The Monstrance

Our beautiful Monstrance was displayed yesterday for the first time. I used it during our school Mass and in the evening, ending our Faith Formation classes with Adoration and Benediction. I showed the children and youth up close the Monstrance, which was purchased thanks to the generosity of a few parishioners, along with two new chalices.

It has the symbols of the 4 Evangelists, as well as a symbol of the Holy, Spirit, the Lamb of Gd and the Sacred Heart. Underneath it has the Latin words, “Verbum caro factum est” - “And the word was made flesh,” a quote from the Gospel of St. John. The Monstrance will be used for perpetual adoration Monday to Friday at the historic church in downtown Bend, usually from 7:30 AM until 6 PM.

If dogs were teachers

IF  A  DOG  TAUGHT  A  CLASS, YOU  WOULD  LEARN  STUFF LIKE  . . .
“ When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
* Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joy ride.
* Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
* When it's in your best interest - practice obedience.
* Let others know when they've invaded your territory.
* Take naps and stretch before rising.
* Run, romp, and play daily.
* Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
* Avoid biting, when a simple growl will do.
* On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
* On hot days, drink lots of water and lay under a shady tree.
* When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
* No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing and pout...run right back and make friends.
* Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
* Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.  Stop when you have had enough.
* Be loyal.
* Never pretend to be something you're not.
* If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
* When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.

The other side

When I was a little boy, my mother used to embroider a great deal. I would sit at her knee and look up from the floor and ask what she was doing. She informed me that she was embroidering. From the underside I watched her work within the boundaries of the little round hoop she held in her hand. I once complained to her that it sure looked messy from where I sat.
She smiled at me, looked down and gently said, "My son, you go about your playing for a while and when I am finished with my embroidering, I will put you on my knee and let you see it from my side."
I wondered why she was using some dark threads along with the bright ones and why they seemed so jumbled from my view. A few minutes passed and then I heard Mother's voice say, "Son, come and sit on my knee." This I did only to be surprised and I thrilled to see a beautiful flower. I could not believe it because from underneath it had looked so messy.
Then my mother said to me, "My son, from underneath it did look messy and jumbled, but you did not realize that there was a set plan on the top. It was a design. I was only following it. Now look at it from my side and you will see what I was doing."

Many times through the years I have looked up to God and asked, "Father, what are You doing?" He has answered, "I am embroidering your life." I say, "But it looks like a mess to me. It seems so jumbled. The threads seem so dark. Why can't they all be bright?"
Finally the Father seems to tell me, "My child, you go about your business of doing My business, and one day I will bring you to Heaven and put you on My knee and you will see the plan from My side.”

Anagrams

An anagram, as you all know, is a word or phrase made by rearranging the letters of another word or phrase. The following are exceptionally clever. Someone out there either has way too much time to waste or is deadly at Scrabble.
 
Word                                      When you rearrange the letters

Dormitory                             Dirty Room
Desperation                          A Rope Ends It
The Morse Code                   Here come Dots
Slot Machines                       Cash Lost in 'em
Animosity                              Is No Amity
Mother-in-law                      Woman Hitler
Snooze Alarms                      Alas! No More Z's
Alec Guinness                       Genuine Class
Semolina                                Is No Meal
The Public Art Galleries      Large Picture Halls, I Bet
A Decimal Point                    I'm a Dot in Place
The Earthquakes                  That Queer Shake
Eleven plus two                     Twelve plus one
Contradiction                         Accord not in it
Astronomer                            Moon Starer

Epiphany traditions

Today the three Kings or Magi arrive in Bethlehem and present Jesus with their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. There are two traditions held on this day, both of which come to us from the Eastern European tradition. The first is when families write the names of the Three Kings on doorways of their homes as the head of the house goes around the house saying prayers and chanting various hymns. 

Chalk blessed by the priest on the feast of the Epiphany is given to the faithful to mark their entrance door with the current year and with the inscription C+M+B, the initials of Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar, the traditional names of the Magi. The entire phrase would read    20 + C + M + B + 14. In addition to remembering the Magi, the inscription means the Latin phrase Christus Mansionem Benedicat, which means “Christ, bless this home.”

