Of Jargon, the Jabberwocky, and New Year's Resolutions

 I was thinking about jargon today. There's a lot of it floating around in the ether, and in the cloud, and on social media, and on college campuses. In fact, jargon is everywhere. 

Now the word jargon has a couple of different meanings:

The specialized language of a trade, profession, or similar group, especially when viewed as difficult to understand by outsiders.

That definition is rather reasonable and not pejorative. A computer geek may use language about his work that is Greek to me. But then Greek is Greek to me as well, though it's perfectly comprehensible to someone raised in Greece. I don't understand Russian or Gaelic either. In fact, the only language I speak fluently is English. I have a smattering of French and Spanish, but not enough to converse, and that's about it. 

A Christmas Family Tradition from the Past -- One Worth Re-Discovering

Every family has traditions associated with special days: Christmas, birthdays, Easter, etc. One tradition of our family when our children were growing up was celebrating a birthday party for Jesus on Christmas Eve. We generally went to the vigil Mass and then came home to a big dinner: roast beef, mashed potatoes, an assortment of sides, and a big birthday cake. After dinner we would have a procession around the house singing Christmas carols and ending at the nativity scene. The youngest carried Baby Jesus to place in the manger. The other children carried candles. I think we may even have carried the cake. Did we sing Happy Birthday when we reached the stable? I can't remember, but we always sang Away in the Manger as the youngest placed the baby in the crib. What a happy evening that was with candlelight and song, and a big slice of birthday cake.

Advent and Christmas: The Season of Friends

Today my husband and I will travel over the mountain to visit friends in Luray for lunch. Our friendship grew out of our connection through the Chesterton book club. Over the years it has deepened and we always laugh a lot and commiserate a little when we get together. 

Random thoughts as the new year approaches.

• I pray a lot of novenas, sometimes for the needs of specific people and sometimes for specific intentions. Reflecting on this, I realized that I've never prayed a novena for myself. So two days ago I started a novena to my patron saint, Mary's mother Ann, for myself. It's not very specific -- I just want to be conformed to the will of God. If you've never prayed a novena for yourself why not make one. After all, we are called to love our neighbors as ourselves. Do we love ourselves enough to pray for ourselves. We certainly need it!

The Mad Rush to Christmas!

Don't Let Thanksgiving be Lost in the Rush to Christmas!

When I was growing up, Christmas arrived in the secular world the day after Thanksgiving. The turkey was hardly off the table before Santa came riding in on his sleigh behind the reindeer. The worldly holiday fuss obliterated Advent completely. Despite the world's mad rush to Christmas, many Catholic families waited in the quiet for Emmanuel, God with us. They lit the Advent Wreath every evening, sang Come, O Come, Emmanuel and prayed together.

Merry Christmas! And Here's My "Tiny" Camp Kreitzer Christmas Gift to You!

Our oldest daughter gave us a delightful little book for Christmas titled Tiny Ridge with almost no words, just photos.  The brief introduction reads:

Deep in the mountains of North Carolina, my daughter Josephine and I imagined a tiny world coexisting just under our feet. All of these images were created in-camera (with lots of balancing and not Photoshop alterations.) The series is designed to reflect how our organic farm and the residents of Tiny Ridge wake up over the seasons.

Do yourself a favor and visit the author/photographer's page to see the incredibly delightful and creative photos. Then let your imagination run rampant! 

After Christmas Day Random Thoughts: Celebration Time

1. It's only the third day of Christmas and already the Christmas decorations are coming down and the real trees are being dragged out to the curb. REALLY, PEOPLE, THE SEASON JUST STARTED! 

CELEBRATE!

Guest Post: Christmas and Easter Cicadas

Christmas and Easter Cicadas

by Thomas Walsh

A Christmas Cicada: note the red bulb eyes

The life cycle of cicadas is still a mystery. They live dormant underground, hidden from view, only to emerge en masse by the millions every 13 or 17 years. After a short period of activity they disappear back underground, where the long process begins again.

Similarly, this is the semi-annual season for the emergence of that strange class of Christians - Catholic and Protestant alike - known as C&E’ers. Twice each year – Christmas and Easter – they invade Churches everywhere for a single service then vanish back to the golf greens and shopping malls from whence they came.

One of the greatest gifts is the Family -- Combined with the Gift of Music -- C'est Magnifique!

We can all use a lift during these busy days when so many suffer from various challenges: the loss of loved ones, disappointments, the physical difficulty of seasonal light disorder and depression. Take a moment to let the glory of this song fill you with the true gift of Christmas -- the love of Our Savior God.

 

JP Sears and I wish you a "A Very Merry Communist Christmas"

I'm having a Communist Christmas! Are you? One part of the family just cancelled Christmas Eve dinner because of Covid fears, another is having just me over because of Covid - no cheerful group of friends as in the past - and another is zooming in for a Christmas get together. So Merry Communist Covid Christmas to one and all!

As Advent Ends, We Cry Out for Emmanuel to Come to Us in the Midst of the Great Global Reset!

