Secular society hits us with commercialization of Christmas and makes the world weary after December 25th.
The day after the celebration is often spent returning gifts to stores.
Where is the joy in that act?
Shouldn’t we spend the days after the birth of our Savior still reveling in awe of the Incarnation (God becoming man when truly reflected upon brings one to tears, I was leaking joy from my eyes earlier this week).
But Christmas is not a day it’s actually a season.
Jesus saved us from sin and day. The very least we can do is to leave up our Christmas tree for the 12 days of Christmas.
💫💫💫Too often society places pressure for the perfect “holiday” season:
🔷all the gifts must be precisely wrapped and laden under the Christmas tree in a tidy order,
🔷the Christmas meal has to be cooked to the exact temperature and paired with the appropriate side dishes depending on the main dish,
🔷 family members need to behave–especially your “estranged/weird” uncle [or aunt or other unique relative you may have].
The PerfectionPitfall
⚜️Honestly, I fall into this fallacy almost every year myself.
⚜️This year was no different. Stomach flu, toddler tantrums, and lack of sleep dominated the weeks leading up to my Advent.
⚜️I struggled at times to see the purpose in the pain. Going to Sunday Mass helped reorient me back to the right path.
Reason for the Season
⚜️The season of Advent is not about preparing for the “perfect” Christmas where Mary and Joseph get a room at the inn.
⚜️Rather, Advent is about preparing for the birth of Jesus Christ. His birth took place in the messiness of the stable, his Passion and Death took place on the messiness of the Cross.
⚜️Not everything in my life will be neatly fit in my control. The same was true for the Holy Family.
ReflectionQuestions
❓Is you reaction to unplanned events similar to the humble reaction of Jesus, Mary, & Joseph?
My parents are still too tired and busy (it seems like adults are always tired) to pitch in to help with the Christmas card. Noah, Amelia, and Josiah decided they can’t help because it would intrude on their Nintendo Switch, artwork and cartography time. It’s up to me (again) to provide a whimsical and semi-accurate summary (of shenanigans) of our year.
I’m the only one who takes Christmas-card-writing seriously in my family.
I’m going to turn five soon.
“I can’t believe my baby is almost five!” my parents have said this with tears in their eyes many times.
I learned so much over the past year so get ready for some serious life lessons. I’ll also get a summary of what’s new for the rest of my family.
We will go in age order. I hear that phrase all the time— especially when it comes to opening presents.
Mommy
My mommy started the year teaching between two buildings. I still don’t know their names because I’m a toddler and get easily distracted *rides off on a balance bike around the kitchen*.
Mommy is the awesomest and I love her very much. She helps me continue to receive speech and OT therapies. And she lets me eat off her dinner plate!
This summer Mommy had surgery on her stomach (gall bladder removal) and I had to be reminded several times I couldn’t jump on her until she recovered.
I drew my first portrait of mommy!
Mommy finally got to teach in a single building this August. She loves teaching and helping her students grow. Less travel time means she can come home early and spend more time with me and take Josiah to swimming lessons more.
She also does a great job braiding my hair and painting my nails.
I think mommy’s greatest accomplishment this year is helping me learn this year!
Daddy
Daddy had a big change in his work. Over the past few years, he has worked overnights. But in November he went to part-time at his retail job. His content writing as taken off and loves helping Catholic businesses get their message out there.
He also started another new project working to publish a neighborhood Catholic magazine. I get to be his “four-year old assistant who doubles as his daughter”. While I don’t exactly have a full understanding of my job description I do know I travel with him to meet with people. I usually sit at a table coloring and am paid with a treat like candy or crackers.
Daddy still writes for his blog and creates funny memes, but it’s been a bit since he wrote about my antics. I think I need to steal his coffee more often.
Daddy loves creating memes about the Catholic faith. 🙏 🙂
His hobbies continue to be playing board games with us. We had fun playing dominoes, a cat & mouse game, and a monster-themed game! Daddy has been binge-watching Doctor Who too.
Probably the most important of daddy’s accomplishments is still giving me horsey rides. It’s fun!
Noah
Noah is in sixth grade at “the school whose name I don’t know” (again because I’m a toddler and get easily distracted with details). He played soccer in the spring and fall. Noah has improved his skills of passing, ball control, and scoring. ⚽
Noah learned to play the trumpet last year and has continued to develop a love and talent for this instrument. My family and I went to his band concert. It sounded good! I even paid attention for a few minutes (my parents were super proud of me).
