"But unto you that fear my name, the Sun of justice shall arise, and health in his wings: and you shall go forth, and shall leap like calves of the herd." (Malachias 4:2)
"As the Fathers remark, it is at the moment when the sun has reached the lowest point of its course, and is so to speak re-born each year, that the "Sun of Justice" is born again every year at Christmas. The sun of nature and the Sun of souls, whose likeness it is, appear together. "Christ is born unto us," says St. Augustine, "at the time when the days begin to lengthen." The Feast of Christmas on December 25, which date corresponds to that of March 25 [the Annunciation], coincides with the pagan feast celebrated at the winter solstice in honor of the birth of the sun, which they deified. But at Rome, in the fourth century, the Church instituted a Christian feast, to replace the pagan rite."
"For a CHILD IS BORN to us, and a son is given to us, and the government is upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counsellor, God the Mighty, the Father of the world to come, the Prince of Peace." (Isaias 9:6)
Silent night, Holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin, mother and child
Holy infant, tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent night, Holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord at thy birth
Jesus, Lord at thy birth.
Silent night, Holy night
Shepherds quake, at the sight
Glories stream from heaven above
Heavenly, hosts sing Hallelujah.
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born.
CALL TO ACTION: Rejoice not only on Christmas Day, but throughout the entire Season of Christmas, even to the Feast of the Purification of Our Lady on February 2nd.
Source of quote in blue: St. Andrew's Daily Missal, pages 32-33; the E. M. Lohmann Co., St. Paul, Minnesota (copyright 1949); Nihil Obstat: J. Gerard Kealy, D.D., Cens. Theol. Deput.; Imprimatur: Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archrepiscopus Chicagiensis
Photo by: Jaka Skrlep