The cross is retrieved from the bottom of the sea

The second tradition is repeated in Greece and Greek communities around the world every January 6 or the feast of the Epiphany when dozens of teenage boys or young men jump into the murky, chilly and sometimes frozen water and dive for a wooden cross tossed in by a priest. The one lucky enough to surface with it earns instant celebrity status, a ride through the streets on the shoulders of his peers and – the Greek-American boys believe – the favor of God in the coming year.

Remembering my father

My father John as a policeman, 1955

It was 12 years ago today that my father left us suddenly - yet his spirit remains in my life and in the life of my siblings and nephews. His example of dedication to his family, his commitment to his faith and everything religious, his hard-working ethic and his devotion to his duty as a policeman and as father, have always been the norm by which I measure my own life. I remember him writing to me one day in New York and telling me that the best thing that ever happened to him was meeting my mother, who became his wife for 54 years.

A family photo from 1963

In this post I share some photos which I never shared before, showing my father and family over the years. May he rest in peace, as he is united with my mother and my brother Paul in their new heavenly home.

In 1983 by the Big Ben in London, en route to New York

July 24, 1998 - their 50th wedding anniversary

In 2001 with my mother and nephews Peter and Julian

A Prayer for Children

We pray for children who give us sticky kisses,
who hop on rocks and chase butterflies,
who stomp in puddles and ruin their math workbooks,  who can never find their shoes.
And we pray for those who stare at photographs from behind barbed wire,
who never squeaked across the floor in new sneakers,
who've never "counted potatoes", who are born in places we wouldn't be caught dead,
who never go to the circus, who live in an X-rated world

We pray for children who bring us fistfuls of dandelions and sing off key,
who have goldfish funerals, build card table forts, who slurp their cereal on purpose,
who put gum in their hair, put sugar in their milk, who spit toothpaste all over the sink,
who hug us for no reason, who bless us each night.
And we pray for those who never get dessert,
who watch their parents watch them die, who have no safe blanket to drag behind,
who can’t find any bread to steal, who don’t have any rooms to clean up,
whose pictures aren’t on anybody's dresser, whose monsters are real.

We pray for those who spend all their allowance before Tuesday,
who throw tantrums in the grocery store and pick at their food,
who like ghost stories, who shove dirty clothes under the bed and never rinse out the tub,
who get quarters from the tooth fairy, who don't like to be kissed in front of their friends,
who squirm in church and scream when you're on the phone,
whose tears we sometimes laugh at and whose smiles can make us cry.
And we pray for those whose nightmares come in the daytime,
who will eat anything, who have never seen a dentist,
who aren't spoiled by anybody, who go to bed hungry and cry themselves to sleep,
who live and move, but have no being.
We pray for children who want to be carried, and for those who must.
For those we never give up on, and for those who don't have a chance.
For those we smother, and for those who will grab the hand of anybody kind enough to offer.

Something to think about.....

Somebody has well said that there are only two kinds of people in the world. There are those who wake up in the morning and say, "Good morning, Lord," and there are those who wake up in the morning and say, "Good Lord, it's morning."

A father was approached by his small son, who told him proudly, "I know what the Bible means!"  His father smiled and replied, "What do you mean, you 'know' what the Bible means?" The son replied, "I do know!"
"Okay," said his father. "So, Son, what does the Bible mean?"
“That's easy, Daddy. It stands for Basic Information Before Leaving Earth.”

A little boy was attending his first wedding. After the service, his cousin asked him, "How many women can a man marry?"
"Sixteen," the boy responded. His cousin was amazed that he had an answer so quickly. "How do you know that?" "Easy," the little boy said. "All you have to do is add it up, like the Priest said: 4 better, 4 worse, 4 richer, 4 poorer."

People want the front of the bus, the back of the church and the center of attention.