My brother is also in Chess club.♟️He enjoys teaching my younger brother chess and loves playing against my dad. They talked about Fairy Chess pieces that included: a dragon, magician, and even a playtpus. I hope those pieces are pink so I can play with them when he’s not looking.
Amelia
Amelia is in fourh grade at “the school whose name I don’t know”. She still loves drawing and creating unique things out of paper, cardboard, tape, and other craft supplies.
My sister had her art published as a GIF. “Goldy the Hedgehog” caught the attention of someone my dad knew. This lady was making an app and loved Amelia’s artwork. I thought my sister did a good job drawing the hedgehog. 🦔
My sister is the best because she loves me and helps me get dressed, learn art, brushes my hair, and gets me bandaids when get hurt.
Amelia’s most important accomplishment this year is painting my fingernails. I love my sister!
Josiah
Josiah is a second-grader at “the school whose name I don’t know”. He has lots of teachers that help him learn.
My brother is obsessed with maps and flags. His favorite countries are Portugal, Spain, United States, Canada, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Josiah played soccer for the first time this spring. I enjoyed watching him play but was also kinda sad because we couldn’t get into as much trouble as usual on the sidelines. His favorite futbol player is Cristiano Ronaldo. And he loves playing football, soccer, and baseball in the living room (he’s a one man sports team). 🏈 ⚽ ⚾
Josiah dressed up as a Tornado 🌪️ this Halloween.
Finally, Josiah learned to read chapter books. Some of his favorite books include: Magic Treehouse and books about countries and sports. I like it when he reads to me.
Avila Catherine Geraldine
When I’m not committing shenanigans or earning snacks with my “daddy’s assistant” job, I learn lifeskills through my continuing education program (early childhood).
I don’t go to the same school called ” the school whose name I don’t know” as my siblings. But I do go to preschool (at a school whose name I can’t remember). I love school and my teacher and my classmates. I showed my parents all the cool things I learned at our school’s Fall Festival.
All I wanted for Christmas was to lose my first tooth!
I still struggle with the “wigglies” at Mass. But I have been making improvements. I enjoyed waving leaves on Palm Sunday and having my dad push me in the stroller this one Sunday in June (he was talking about a Corpus Christi procession or something). One Mass I even went on a “bear hunt” and did my best to whisper. My parents thought I was weird.
Halpert
The latest addition to my family was someone almost as hyper as me. We got a puppy and named him Halpert (I think it’s after my dad’s favorite TV show). He has grown so much and learned a few commands like “sit”, “lay down”, and “settle”. I love to pet him, climb in his crate, play fetch, and take him for walks. One time he jumped out of the bathtub my family and I laughed at his craziness.
His crate is comfy. 🙂😆
Halpert loves to play with my siblings and parents too. He helps cheer us up when we have a sad day.
Live your life to the fullest. Thank the people who helped you grow and learn. Count your blessings and your stuffed unicorns. 🙏🦄
And don’t waste time learning the names of schools whose name you don’t know.
Love,
ACGC— Muffin Miscreant, Coffee Culprit, and Adventure Seeker
P.S. Special thanks to my daddy for editing the Chicoine Family Christmas Card. I paid him in hugs.
P.P.S. Halpert will be taking over next year’s Christmas Card as I’m going to be too tired from my continuing education courses and general mischief making. I get to go to school all day next year!
Time for the Christmas-sized Catholic Meme Monday. ✝️ 🙏🎅🎄
The Christmas tree stays up longer than December 26th for sure! Join the Catholic side— we have the party. 🎄🎅😆😆😆Amen!! 🙏Jesus saves. 🙂 ✝️ 🙏😆😆😆👼🪽🙂😆Sorry Taylor the person of the year for me is Jesus Christ.Christmas on a Monday makes for a short 4th week of Advent. 🙂Amen! 😆 🙂 🙏Have you ever created a homemade manger scene? Such a weird Advent this year. 🙂😆LolLove theology Venn-diagrams. 😆😆😆😆 ✉️ 🙏Amazing wisdom from C.S. Lewis. 🙏🙏🙏Go to Confession. Your soul will thank you later. 🙏Meme I created in honor of the Feast of Saint John— patron of theologians, friendships, booksellers, and quite possibly track stars. 🏃♂️ 👟 💨 😆 🙏
That’s all I have this week. Stay tuned for next week’s Catholic Meme Monday. Receive updates straight to your email inbox by subscribing to The Simple Catholic blog.
P.S. If you prefer receiving quality Catholic humor in daily doses follow me on Instagram @thesimplecatholic.
