Christmas
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Instead of attempting to free ourselves from the things of the senses, or abstracting from them, we should try to probe deeper into them; not stopping at their external appearance, which changes, but seeking what is hidden deep in their substance; their being, in a word. For God is Being. And thus we shall find
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Pianist Stephen Hough, in the Telegraph: I'm happy when I see people enjoying themselves at Christmas for no religious reason. Me, too. Thanks to a Facebook friend for this link.
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You must see and hear this: a sort of online Advent calendar (I know, it doesn't actually start on the first day of Advent) with music. I think the link will take you to day 2 now–be sure to go back and see/hear day 1. (Thanks, ex pat!)
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The once-unconventional idea that the Church placed Christmas near the winter solstice in order to substitute it for a pagan festival has long since become conventional wisdom, a way of belittling Christianity, at least, if not attacking it head-on. Well, it seems to be another bit of conventional wisdom that probably isn't true, according to
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Sunday Night Journal — December 26, 2010 When I was a child, Christmas was the most wonderful thing in the world to me. The only thing that even came close to matching its appeal was a trip to Florida, to the white sand and blue-green waters of the beaches on the Gulf of Mexico. Not
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Someone posted this on Facebook. Pretty funny.
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Weekend Christmas Music Pretty much my favorite Christmas album. And thanks to YouTube I learn that there is a DVD of them doing a Christmas show. Here's "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen," performed very much as heard on the album. I love Maddy Prior–she's so unpretentious and engaging, while singing so wonderfully. (Also,
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Sunday Night Journal — December 20, 2010 One of the more irritating ways of dismissing the major Christian holidays is to declare that they “celebrate the turning of the seasons” or something of that sort. You know: Christmas marks the winter solstice by placing light and music at the darkest time of year; Easter is
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On the Last Day of Christmas The actual last day of Christmas was, of course, a couple of days ago in the Western calendar, on December 6 (or December 5th—there seem to be different approaches to the counting). But the Feast of the Epiphany has been moved to the nearest Sunday, or however the rule
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Continuing The child wonders at the Christmas Tree: Let him continue in the spirit of wonder… So that the glittering rapture, the amazement Of the first-remembered Christmas Tree… So that the reverence and the gaiety May not be forgotten in later experience…. So that before the end, the eightieth Christmas (By “eightieth” meaning whichever is
Light On Dark Water 