A New Year - new beginnings

Though even thinking on the subject of time may prove discomforting, it is not a bad idea - especially at the beginning of a new year. As we look into “year” we look at a block of time. We see 12 months, 52 weeks, 365 days, 8,760 hours, 525,600 minutes, 31,536,000 seconds. And all of it is a gift from God. We have done nothing to deserve it, earn it, or purchase it. Like the air we breathe, time comes to us as a part of life. The gift of time is not ours alone. It is given equally to each person. Rich and poor, educated and ignorant, strong and weak—every man, woman and child has the same twenty-four hours every day.
Another important thing about time is that you cannot stop it. There is no way to slow it down, turn it off, or adjust it. Time marches on. And you cannot bring back time. Once it is gone, it is gone. Yesterday is lost forever. If yesterday is lost, tomorrow is uncertain. We may look ahead at a full year’s block of time, but we really have no guarantee that we will experience any of it. Obviously, time is one of our most precious possessions. We can waste it. We can worry over it. We can spend it on ourselves. Or, as good stewards, we can invest it in the kingdom of God. The New Year is full of time. As the seconds tick away, will you be tossing time out the window, or will you make every minute count? Make this simple resolution this year - make every minute count!
I wish all visitors to this blog a healthy, peace-filled, joyous and harmonious New Year!
 

Blessings in 2013

Saying goodbye to the Baker City Cathedral

This is a time for reflection as well as celebration. As you look back on the past year and all that has taken place in your life, remember each experience for the good that has come of it and for the knowledge you have gained. Remember the efforts you have made and the goals you have reached. Remember the love you have shared and the happiness you have brought. Remember the laughter, the joy, the hard work, and the tears. And as you reflect on the past year, also be thinking of the new one to come. Because most importantly, this is a time of new beginnings and the celebration of life.

A new Pope brings new hope to the entire world

It is a time for me personally to thank God and my bishop for trusting me with the leadership of the parish of St Francis of Assisi in Bend. It is time for me and my family to thank God for the graduation as a doctor of my nephew Julian and his mother Maria as a BA in Art History. It is time to honor two living Popes, Benedict XVI and Francis, as we welcome a new Shepherd, the first from Latin America. It is time to look back through so many photos I took over this past year, and continue to appreciate nature and wildlife in all its spectacular beauty. It is time to remember the many friends I left at Baker City, and the many new families and friends I met here in Bend. There are many others whom I’ll meet in the future, presently unknown to me - they are not strangers, but only friends I’ve not yet met. Finally I thank God for the blessings of my priesthood, through which I can share my love of the church, my love of the faith and my love for the people entrusted to my care. Happy New Year!

Love and beyond

Brenda Schmitz in a 2010 photo

Here's a warm-hearted story to end this year. This touching story of love was revealed recently from France. A young mother of 4 children, Brenda Schmitz, died of cancer in September 2011. One month before her death, she wrote a letter and sent it to a local radio station in Des Moines, France. The letter was to be kept a secret until a friend of the radio station learned that the woman’s husband, David fell in love with another woman.
David recently got engaged and the station Star 102.5 invited him to visit them so that they can reveal the secret letter. Brenda had written: “In these last few days of my life, I wish that my husband remains courageous. He was a good man and husband, and I know that my loss is going to be tough on him. He will have to take some very important decisions for his children and his future life. I also hope that he will eventually find a woman who loves him dearly and who will help him raise the children well.”
In the letter Brenda also thanked the woman who will marry David, and assured her that she loves her unconditionally. She also insisted that after her death a great party should be organized for her doctors, nurses and care givers. And she also insisted that her family goes on an outrageous vacation. An emotional David said simply that this letter did not surprise him one bit, because over the last 2 years since she died, she was always present in his life, in spite of her physical absence. A truly touching story of love and unselfishness, of loyalty and dedication.

A human Holy Family

"Holy Family" by Le Nain brothers

Today the church celebrates the feast of the Holy Family. Many of the pictures shown of the Holy Family of Nazareth depict them as the perfect couple with Jesus well behaved and obedient, usually playing with a bird, holding a pomegranate, or with John the Baptist. They still had their share of problems and issues to deal with, all through their lives. To start they had to escape into Egypt for 2 years because Herod was trying to kill baby Jesus. Once they settled in Nazareth, Mary and Joseph raised their son in a very simple environment. As a baby, Jesus had to be diaper-changed, he had to be nursed, toilet-trained eventually, learn how to walk, how to talk, and many other things that babies do as they grow and mature. 

