On The Christmas Season

The following are Traditional Church Holy Days:

In The Traditional Catholic Calendar, Epiphany is STILL on January 6th. In Hispanic Areas, it’s the Big Gift Giving Day, in honor of The Magi or Three Wise Men, giving The Christ the Gifts of Gold, Frankincense & Myrrh;

To those of the Eastern Orthodox Churches, a Blessed Christmas to You!

The Pez Report

A Happy Christmas Begins With Magnificent Liturgy

At the 5:15PM Holy Sacrifice of The Mass at St Agnes, East 43rd Street between Lexington and 3rd Avenues in Midtown Manhattan, one could anticipate The Coming Of The Child Jesus at his 2009th Birthday Celebration:
The Opening Prayer was chanted by Mr Andrew Mills, The Music Director, in English;
The Kyrie was sung in Greek;
The Agnus Dei was sung in Latin;
The Communion Antiphon was chanted in Latin;
The Gloria was recited for the 1st Time, as we are now in Christmastide;
Appropriate Christmas Hymns, namely the Standards were sung;
The Beginning of The Holy Gospel According To St. Matthew, gave The Geneology Of Christ, as he does come from The Line of King David;
As the Main Celebrant of The Mass explained in his Homily, This Beginning is preached as we Christians through Baptism are included with The Christ in His Line;
For Catholic Liturgy to be effective, It being The Central Offering of The Life Of Catholics, I feel that The Worshippers should be exposed to The Classical Hymns of The Church, all of The Year. The Tabernacle should be at The Centre and NOT off to the side, Hidden away, replaced by a "Presider's Chair", although The Priest as "Alter Christus" is central to The Liturgical Function. As Latin, & before it, Greek, are the Liturgical Languages and Latin being The Official Language Of The Church, The Parishioners should experience part of The Liturgy in Latin, such as the singing of The Agnus Dei in Latin;
Now, in The Ordinary Rite Of The Mass, with The Traditional Latin Mass being known as the Extraordinary Rite, there are places where misguided experimentation has led to indifference by Parishioners. Guitar Masses are used to bring in the young people, though I beg to differ, as I have found Gregorian Chant attracts more young people, as Beautiful Liturgy explains Catholicism more than "Michael Row The Boat Ashore", a "Hymn" which came with the Ill-Fated "Folk" Masses. Coupled with "Teaching" of The Faith in Catholic Sponsored Schools, where 8th Graders cannot explain WHAT a Sacrament IS, it does lead to indifference;
Something which I have noticed at East 43rd Street, is that while people queue up for Communion, many are now kneeling at the Altar Rail to receive The Eucharist. I feel that more kneeling and less queueing is needed, as to be more Fully-Catholic, in practice and experience;
As The Christ Is ETERNAL, let's not just remember Him at This Time & Easter but All Time. Great Catholic Liturgy, coupled with Effective Teaching will do it;

Happy Christmastide;

The Pez Report by Mychal

Today, According To The Current Church Calendar, Is The Epiphany Of The Lord

The Magi, or 3 Astrologers, or 3 Wise Men, followed a Star, to find The Child, Jesus:

Their Discovery for themselves was not to go back to King Herod, after paying homage to the Christ Child, by presenting Him with Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh;

Herod was jealous of The Christ, thus The Magi went back to their country by another route, in order to avoid giving Herod, directions where The Christ Child might be. The Magi were given their sign to avoid Herod, in a dream;

In The Traditional Calendar, January 6th is Feast Of The Epiphany. It is heavily celebrated in the Latino Community, as 3 Kings Day and when gifts are exchanged;

Feliz Navidad, y Feliz Nuevo Ano;

Tarde!(Later)

Christmas Eve Programming

Eric Cartman is ONE SICK DUDE. He read a Deranged Little Story, directed towards his Hatred of Jews, with his friend Kyle Myslansky, dying of AIDS:

WHAT TF is so funny about ABORTION? ABSOFRIGGINLUTELY NOTHING!

Going to Canada to retrieve Ike, the Adopted Brother of Kyle was funny as a "Wizard Of Oz" Spoof, with the Wizard being the New Canadian Prime Minister, who was not Stephen Harper, but Saddam Hussein, who was captured by Canadians and put on Display in The Christmas Parade;

Now for BBC America-The BBC has no commercials on its' 3 Networks in The United Kingdom, but its' Cable Service in North America, does. Having viewed BBC 1 and BBC 2, Northern Ireland and Wales, while in Ireland in 1990, I know what I'm talking about. "Keeping Up Appearances" keeps in line with English Humor in their TV Shows. Let's just say their humor is Silly and I love it;

On EWTN, Totally Intact and Live, was The Christmas Midnight Mass, live from St Peter's Basilica in Rome, with The Celebrant, His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI;

On that Live Feed from Rome, the Satellite Uplink and Downlink, is paid for by The Knights Of Columbus . It's nice to be part of That Order for these past 30 Years;

Happy Christmas, All;

Gloria In Excelcis Deo!

The Christmas Season-It's Not Just December 25th

In fact, December 25th is The 1st Day. In The British Commonwealth, there's St Stephen's Day, in honor of The 1st Christian Martyr, then December 27th, St John The Baptist Day. On The 28th, will be Feast Of The Holy Family. On December 31st, St Sylvester I, Pope at the Time of Constantine, is that Feast. January 1st is Solemnity Of Mary, Mother Of God(Feast Of The Circumcision in The Old Calendar). In The New Calendar, January 4th Is Epiphany, and in The Old Calendar(Traditional)Epiphany is January 6th. On Sunday, January 11th, is Baptism Of Our Lord:

So, you have Time To Celebrate Christmas;

Gloria In Excelcis Deo!

