in a year (studying these documents is an indulgenced practice for the jubilee year)

Not new, but worthwhile: 

• Catechism in a Year 
• St. Faustina's Diary In A Year 

Christmas 2024, Day 7

Image: Madonna and Child Surrounded by Angels, Eduard Veith, shamelessly pinched from J.R.s Art place

A thread of world's most beautiful Nativity scenes 

Reprising an old New Year's post for the recipe for St. Sylvester's punch. His feast is today. 

And it's the 2nd anniversary of the passing of Pope Benedict XVI of blessed memory. My contemporaneous thoughts and his last Te Deum. 

Christmas 2024, Day 6

handmade Christmas card sent by Ted Schluenderfritz to his friend John Herreid, shamelessly pinched from here. 

This Brad Miner piece on the power of music caught my attention because in The Shattering of Loneliness, Bishop Erik Varden describes the moment of grace when he suddenly began to believe in God while listening to a piece of music. A Mahler symphony, I think, though I am too lazy just at present to go look it up. 

The Jubilee year of hope opened Christmas Eve. Here are all the specially-graced practices for making the most of this special year.  

The CNA explanatory version. 

The Vatican bulletin -- scroll down for the English version. 

Christmas 2024, Day 5

 

Image: Fontana, The Holy Family with Saint Catherine of Alexandria. 

Shamelessly pinched from here. 

Happy Feast of the Holy Family! 

The higher purpose of children. 

Duty and Love

Christmas 2024, Day 4

 

Image: by Jorge Cocco Santangelo, shamelessly pinched from here.

To read:

• How the visions of St. Bridget of Sweden influenced depictions of the Nativity.
• The higher purpose of children in American society.

Christmas 2024, Day Three

 

Image:  Nativity, Allan Rohan Crite, shamelessly pinched from @HerreidJohn. 

Fr. Scalia with a lovely reflection, "Venite, Adoremus." 

Merry Christmas, 2024

 

by Chinese artist Chen Yuandu, shamelessly pinched from @TheChurchinAsia on X

Merry Christmas to all!

At Midnight Mass in the Vatican, Pope Francis opened the holy door, inaugurating the Jubilee year of hope. 

Lovely homily on why there is a midnight mass from Fr. Paul Scalia. 

Edward Mulholland with a bit of Christmas loveliness. 

Repent! And Believe the Gospel!

 Image: Prodigal Son, Eugene Bernand

Don't know if I will keep this up or not, but have the impulse this morning to post artistic images of repentance and conversion here for the remainder of Lent.  This is either a one-off or first in a series! 

Happy Epiphany, Transferred

Image: The Adoration of the Magi, polyptych panel 1, Magdalen College School

Shamelessly pinched from here

The Infant looks upon these holy pilgrims with a joyful countenance, and thus shows that He accepts these first-fruits of His Redemption. The divine Mother is also silent, but welcomes them wth her smiling looks, and thanks them for the homage done to her Son. They adore Him also in silence, and acknowledge Him for their Saviour and their God, offering Him gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh.

Yes, my Infant Jesus, the more humbled and poor I behold Thee, the more dost Thou inflame me with Thy love.  

O Jesus, my Infant King! I also adore Thee, and offer Thee my miserable heart. Accept it and change it. Make it wholly Thine own, so that it may love nothing but Thee. My sweet Saviour, save me, and let my eternal happiness be to love Thee always and without reserve. O Mary, most holy Virgin, I hope for this grace from thee.

~ From a meditation on Epiphany by St. Alphonsus Liguori 

Read more: I found both the image and the meditation through Father V on X

Happy Epiphany!

Image: portion of a mosaic in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception 

So: in the US, where the Solemnity of Epiphany is transferred to Sunday, is today the 13th day of Christmas?  

 

Merry Christmas, Day 12!

Image: Adoration of the Magi by Gyula Benczúr, 1911

Shamelessly pinched from J.R.'s Art Page

A little late today, but made it! Tom Hoopes asks: Do we lack what the wise men have? 
 

Merry Christmas, Day 11!

 Image: Nativity – Alcina Nolley,

shamelessly pinched from #globalnativity on twiX, submission from St. Lucia

100 Nativity sets on display at the Vatican.

I got curious about John Paul II's first Christmas Urbi et Orbi. What would he tell the whole world about Christmas his first chance? It's worth reading the whole brief thing, because he of course does not start here, but this is the main message.

I address therefore all the various communities: the peoples, the nations, the regimes, the political, economic, social and cultural system, and I say:

— Accept the great truth concerning man;

— Accept the full truth concerning man that was uttered on Christmas Night;

— Accept this dimension of man that was opened for all human beings on this Holy Night;

— Accept the mystery in which every human being lives since Christ was born;

— Respect this mystery;

— Allow this mystery to act in every human being.

— Allow him to develop in the outward conditions of his earthly existence.

Humanity's power resides in this mystery. The power that permeates everything that is human. Do not make it hard for that power to exercise its influence. Do not destroy its influence. Everything that is human grows from this power; without this power it perishes; without this power it falls to ruin.

Merry Christmas, Day 10!

Image: Above the Manger, Ladislav Záborský, Slovakia

Shamelessly pinched from this twiX post.

Did I mention this earlier in the 12 Days? It's the 800th anniversary of St. Francis creating the first nativity at Greccio, and therefore there is a plenary indulgence to be earned from visiting a Franciscan worship site and contemplating the creche there between now and Candlemas. 

Merry 9th Day of Christmas!

 Image: Rembrandt van Rijn, Landscape with the Rest on the Flight into Egypt

This is the night of the Most Gentle One: let no one be cruel. This is the night of the Humble One: let no one be proud. Today the Bountiful impoverished Himself for our sake: so, rich one, invite the poor to your table. — Nativity Sermon, St. Isaac of Syria

Happy New Year! & Merry Christmas, Day 8

Image: The Nativity (1925) – Livia Mihály Kádár Shamelessly pinched from this twiX page.

That the Creator is in his creature and God is in the flesh brings dignity to man without dishonour to him who made him. Why then, man, are you so worthless in your own eyes and yet so precious to God?

~ St. Peter Chrysologus

 

Merry Christmas, Day 5

Image: by "Adam," whom a friend found living on the streets in Paris. 

A little more about my friend's encounter with "Adam." She writes: 

after joyfully giving me his most beautiful art work, Adam said, “I love God so much ! I pray all the time ! Especially for mean people . You know, when someone is mean…give him a big hug ! I promise, the person will change! I learned this from Mother Teresa of Calcutta !“ I asked him for a hug as, after hearing wise Adam, I felt much need of conversion."