"The Holy Family" by Esteban Murillo

This way we can very easily connect with the Holy Family of Nazareth, because they were very much like every American family raising toddlers. They had their hands full, and we don’t even know what tricks Jesus played on his parents. Because whether you’re in Bend, Oregon, Beverly Hills California, Buckingham Palace in London, or Nazareth in the Holy Land, boys will be boys!

Holy Innocents

William Holman Hunt  - "The Triumph of the Innocents"

As we commemorate one of the most heinous crimes in history today, we remember the countless innocent children killed by Herod, in his attempt to destroy Jesus. The Holy Innocents were given a martyr’s crown in the early days after the Savior’s birth. Knowing how precious they are to God and to everyone, we call on them to join in our prayer for an end to abortion and all forms of violence against children:
 - That the President of the United States, all other elected officials and judges may come to acknowledge the humanity of every child in the womb and to enact laws and policies to defend them.
 - That everyone throughout the world may be given the light to see beyond all doubt the full humanity and unique value of every child who has ever been conceived.
 - That all innocent children who suffer the scourges of war, the wrath of abuse, and the pain of neglect may come to know the power of God’s prevailing love and healing mercy.

The above painting by William Holman Hunt shows the Holy Family saving as many children as they could, taking them with them to Egypt, along with baby Jesus.

Also I remember today the beautiful memorial we erected besides the Cathedral in Baker City, in honor of our precious children, born and unborn. Who knows how many people pause as they walk by this Children’s Memorial and say a prayer. May each prayer said save a baby and help a distraught mother give birth to a her precious child.

The 4 Evangelists

Today being the feats of Saint John, the Evangelist and Apostle, I thought it would be a good idea to share with you the meaning of the symbols connected to each of the 4 Evangelists.
In iconography, the evangelists often are represented by 4 symbols, which originate from the four "living creatures" that appears in the vision in the Book of Ezekiel (Chapter 1) reflected in the Book of Revelation (4.6-9ff), though neither source links the creatures to the Evangelists. They are normally, but not invariably, all shown with wings like angels. One might note that these animals may have originally have been seen as representing the highest forms of the various types of animals, i.e., man, the king of creation as the image of the Creator; the lion as the king of beasts of prey (meat eating); the ox as the king of domesticated animals (grass eating) and the eagle as the king of the birds.

Matthew the Evangelist, the author of the first gospel account is symbolized by a winged man, or angel. Matthew's gospel starts with Jesus' genealogy from Abraham; it represents Jesus' Incarnation, and so Christ's human nature. This signifies that Christians should use their reason for salvation.
Mark the Evangelist, the author of the second gospel account is symbolized by a winged lion – a figure of courage and monarchy. Mark has John the Baptist preaching "like a lion roaring" at the beginning of his Gospel. It also represents Jesus' Resurrection (because lions were believed to sleep with open eyes, a comparison with Christ in the tomb), and Christ as king. This signifies that Christians should be courageous on the path of salvation.

Luke the Evangelist, the author of the third gospel account (and the Acts of the Apostles) is symbolized by a winged ox or bull – a figure of sacrifice, service and strength. Luke's account begins with the duties of Zacharias in the temple; it represents Jesus' sacrifice in His Passion and Crucifixion, as well as Christ being High priest (this also represents Mary's obedience). The ox signifies that Christians should be prepared to sacrifice themselves in following Christ.
John the Evangelist, the author of the fourth gospel account is symbolized by an eagle – a figure of the sky, and believed to be able to look straight into the sun. John starts with an eternal overview of Jesus the Logos (Word) and goes on to describe many things with a "higher" level than the other three (synoptic) gospels; it represents Jesus' Ascension, and Christ's divine nature. This represents that Christians should look on eternity without flinching as they journey towards their goal of union with God.

When surrounding Christ, the figure of the man is usually at top left – above Christ's right hand, with the lion above Christ's left arm. Underneath the man is the ox and underneath the lion is the eagle. This both reflects the medieval idea of the order of "nobility" of nature of the beasts (man, lion, ox, eagle) and the text of Ezekiel 1.10.