All Together Now-Merry Christmas-Happy Chanukkah

Never Mind "Happy Holidays", as that is so Nonsectarian. You can say "Happy Holidays" at Anytime of The Year. A Rabbi named Jacob Maza once said to call each Holiday by its' name. So Greet People, Appropriately and Accordingly:

Rabbi Jacob Maza is The Comedian, Mr Jackie Mason, so a Happy Chanukkah to The Jewish People. To all Christians, Merry Christmas;

L'Chaim;

Gloria In Excelcis Deo;

Later!

A Little Child Looking For Love-A Christmas Message From Rome

The Christ spent Infinite Years with His Father in Heaven. The Angels all knew Him, but when He came to Earth as a Baby, The Angels took Greater Note Of His Majestic Being That He would come to this world for the Redemption of Humanity, as All of Heaven Rejoiced at His Birth:

This was part of The Message, explained in a Homily, by His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, given at The Midnight Mass at St Peter's Basilica;

Gloria In Excelcis Deo;

Happy Christmas!

A Christmas Miracle In War

This was part of a Homily, delivered so-eloquently by my Pastor, The Reverend Father William Hoppe, @ the 11:00AM High Mass, @ St Thomas Apostle Church, on 87th Street in Woodhaven, Queens. I'm Delighted to Bring You this story, coming from 1914, in the Year of The Boston Braves Miracle World Championship, concurrent with the Start of "The Great War":

Because of the Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand Of Austro-Hungary, in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Europeans took sides in this soon to be conflict. The French & British supported Serbia, while Germany supported Austro Hungary;

It was December 24th, 1914 & a German Soldier yelled in English "Stop Shooting. It's Christmas Time." A truce was called on both sides of the conflict. In fact, the Soldiers of both sides got together, partied & played Football(Soccer) & listened to some singing from a German Soldier who used to work in the Hotels & Cabarets of London;

For 36 Hours, soldiers from both sides, fraternized, which did not sit well with the Senior Officers on both Sides of The Conflict;

Christ came between these sides, for the Celebration of His Feast;

That War ended in 1918, with worse consequences to come, in WWII;

As a side-note from me-it was a Freemason, as part of a Masonic Clique, who assassinated the Archduke, in the name of liberating Serbia;

The War was fought with 20th Century Equipment & 19th Century Tactics, but still a Bloody Mess;

For Both Sides Of The Conflict, for those Killed;

In Memorium Et In Paradisium;

Venite Adoremus, Dominum;

In Nomini Patris, Et Filli, Et Spiritu Sancti, Amen;

Michaelum In Queens, NY.

Things I'm Grateful Over Christmas Time

The Return Of The Latin Mass & An Appreciation of The Beauty Of Gregorian Chant:

The Tiger & Leopard Versions of Mac OS X(Windows Does NOT Cut it For Me);

The 2nd World Series Championship Of The Boston Red Sox in 4 Years;

The TOTAL ILLEGITIMACY Of the 2000 WS Champion* NY Yankees(Better Conditioning Through Syringe Therapy);

My Brother Who Gave me the disk to put OS X-Leopard on my eMac;

iWork, an amazing Office Suite of Applications, taking the drugery out of writing;

My Friends & Business Associates in the Knights Of Columbus & Ancient Order Of Hibernians, as well as my new favorite place for tension release, The Moose;

My Fellow & Sister Red Sox Bloggers & Mets Bloggers;

& The Great Realization That Christmas is NOT Confinded to December 25th, Like Madison Avenue Thinks It Is;

Merry Christmas;

Mike-RSN-NYC-Queens

Today, @ 1:08AM, EST, Winter Began In Anticipation Of The Light Of Christ

It's The Shortest & Darkest Day Of The Year, but Winter is NOT The Darkest Time Of The Year, as that falls to Autumn. It gets lighter from tomorrow onward:

& into The Light of The Christmas Season, which does not consist of Christmas Day, ALONE, which is what Advertisers would lead you to believe;

Next Sunday, as part of The Christmas Celebration, is Feast Of The Holy Family;

On December 26th, in the British Commonwealth, is St Stephen's Day(Oft Called Boxing Day, which has NOTHING to do with Don King's Sport). On December 27th is The Feast Of St John The Baptizer, while on December 31st, is St Sylvester I, Pope @ The Time Of Constantine;

On January 1st, it's not MERELY New Years Day, but Known in the Catholic Church Calendar as "Solemnity Of Mary, Mother Of God". According to The Church Calendar in The Traditional Form, This is also called "Feast Of The Circumcision", as The Child Jesus was presented in The Temple. So, if you plan to party 'til Dawn on New Year's Day, I advise you to catch Evening Mass, on December 31st;

On January 6th, it's Epiphany or "Little Christmas", when the the 3 Wise Men, presented Jesus with Gifts Of Gold, Frankincense, & Myrrh. It's the Tradition in Spanish Speaking Countries, to present the gifts to Family & Friends;

It's a Time Of Worship, Thanksgiving & Celebration;

Finally, Christmas Official Celebration ends in '08, on January 13th, with "Baptism Of The Lord";

Christmas is NOT merely December 25th, but a Longer Celebration & Celebration Of The Christ In Stages;

Venite Adoremus, Dominum;

Mike-RSN-NYC-Queens