The holidays are a time for family, friends and celebration. Decorations, special treats and activities bring us joy as we bring the year to a close and prepare for a new one.
Despite the festivities, the season also brings holiday stress. We are easily distracted and overwhelmed with expectations and traditions that can negatively impact our mental health.
As Catholics, we are called to see past the commercialism of the holiday season and focus on the many blessings of our lives, including the birth of Jesus. Thankfully, our faith provides many opportunities to focus on what makes this season important for our faith.
Read on for five ways faith can help with your holiday stress.
Spirit of Gratitude
Gratitude changes everything (and so does coffee, unless you’re a tea drinker.)
Even though our modern Thanksgiving differs from its historic origins, it is still a day when we gather with loved ones to share a meal and express gratitude for how God has blessed us throughout the year.
However, gratitude is not solely meant for Thanksgiving. It can be done daily in a journal or added to your prayers. Additionally, studies have shown that gratitude has many health benefits, such as improving sleep and mood. It also helps with anxiety and depression, which can be heightened at this time of the year.
To help with holiday stress, thank God for three or more blessings in your life each day. Be intentional with your daily blessings and track how it improves your mood and stress. Consider continuing this practice throughout the year.
Practice Patience
Commercialism tends to impose the holidays upon us way before the actual date arrives. Decorations, treats and holiday-themed products hit stores early, encouraging increased spending and a longer holiday season. By the time the holiday arrives, it’s no longer enjoyable and you’re ready for the next one.
The holiday season can also highlight what we are missing in our lives. Children await Christmas with much anticipation for special gifts under the tree. Singles are longing to share the holidays with a spouse. Parents with infertility issues are longing for the day they can celebrate with their own children.
God teaches us the importance of patience throughout life. Patience describes love (1 Corinthians 13:4), is a fruit of the Holy Spirit and is an instruction from God throughout the Bible.
Patience is a requirement of faith. God asks us to wait for his divine timing for the desires of our heart. As all of us enter this season of busyness and stress, ask God to give you patience for yourself and with others. While the holiday season is filled with anticipation, it is also important that we patiently wait for what is in store for us.
Rituals and Traditions
The Catholic faith is full of rituals and traditions that we practice throughout the year. And the holiday season is no different.
Catholics celebrate the season of Advent for four weeks leading up to Christmas. Our Christmas season lasts until Epiphany, which is in January of the new year. We celebrate the Nativity of Our Lord on December 25 with nativity sets in our homes and churches until the Christmas season ends. On January 1st, we celebrate the feast of Mary, the Mother of God.
All of these seasons and feasts have their own traditions and rituals, which help to keep the holiday season in perspective.
Having an Advent wreath and calendar are both reminders to wait on the Lord and to do good work in this season of waiting. Because Christmas doesn’t end on December 25, we keep the light of Christ shining brightly in our homes and with all we encounter. We are also invited to celebrate other aspects of the holiday season, such as the three kings at Epiphany and mother Mary on the first of the year.
Having rituals and traditions eases holiday stress because of their continuity and stability. They bring us comfort and something to look forward to each year. Embrace these Catholic traditions in your holiday routine. Do a couple of things to get started so you don’t overwhelm yourself or your family.
Community Support
Ask the Holy Family to give you comfort during times of loneliness this holiday season.
The holiday season can heighten feelings of loneliness and isolation, especially for those who live alone, are mourning the death of loved ones or in a transitional period of their lives.
By getting more involved in parish life, you will ease those lonely feelings and be surrounded by like-minded people. This provides a sense of belonging that will lift your spirits.
Connect with your faith community during the holiday season by attending Mass and making the effort to meet someone new. Volunteer with a ministry to help someone in the community or give Christmas gifts to a family in need.
Holiday stress may come each year, but the Catholic faith provides us opportunities to focus on God’s love and the birth of Jesus. May our faith bring comfort and joy to you and your family this holiday season.
About Our Guest Blogger:
Samantha Smith is a Catholic blogger and copywriter. You can follow her blog at spiritandsparkle.net.
Editor’s Note: Post originally published on January 13, 2019.
The legendary Italian artist Michelangelo once purported, “The true work of art is but a shadow of the divine perfection.” I once traveled overseas on a college trip around Europe. One of the stops our tour group was in Rome. Seeing Michelangelo’s masterpiece in the Sistine Chapel certainly allowed me to encounter the mysterious and awesome presence of God. My sublime experience in Rome lasted only a few minutes and occurred over a decade ago. I am extremely grateful to have seen with my own eyes one of the greatest and most beautiful works of art in all of human history.