Historic church in Bend

After showing you what the new church of St Francis in Bend looks like, I share with you just two photos of the historic church, built in 1920, dressed up for Christmas. The red poinsettias dominate the reredos behind the main altar, while the nativity is placed in front of the altar, shadowed with white poinsettias. 

 We celebrate an afternoon Mass here every Sunday, which is always very crowded, while we celebrate weekday Masses here at 7 AM and 12:15 PM. Moreover the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is held here Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM till 6 PM, with Benediction given at 12 noon. Soon I will show you the new Monstrance which we just bought, through the generosity of the parishioners. We will start using it sometime in early January.

From my home to your home

The sanctuary at St Francis of Assisi church, Bend

From my new parish, St Francis of Assisi in Bend, Oregon, I wish you all a most Blessed Christmas. I offer all my Masses for your intentions as I remember you all in my prayers and thoughts. And for all my friends, far and wide, I share greetings in different languages

Arabic: Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah
Argentine: Feliz Navidad
Armenian: Shenoraavor Nor Dari yev Pari Gaghand
Basque: Zorionak eta Urte Berri On
Croatian: Sretan Bozic
Danish: Glædelig Jul
Dutch: Zalig Kerstfeast
English: Merry Christmas
Esperanto: Gajan Kristnaskon
Finnish: Hyvaa joulua
French: Joyeux Noel
Gaelic: Nollaig chridheil agus Bliadhna mhath ùr
German: Froehliche Weihnachten
Hawaiian: Mele Kalikimaka
Hindi: Christmas Mubarak Ho
Hungarian: Kellemes Karacsonyi unnepeket
Icelandic: Gledileg Jol
Indonesian: Selamat Hari Natal

Iraqi: Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah
Irish: Nollaig Shona Dhuit
Italian: Buon Natale
Japanese: Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto
Latin: Descendit de coelis Salvator mundi. Gaudeamus
Lithuanian: Linksmu Kaledu
Maltese: Il-Milied it-Tajjeb u s-Sena l-Gdida mimlija risq u hena
Norwegian: Gledelig Jul 
Peru: Feliz Navidad y un Venturoso Año Nuevo
Philipines: Maligayan Pasko at Manibagong Bagong Taon
Polish: Wesotych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia
Portuguese: Feliz Natal
Rumanian: Sarbatori vesele
Russian: Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva is Novim Godom
Slovakian: Vesele vanoce
Spanish: Feliz Navidad
Swahili: Heri kwa noeli na baraka nyingi kwa mwaka mpya
Thai: Sawadee Pee Mai
Turkish: Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun
Vietnamese: Chung Mung Giang Sinh
Welsh: Nadolig Llawen

Christmas in Bend

St Francis of Assisi new church in Bend

Wishing all visitors to this blog a very Blessed Christmas and a Healthy and Peace-filled New Year, I share with you today a few images from my new home in Bend, two of them from my church, the other from the neighborhood.

Nativity set up at the entrance of St Francis Parish Center

Christmas Nativity in the neighborhood of the historic church

It will be a busy 2 days for me, but happy to share the message of Christmas with my new parishioners and many friends I've not yet met. This is the 700th post on this blog, with close to 80,000 visitors and celebrating my second year on January 5, 2014. All the best.

Christmas past

Neapolitan images of Mary and Joseph at Rocky Point, NY

I share with you today some photos of Christmas past, specifically photos I used on my Christmas cards over the years. The first one is a classic one I took at St Anthony of Padua Church in Rocky Point, when I placed the figures of Mary and Joseph in the foreground with the crucified Christ out-of-focus in the background in the middle. It speaks about the present and the future, the Newborn Christ and the Crucified Christ, a foreshadowing of what is to come out of his life, after spending 30 years at home and 3 years in a demanding public ministry.

Baby Jesus with angels at home in St Julian's, Malta

The second one is from my home in Malta, the baby Jesus my father and mother prepared every year, as well as two angels next to the infant, all nestled under a blue canopy my mother had crafted years ago. 

My parents with their Christmas masterpiece

This was a tradition my parents always looked forward to, and it was the last thing my father did when he had just finished packing the figures of Jesus and the Angels, and he passed away that same evening.

