Sunday Meditation: The Feast of the Holy Family

Murillo

Do you ever pray for your ancestors? Just think...without them you wouldn't be here. And are you a Catholic? Then you need to thank your ancestors for passing on the faith, unless you're a convert, of course, in which case you'll have others to thank. 

Of This and That on Monday Morning

•  I'm going to see my sister in the nursing home today. I consider it my weekly exercise to work on the virtues of patience, charity, and cheerfulness. 

• When I'm watching TV, I try to keep my hands busy. I very much liked the baby blanket pattern I used for two blankets: one for my first great grandchild and one for my youngest grandchild. So I decided to make a table runner. I finally made the pattern with no mistakes! The secret is small projects I think. Perhaps that's a lesson in life. St. Therese's "little way" is much easier to accomplish with fewer mistakes.

Rejoice! Your Savior is Born. Hosanna in the Highest!

Wishing You and Your Family a Blessed and Merry Christmas!

Murillo's Adoration of the Shepherds

Art teaches theology. Notice the light in this painting. It comes from the babe. He is wrapped in pure white like an infant clothed in the white garment of baptism. Everyone in the portrait is leaning toward Jesus in silent adoration their faces filled with reverence and awe and  reflecting back the glow of the baby who is the Light of the World. Even the ox is focused on the event as if to represent all creation bowing at the coming of the Savior. After the baby and Mary, the brightest image in the portrait is the lamb reminding the viewer that Jesus is the lamb of God called to be slain. The kneeling shepherd, in fact, wears the fleece of a slain lamb which reminds me that we are called to "put on Christ." If I had to choose one virtue illustrated by Murillo it would be humility. Our Savior coming as a tiny baby, Mary wrapping him in the humble garments she's made for him, the profoundly humble body positions of Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds Their humility teaches how we should approach the King of King and Lord of Lords - on our knees in adoration.