Happy Christmas.

 

Happy Christmas to all my readers. 

I hope that you receive all the blessings that God has in store for you 

during this blessed season of Christmas- Christmastide.

There is a lot of ponder and contemplate during the Christmas season which starts today on Christmas Day and ends liturgically on Presentation of the Lord ( February 2).  However, most churches end the Christmas season on either solemnity of Epiphany ( when the crib goes away for another year back into storage) or some continue on for another week for Baptism of Our Lord.

Like Advent, Christmastide is a relatively short season.  It can pass with a blink of an eye. 

Why not decide to review your advent goals spiritually and see if any of them need tweeking or decide on a new plan for Christmastide.  In making goals of course, they need to be achievable, so sometimes setting one goal  or perhaps two and working with those goals can be a better course of action.  What ever works for you  in your own unique circumstances is the best course of action.

So perhaps before you go to Mass today or you make some time today plan your Christmastide goals spiritually.   It is such a lovely season and it is this solemnity that we need to hold in our hearts all the year.

My heart goes out to those people in countries where Christmas is not going to be celebrated because of restrictions.  I remembered you in my prayers at Mass today.  I feel your pain.  I remember how I felt when we were in lockdown and could not attend the triduum in person.  It was so very painful spiritually.  I can feel that pain for you not being able attend  Christmas Masses or celebrate Christmas in the way you wish.  

Perhaps for those of us who can celebrate make an effort to do something for our fellow readers who cannot attend church or celebrate at this time.
Suggestions might include:  

• Attend Masses during Christmastide for them.
• Make A visit to Church and pray in front of the crib for them.
• Say a rosary each day in Christmastide.
• Compose a family prayer and say it before meals or sometime during the day with the family to remember people in other countries.  This would be especially important to help children understand that not all children will be playing with toys and having as much fun.  Creating this awareness and helping them think of other people in the world is a great lesson to teach.
• Do something that you wish to do.  

Whether we are near or far, we can always help others in some way.  We all loved to be remembered, to be though of  and be supported.  We can do something for our fellow pilgrims to let them know that God loves them and although they may not be able to celebrate as they wish, we are praying for them and thinking of them.

Personally it was a busy Christmas as I was singing at 3 Masses. It is exhausting too and physically taxing and I felt it a little more this year because my country has had extended lockdown throughout the year.  Obviously I practise regularly singing but it is not quite the same as singing regularly in church every Sunday and attending choir rehearsal weekly.
The voice stays in trim.  However I woke with my usual Christmas eve sore throat.  I was prepared as this happens to me most years.  It makes for a committed effort especially as I was singing O Holy Night as well as a solo.

Anyway,  although the congregation had to wear masks again after a short period of being free of them, it was still good to sing the carols.

May your Christmastide season be truly blessed and 

may we all grow in holiness and love of God who was born for us to save us.