Christmas from St Joseph's Abbey, Spencer, Massachusetts

The third one comes from my time at Spencer in Massachusetts at St Joseph's Abbey, after placing a beautiful ornate plate of the Madonna with the red and orange maple trees in the background, and even though it's not snow, but it reminds me of the spectacular foliage they have in the northeast, and a peaceful setting which connects the fall with winter, and Thanksgiving with Christmas in a way.

Why December 25 ?

Christmas had also been celebrated by the early Church on January 6th, when they also celebrated the Epiphany (which means the revelation that Jesus was God's son) and the Baptism of Jesus. Now the Epiphany mainly celebrates the visit of the Wise Men to the baby Jesus, but back then it celebrated both things! Jesus' Baptism was originally seen as more important than his birth, as this was when he started his ministry. But soon people wanted a separate day to celebrate his birth.
Most of the world uses the 'Gregorian Calendar' implemented by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582. Before that the 'Roman' or Julian Calendar was used (named after Julius Caesar). The Gregorian calendar is more accurate that the Roman calendar which had too many days in a year! When the switch was made 10 days were lost, so that the day that followed the 4th October 1582 was 15th October 1582. In the UK the change of calendars was made in 1752. The day after 2nd September 1752 was 14th September 1752.
Many Orthodox and Coptic Churches still use the Julian Calendar and so celebrate Christmas on the 7th January (which is when December 25th would have been on the Julian calendar). And the Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates it on the 6th January! In some part of the UK, January 6th is still called 'Old Christmas' as this would have been the day that Christmas would have celebrated on, if the calendar hadn't been changed. Some people didn't want to use the new calendar as they thought it 'cheated' them out of 11 days!
Christians believe that Jesus is the light of the world, so the early Christians thought that this was the right time to celebrate the birth of Jesus. They also took over some of the customs from the Winter Solstice and gave them Christian meanings, like Holly, Mistletoe and even Christmas Carols!
St Augustine was the person who really started Christmas in the UK by introducing Christianity in the 6th century. He came from countries that used the Roman Calendar, so western countries celebrate Christmas on the 25th December. Then people from Britain and Western Europe took Christmas on the 25th December all over the world!

Mary's Virtues

Mary as played by one of the St Francis School children

The focus of the Nativity these last few days turns to Mary, as she prepares to give birth to Jesus. We learn from her many virtues, but three in particular come to my mind.
Trust - we learn from her to trust more, as she trusted the Word of God coming through the Angel Gabriel, inviting her to be the Mother of our Savior. We learn to trust those around us, who are there to help us, inspire us, shelter us and protect us from trouble.
Tranquility - we learn to take life peacefully and experience a tranquil approach to whatever life has in store for us. It was on a tranquil night that Mary gave birth in a poor stable in Bethlehem, and may we feel the same tranquility when we bring Jesus again into our hearts and homes this Christmas. We learn not to panic when things get a little overwhelming at times - Mary had a lot to handle with so much unpredictability, but believed in God and was tranquil and peace-filled all along.

Mary played by another of our school children.

Tolerance - we learn also from Mary the gift of tolerance, as she tolerated the Angel who surprised her with his appearance in her humble home of Nazareth. She even tolerated St Joseph in accepting him in her home as her husband, even though she had no relations with him, and he was not the natural father of Jesus. Mary also tolerated God's mysterious intervention in her life. May we also tolerate those whom we cannot stand for some reason or another, and be patient with difficult people.
May Mary continue to be an inspiration for all of us throughout the New Year.

