Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Happy, Holy Christmas

A Happy Holy Christmas to everyone!

It's just past Midnight. We went to the vigil Mass earlier tonight. I had hopes of going to the Midnight Mass as well, with the kids tucked in bed (the younger ones, anyway). I must be getting old... it's Midnight and I'm fading fast. So it's to bed now, and getting up with the sun (or with the son, who will get up early).

The Creche is set up. The presents are out. There is a Christmas Carol record queued up (religious carols, sung by a choir!).

Good night, and Merry Christmas! Praise to God, who became Man, and came to save us.

Monday, December 17, 2007

The Pink Candle and Christmas Gifts

'Tis the season to be busy, busy, busy! I haven't posted much as I've been running around getting ready for Christmas.

The advent wreath is on the table. I love that custom. I like simple spiritual devotions: they keep the focus where it needs to be, but do not overwhelm. I'm easily overwhelmed and need to keep things very simple to stay on track.

And it's PINK WEEK! I normally am not a pink person (excuse me: It's ROSE as any priest who has to wear Pink on Gaudete Sunday will tell you!:-D). But there is something exciting about lighting that pink candle, and realizing you are more than half way to the Coming of Christ!

Thoughts on that... He's here already, of course. But despite really and truly being here, He's "hidden". He whispers in our hearts, and with our spiritual bad hearing we often misunderstand (which is one reason we have the Church). He is Truly Present in the Eucharist, yet hidden from us.

It's very like Mary, pregnant with Jesus. He was already here. But at Christmas he could be fully seen and experienced. And even though He's really here NOW, when He comes again it will be like that first Christmas... we will SEE Him, unhidden.

Rejoice!

One other note: I received in the mail a nice "Christmas Present." Maureen Wittmann's new book: For the Love of Literature. Looks to be a great reference and help to home schoolers, and reminds me, in a *simple* way, of why I began homeschooling. I need the refreshment! I'll post more on this book later. Meanwhile, get thee over to Amazon and take a look!

-edit- Amazon apparently does not have this book up yet. So get thee here instead:

www.eccehomopress.com
www.maureenwittmann.blogspot.com
www.maureenwittmann.com

Monday, December 3, 2007

Chesterton and Harry Potter

I just received my December Issue of Gilbert Magazine. This issue focuses on Fairy Tale, and contains some of the best comments on the Harry Potter series I've seen.

I've often been troubled by the distortions presented by some who oppose the Harry Potter series. The criticisms are often not based in truth, and that in itself is very troubling to me.

I've found the books have a very deep Truth in them, unlike so much that is on the bookstore shelves these days. They are not books for young children, they are simply stories that deal with good and evil and courage and virtue and flawed people striving, despite their flaws, to do and more so to BE good.

Unlike some of my fellow homeschoolers, I find great value in Fairy Tale and Fantasy. It is through myth, fairy tale, and fantasy that we can sometimes more clearly see and hear Truth. Jesus taught in parables. Why?

Because in the story, in the fiction, we can sometimes see the reality more clearly. It's so with Harry Potter.

No, I do not think the tales are Gospel. Or Holy writ. But the do reflect Christian Truths that are often not put forward in today's world. They show the value of family, of marriage and children, of virtue and love being more important than power. They are decidedly Christian in their view of the body and marriage, which is also very refreshing in today's world, which so often preaches disdain for the body, for the human person, and for the holiness of marriage and family. And I'm amazed and grateful to find such a book these days.

But I'm not amazed to find it was a modern "fairy tale" that gave us these Truths. It's in Fairy Tale so often that we find the higher truths.

I recommend getting a copy of the December Gilbert Magazine, and I recommend all the articles on Fairy Tales in general, and especially Nick Milne's article on Harry Potter (The Secret of Godric's Hollow).

Other bits I especially enjoyed in this month's Gilbert :
A page full of Chesterton Quotes on Fairy Tales
Chesterton's "The Wise Men" wonderfully illustrated
and the Chesterton essay "The Clever Man and Fairy Tales"

I'm sure I'll be editing and adding to that list as I finish the magazine.

You can find information on this publication here: Gilbert Magazine

Sunday, December 2, 2007

Traditional Latin Mass

I'm a Novus Ordo girl. The Tridentine Mass was before (most of) my time. And I was fortunate to grow up in a diocese free of Clown Masses (mostly) and excessive Post V-2 Wackiness. I love reverent Novus Ordo Mass.

I stumbled into a Traditional Latin Mass today, offered at my parish according to Benedict's 7-7-07 Motu Proprio.

I still love the Novus Ordo, celebrated with reverence. But... but... I have to say... as much as I didn't really understand much of what was going on in the Traditional Latin Mass.. other than the obvious (the Sacrifice of Calvary made present)... there was "something" about the Mass. There was a sense of awe and worship. Despite the length of the Mass, even the little kids were fairly quiet and well behaved. They could "tell" too. Something BIG was happening here.

It was indeed "awe-some"