For Father Louis Campbell's Sermon for the
Sunday within the Octave, see "Good Tidings of Great Joy!"

Editor Michael Cain and his bride Cyndi present a present to contemplate: From the wood of the manger to the wood of the cross Jesus made it possible for everyone of us to know Him, love Him and be happy with Him in this world and the next. If only we would. They share in One Solitary Life

Father Louis Campbell reveals in his poignant sermon for Christmas how the world's rejection of providing a place for the Holy Family was, in reality, a great blessing for those who embrace the fullness of Christ's coming the first time and the significance of His awaited Second Coming. Father explains in his sermon for the Nativity No Room In the Inn. As a Christmas bonus, he also provides for the following Sunday Within the Octave his sermon "Good Tidings of Great Joy!"

Atila Sinke Guimarães delves beneath all the glitter and hype to discover the quiet truth reflected in the faces of the nativity figures in a small creche in his office. He shares the awe and wonders of the simple creche scene as he shares the journey with us in which in total supernatural peace he sailed into meditative calm In a Sea of Peace.

Dr. Marian Therese Horvat focuses on a special nativity icon that carries miraculous history with it in a church where the altar was erected in Rome for the future Infant-God by none other than the pagan Roman Emperor Caesar Octavian Augustus before the Christ-child was born. It remains today to commemorate the King of Kings born in his reign as Marian explains in Ara Coeli - The Altar of the Heavens for the Santo Bambino.

Dr. Thomas Droleskey delves into the meaning of the liturgical calendar in relation to the Birth of the Savior and how, in her wisdom, Holy Mother Church established such a perfect plan of the liturgy for the Christmas Season. Tom explains that If our life is not Christ-centered in every waking way then chaos will prevail precicely because the Christ-child has been abandoned, ignored, mocked, and reviled as he explains in Behold the Child

Mario Derksen points out what the word "Christmas" means. It is "Christ's Mass" and so many have forgotten that. Like the secularization of Christmas, the New Order of the Mass has abandoned the traditions. Mario asserts that those, who profess the meaning of Christmas in word while in deed deny it, are lukewarm Scrooges who fail to comprehend the Angels' mission to announce the Feast of God, not man. He explains in The Reason for the Season: CHRIST'S MASS!"

Dr. Frank Joseph emphasizes that no present is more important than being able to breathe and proclaim Christ is God. For those who do not place at the foot of the holy manger the vital Christmas gift of praying, upholding, and fighting for the lives of the unborn, they can well expect the prospect of receiving, in God's time, the lumps of eternal coal in the infernal furnace as Frank affirms in The Gift of Life.

Catharine Lamb shares cultural customs of Christmas that have been in vogue for centuries. No matter our roots, race or culture, the universality of the Mother tongue of the Church has always provided a sense of total unity through the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Just as the Christ Child was the unifying force for good, so also the Latin Mass is the unifier of preserving all that has been taught and passed down. She shows how this is not possible in the New Rite called the vernacualr Novus Ordo in Have Yourself a Multicultural Christmas

Father Aloysius Svobodny, O.M.I., the priest who fostered the editor in the Truths and Traditions of Holy Mother Church in the mid-fifties and who has been the Cains' spiritual director for thirteen years, weighs in with his annual Christmas Message in which he relates the story of an Angel. That story points to the fact that the eye of each soul reflects the wonders of the Star of Bethlehem. To fully illuminate others groping in the darkness, the Mystical Body of Christ must band together to multiply the strength of the lumen, to better bring the Light of Christ to the world. He shares in The Spotless Lamb

THE ANGEL CHOIR

by Derek Becher

While cradled in His Mother's arms,
With lowly sounds from creatures near,
And father Joseph watching humbly
In a cave, with mild revere,

The infant Jesus - from a manger -
Rests with shepherds watching nigh,
And smiles, slightly, to the sounds
Of angels singing praise, nearby.

He's lulled to sleep with lullabies
Of sweet and gentle harmony,
As angels from the star above
Exalt the Child with melodies.

A bow's drawn smoothly o'er the strings
Of a violin, to start the songs;
And gentle fingers strum across
A harp, to lead the sound along.

A tiny organ's blended in,
And holds the notes in steady tone,
While trumpets help declare the joy -
In tender hands, they're softly blown.

A flute perfects the mingling sounds,
With gentle lips, its play is pure.
The orchestra is now complete,
And sings its praise with low allure.

Through early light, the angels croon;
Their lovely voices carry, mild.
The shepherds, with their sheep, lay still
On matted hay, about the Child.

The Holy Family rests with peace,
While Mary ever gently sways
In rhythm with the soothing sounds
Throughout the dawn of Christmas Day.

Morning breaks, and Jesus wakens.
Smiling to the angels, pleasant,
He thanks them for their gift of song,
The first, endearing, Christmas present.

Copyright 2002. For a printable copy, see PRINT

  With apologies to Clement Moore we present a 33-stanza parody of his traditional poem "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" to show that nothing is traditional anymore in the post-conciliar Church. We also hope, through this traditional parody, you will understand more fuly why our family and The DAILY CATHOLIC have returned fully to all Holy Mother Church taught for nearly two millennia prior to the disaster known as the Second Vatican Council. We tell the story in 'Twas the Night of the Clutter!