Christmas Trees

A Christmas Tree farm in Oregon

There are approximately 35 million Real Christmas Trees sold in North America every year. Approximately 330,000 Real Christmas Trees are sold via e-commerce or catalog and shipped mail-order. North-American Real Christmas Trees are grown in all 50 states and Canada. Most artificial trees are manufactured in Korea, Taiwan, or Hong Kong. Real Trees are a renewable, recyclable resource. Artificial trees contain non-biodegradable plastics and metals. For every Real Christmas Tree harvested, 2 to 3 seedlings are planted in its place the following spring. In the Spring of 2000, over 70 million Real Christmas Tree seedlings were planted. There are about 1 million acres in production for growing Christmas Trees. Each acre provides the daily oxygen requirements of 18 people. There are about 15,000 Christmas Tree growers in North America, and over 100,000 people employed full or part-time in the industry. There are approximately 5,000 choose & harvest farms in the U.S. It can take as many as 15 years to grow a tree of average retail sale height (6 feet), but the average growing time is 7 years. The top Christmas Tree producing states are Oregon, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Washington and Wisconsin. The top selling Christmas Trees are: Balsam fir, Douglas-fir, Fraser fir, noble fir, Scotch pine, Virginia pine, and white pine.

Candy Cane

The predecessor of our modern candy cane appeared at about in the seventeenth century. These were straight, white sticks of sugar candy. Part of the Christmas celebration at the Cologne Cathedral were pageants of living nativities. In about 1670 the choirmaster there had sticks of candy bent into the shape of a shepherd’s crook and passed them out to children who attended the ceremonies. This became a popular tradition, and eventually the practice of passing out the sugar canes at living nativities ceremonies spread throughout Europe.
The use of candy canes on Christmas trees made its way to America by the 1800’s, however during this time they were still pure white. They are represented this way on Christmas cards made before 1900, and it is not until the early 20th century that they appear with their familiar red stripes. A Candymaker in Indiana developed a variation of the candy cane and wanted to make a candy that would be a Christian witness, so he made the Christmas Candy Cane. He incorporated several symbols for the birth, ministry, and death of Jesus Christ.
He began with a stick of pure white, hard candy. White to symbolize the Virgin Birth and the sinless nature of Jesus, and hard to symbolize the Solid Rock, the foundation of the Church, and firmness of the promises of God. 

The Candymaker made the candy in the form of a "J" to represent the precious name of Jesus, who came to earth as our Savior. It could also represent the staff of the "Good Shepherd" with which He reaches down into the ditches of the world to lift out the fallen lambs who, like all sheep, have gone astray.
Thinking that the candy was somewhat plain, the Candymaker stained it with red stripes. He used three small stripes to show the stripes of the scourging Jesus received by which we are healed. The large red stripe was for the blood shed by Christ on the cross so that we could have the promise of eternal life. The peppermint flavor of modern candy canes is said to be similar to hyssop. In Old Testament times, hyssop was associated with purification and sacrifice.
Unfortunately, the candy became known as a Candy Cane - a simple decoration seen at Christmas time. But the meaning is still there for those who "have eyes to see and ears to hear." I pray that this symbol will again be used to witness to the Wonder of Jesus and His Great love that came down at Christmas and remains the ultimate and dominate force in the universe today.

Exchanging presents

Here is the story that can be used for the present exchange during your Christmas gatherings. You sit everyone in a circle and pass the presents whenever a direction is given. It’s basically moving the present to the right or to the  left, although occasionally you are asked to pass them across.....have fun!