Tonight my husband and I will attend a Midnight Mass at midnight for the first time in, perhaps, fifty years. As Christmas day begins, Father will place the Christ child in the little bed that has been waiting for all of Advent to receive Him. 

Wishing You a Holy Christmas

Virgin and Child
Cusco School of Art
Monastery of Santa Catalina, Cusco, Peru

Nabi Sayeth: What Do You See When You Look at the Holy Babe?

Nabi Sayeth:  The Feast of Christmas can be a most humbling feast, especially when one takes the time to truly “look” inside the manger. 

My heart is saddened as I wonder if those who committed acts of sexual abuse or covered up for those who did ever truly looked at the face of the Baby in the manger? With the many Christmas masses said by the McCarricks, the Bransfields, the Wuerls and others through the years….did they ever truly look inside the manger and ponder the face of the Baby?

What would they have seen had they looked, really looked, and paused and took the time to reflect? If they had, would they not have seen…

Do You Celebrate Snowmen and Snowflakes or Jesus?

This reflection by my friend Fr. Tom Collins reminded me of Robert Frost's poem, Fire and Ice. See if you agree. I've posted it after Father's reflection.

A MODEST PROPOSAL - from Fr. Tom 

It is interesting to note how the bullies of political correctness have intimidated so many Christians from saying, "Merry Christmas". Instead, following the secular jubilation in celebrating snowflakes, snow men and snow jobs, we are to go deeply in debt to buy gifts and joyfully say, "Happy Holidays." 

Do You Love Christmas?...

...And hate to see the season come to end?

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO!

Every day of your life can be Christmas morning. Just go to daily Mass. It's a time machine taking you back to the stable. The beginning of the Mass is Advent, pointing the way to the coming of Christ at the Consecration when he is laid in the manger of the altar by the priest. We come, shepherds and kings, the lowly and the powerful together to worship. We bring Him gifts like the shepherds and the magi did, the gifts of ourselves: our prayers and sacrifices, our acts of charity. We know the gifts of the magi: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. We can imagine the gifts of the shepherd:, a woolly fleece to keep the baby warm and protect Him from the scratchy straw, perhaps goat milk and cheese for Mary and Joseph. Yes, the shepherds, despite their littleness, would have come bearing gifts for the King of Kings.

The Mass is Advent and Christmas, Lent and Easter all compressed into a short space of time that contains eternity. We see Christ at His birth; we hear His preaching in the Gospel; we sit at the banquet table of the Last Supper; we kneel at the foot of the Cross and share in His suffering and death. And we are there at the Resurrection and that moment Easter evening when He says, "Peace be with you; my peace I give you."

How can you stay away from daily Mass when God Himself calls you there and desires to feed you with His own Body and Blood? Let your New Year's resolution be to attend Mass as often as possible. It is the closest we will ever come to heaven on this earth.

It's Snowing in Woodstock - Come Lord Jesus

"And his garments became shining and exceeding white as snow, so as no fuller upon earth can make white." Mark 9:3
The Christmas tree is lit and laden with all the ornaments filled with memories of Christmas past. The beds are all made awaiting little (and big) guests. The roast and the chicken are ready for preparation and the fruitcake is decorated for the celebration of Christmas present. Christmas future hides behind time's veil, but everything pints to it coming in a world spiraling into darkness.

But no matter how dark and dismal the culture; no matter how gloomy the signs of the times, Christians light candles and praise God's goodness. Be not afraid as so many popes and saints say. Remember the Irish with their St. Bridget crosses thrust into the thatched roofs. Remember the hidey holes in Elizabethan England filled with vestments and holy vessels awaiting the onset of holy Mass. Remember the Roman catacombs where the early Christians gathered for prayer and buried their dead. And remember the prisoners of God who suffered and died with songs and words glorifying God on their lips. "Viva Cristo Rey!"

Many souls are saved in times of persecution. We have nothing to fear as long as we build our homes on the rock of the faith and stand with our backs against the sturdy wood of the cross. No enemy can defeat the Word who created the universe. Christ is coming on a cloud of heaven to judge the earth. He is King of King and Lord of Lords. When you see Him in the manger, remember He sits at the right hand of God in heaven.

Where's the Line to See Jesus?

Whose birthday is it anyway?

Church Ads: A Charity With the Right Idea!

It isn't too early to start thinking about Advent. And a coalition of Church groups in the U.K. has put the focus right where it belongs -- on baby Jesus in the womb.

I'm thinking of asking this group if I can put this photo on Christmas cards to send. I love it!

May God bless their efforts

A Cultural Jew Finds Faith and Joy at Christmas

"As a Jewish child, I never celebrated Christmas. I found out what I was missing on Christmas Eve, 1973.

"My high school boyfriend Brian invited me to join his family for their celebration. The event floored me. It wasn't just the illuminated tree, the music, and the pleasure of opening gifts. It was the power of the holiday to transform Brian's ordinary family.

"Laughing, singing hymns, praying -- they were absolutely radiant. I had never seen them so joyful. And in their presence, I felt joyful, too.... more

O Holy Night - Rejoice for Jesus Christ is Born!