Christmas is conspicuously the only time of year when the word “merry” receives heavy use. The greeting “Merry Christmas” dates back to at least 1565, in which year the author of the Hereford Municipal Manuscript wrote “And thus I comytt you to god, who send you a mery . . . . Continue Reading »
R.R. Reno on the Christmas conspiracy : God does not call out sin and death to meet them on a grand battlefield. He undertakes a covert action, as it were, entering into human history by stealth as the child of a humble young woman who gives birth in a stable. Undercover, the lord of all foments a . . . . Continue Reading »
Reagan started his political life trying to win over the other party’s voters alongside mobilizing his own party’s base. In this forum, Henry Olsen talks about the difference between “reaching out” and “inclusion.” Olsen says: I think reaching out says . . . . Continue Reading »
So our friends the Brothers Judd added to their excerpt of my post below the YouTube link to the Blind Boys of Alabama singing “Go Tell It on the Mountain.” It deserves to be, of course, the authoritative traditional version. Here’s my first musical link, my Christmas gift to each . . . . Continue Reading »
Every year, it seems, Christmas becomes more commercialized. In NYC this year, we started seeing Christmas decorations in stores in October. In October . Christmas is starting to lap Halloween. I was thinking about this when I read that the Catholic Church in Italy is working to repeal that . . . . Continue Reading »
Two versions of the American Christmas . . . . Continue Reading »
Were Joseph and Mary married? The Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, and some Protestants teach that Mary remained “ever virgin.” Some, though, claim that a marriage has to be consummated to constitute a real marriage. Is this true? And what is the Church’s position on such marriages . . . . Continue Reading »
The New York Times has a nice review of Beggar’s Feast , the second novel by Randy Boyagoda, frequent contributor to these pages and author of a forthcoming biography of Richard John Neuhaus: Boyagoda is a Canadian academic of Sri Lankan descent, and “Beggar’s . . . . Continue Reading »
Earlier this month I fell ill with the horrible flu that is going around and lying abed in misery decided not to pay too much attention to the news for sanity’s sake. Of course, the space between not too much and no attention leaves plenty of room for discouragement and distress. . . . . Continue Reading »
Among the great joys that will occupy our minds with family and friends celebrating the coming of the God-child, we will all bear significant sadness in our hearts for the families agonizing over the loss young children at Sandy Hook. Curiously, The Christmas season reminds us that such things . . . . Continue Reading »
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