Once upon a time there was a little boy named Tommy WRIGHT. He lived with his mother, Mrs. WRIGHT and his father Dr. WRIGHT and his sister Sara WRIGHT. He had four shiny quarters LEFT from some birthday money that Grandma WRIGHT had sent him besides the $8.12 LEFT in his piggy bank. Now it was time to buy the RIGHT present for each
member of the WRIGHT family. So one morning he hopped RIGHT out of bed, RIGHT into his slippers that were RIGHT next to his bed and quietly LEFT home. He went carefully ACROSS the street to the big store on the LEFT side of Main Street. The store was decorated with lights and Christmas ornaments.
Tommy WRIGHT thought and thought about Christmas presents and he looked at all the things for sale. "Let's see," said Tommy, "I know, I'll get Mother WRIGHT some warm gloves. Here is the RIGHT one but where is the LEFT one? Oh! Here it is, RIGHT under the RIGHT one. I sure hope they are the RIGHT color. They cost $3.06 so I have $6.06 LEFT to spend.
Now for Daddy WRIGHT. Would he like a truck or maybe a ball or a LEFT handed catcher's mitt? I know, I'll get him a football so we can play catch RIGHT in your own back yard when he comes home from work. Let's see, I had $6.06 LEFT and the football is $5.06 so now I have $1.00 LEFT for Sara's present. Here is what she wants. A pretty new purse and I think I have just enough money LEFT to buy it. Tommy WRIGHT clutched his presents happily and went running ACROSS the aisle up to the lady at the counter and gave her all the money from his RIGHT pocket. "Is that RIGHT?", he asked as he gave her his money. "It will be $1.05 with tax," she said," she said. "Oh no," said Tommy WRIGHT. "I forgot about tax." Tommy WRIGHT started crying. Tears streaked RIGHT and LEFT down his little face. RIGHT then the door bursts open and in came Santa Claus who had LEFT the North Pole and had come RIGHT to Tommy WRIGHT's town to take orders from children for Christmas. "Ho, Ho, Ho," said Santa. "We can't have Santa's helpers sad like this. Let's see now, I bet I have five pennies RIGHT here in my LEFT pocket.” Santa Claus checked his LEFT pocket and found nothing. "Oh, no," said Santa. "I must have put them into my RIGHT pocket instead of my LEFT. Here they are RIGHT here in my RIGHT pocket, Tommy. Ho! Ho! Ho! and a Merry Christmas to all the WRIGHT's from Santa Claus and his helpers."

 

Tommy WRIGHT LEFT the story, ran back ACROSS the street and all the way home to tell his sister Sara WRIGHT that he had seen and talked to Santa. He was so happy that he wrapped his presents RIGHT away and LEFT them under the Christmas tree. Mr and Mrs WRIGHT and Sara WRIGHT were thrilled with their presents. Tommy WRIGHT felt really happy even though he had no money LEFT. Christmas morning for the WRIGHT family was joyful and after opening the presents, they all LEFT for church, which right ACROSS from their house.
"I hope your Christmas will be wonderful and full of the Love we all feel for one another.  Merry Christmas”, Santa said as he LEFT RIGHT away, with more gifts to deliver.

White

I share with you two items entitled simply WHITE - you'll know why after you read them.....

Hanging a white stocking for Jesus

THE WHITE STOCKING
It wasn't that anyone had really been forgotten, no children had been slighted or made unhappy and no adult had been left unremembered. The presents had all been distributed and all the stockings were beautifully filled, all that is except one; it was the stocking intended for the child of Bethlehem. Of all the people belonging at that Christmas gathering, only he had been forgotten. Only he had been left out of the festivities. This didn't seem quite right, inasmuch as it was His birthday that was being celebrated.
Make sure that this year, the little white stocking will be hung in a special place in your home. On Christmas Eve, make sure to gather the family together and each member will write on a piece of paper, a gift for Jesus to be placed in the stocking.
It will remain in the stocking until next year's Christmas Eve, when everyone will reach into the stocking, and then pass out the papers from the year before.
We hope that you will enjoy beginning this holiday tradition in your home. Your gift could include: personal goals you wish to achieve, family goals, ways you will be of service to others in the coming year, faults you want to eliminate from your life, or relationships you wish to improve.

Pope Francis, born December 17, 1936

                  Happy Birthday Pope Francis, He turns 77 today. 

Born in Argentina as Jorge Bergoglio. Ordained a priest on December 13, 1969. Consecrated Bishop June 27, 1992. Created as Cardinal February 21, 2001. Elected Pope on March 13, 2013. Ad Multos Annos. Just recently was chosen as the Time Magazine "Man of the Year."

A Living Nativity

The Holy Family at the Lija LIVE Nativity

A few neighborhoods in various towns and villages in my homeland of Malta re-create the town of Bethlehem for a few weekends before Christmas. I witnessed this 3 years ago when I saw one particular street in the town of Lija where all the neighbors participated in creating a true rustic environment with sheep and lambs strolling down the street, children working in a bakery, households and families hanging around in their homes, and of course the Holy Family surrounded with a cow, a donkey and a few more sheep. Many visitors and tourists stroll around as if they were walking through the town of Bethlehem 2000 years ago.

Children herding sheep in Lija/Bethlehem

Children running a bakery in the LIVE Nativity