Fast-forward ten years and a lot has changed in my life: I am married with four children, and in the workforce. While life brought me many struggles since that moment in Italy, my Catholic faith is stronger and more real because of those trials. Throughout much of 2018 I wrote frequently about my wife and I’s struggle with despair, loneliness, and sadness at the loss of our unborn children. Losing a child, you never could hold takes an indescribable toll on a person’s mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being.
A Christmas Miracle Child
This Christmas season our family was blessed with the healthy birth of our daughter. From the onset of the pregnancy complications developed. God interceded and saved our daughter from being miscarried. He accomplished it through the power of prayer and healing graces of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. Our parish priest administered this sacrament to my wife. In my post, Containing Joy—Rainbow Baby After Miscarriage Maelstroms – The Simple Catholic, I talk about the struggle be joyous throughout the pregnancy. Hope always permeated our thoughts, but we tempered our joy just in case our daughter did not make it to term.
God’s Peace in the Pain
After my wife’s contractions got frequent enough for the delivery doctor and nurses to arrive, a calming presence overcame me as I gazed into my wife’s eyes between her painful contractions. An otherworldly peace entered that delivery room. Joy, peace, and confidence radiated from my wife’s eyes in the moments before our daughter was born.
Skeptics may doubt Divine Providence had anything to do with our experience in the delivery room. All I can speak of is my experience and that was an encounter with a reality, call it what you will, whose origin is not of this earthly existence. Long anticipation of seeing, hearing, and holding our daughter seemed to have time at a standstill those short minutes before the arrival of Avila.
Bishop Robert Barron once stated, “Begin with the beautiful, which leads you to the good, which leads you to the truth.” Our joy-filled yet anxious laden pregnancy delivery began with the beautiful―the news of the conception of our daughter. That beautiful news led to the good. Good through the form of good friends, family, and priests praying for us on this 9-month journey.
Finally, the good of fellowship and prayer led my wife and I to the truth― this reality is not the sole mode of existence. The God who is above humanity’s total and complete comprehension decided to reveal himself in the material world. God became man in the person of Jesus Christ on Christmas Day in Bethlehem, and I had the privilege of encountering the peace of the Holy Spirit that early morn in the hospital room before and during the birth of my daughter!
“The true work of art is but a shadow of the divine perfection.”
January 3rd celebrates two important events: the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus and the anniversary of the birth of J.R.R. Tolkien. As a Catholic obvious the former has to take precedence, I mean Jesus is the center of the Catholic faith. However, I think it is ironic, maybe even providential, of the placement of the great English literary figure’s birthday within the season of Christmastide.
Creation Leads to the Creator
The famed creator of Middle Earth himself was a devout Catholic and belief in Jesus Christ permeated his entire life. I admire Tolkien because of his creativity, devotion, and ability to invoke joy into my life simply by reading his works or striking up a conversation with a random stranger about his life!
According to the Baltimore Catechism paragraph 215, Catholics honor saints because
“We honor the saints in heaven because they practiced great virtue when they were on earth, and because in honoring those who are the chosen friends of God we honor God Himself.”
The excitement, peace, and joy I receive when reading, researching, or talking about Middle Earth ultimately is aimed at a higher reality. A deeper reality of full communion with God in Heaven! Tolkien once wrote, “After all, I believe that legends and myths are largely made of ‘truth’.”
All of creation act as signposts pointing to God’s existence.
The same is true for the hidden or not so hidden Easter-eggs contained in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. The date of the formation of the Fellowship—that is, the group of representatives of Middle Earth races—actually is December 25th!
The Little Way of the Hobbit
Much of Tolkien’s theology, whether he would have wanted to admit it or not, reminds me of the spirituality of The Little Way of St. Therese of Lisieux. Her path towards holiness consisted of relying on God’s mercy and forgiveness while seeking ordinary daily actions to show love of God and neighbor.
The French saint wrote, “Miss no single opportunity of making small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love.” Whenever I read and reflect upon that quote I am also reminded of the following words of Tolkien, “Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.”
Fantasy and Tolkien geeks now well that the bearer of the One Ring [the embodiment of temptation] was a hobbit. If only one word would suffice to describe a hobbit to individuals not too aware of this fictional Middle Earth race it would be diminutive. Littleness, at least in appearance, is the chief trait of the heroes of The Lord of the Rings.
Even the smallest person can impact the future
Like St. Therese of Lisieux, Tolkien recognizes that the smallest person can have a great impact on human history. The greatest event in human history is the Incarnation—God being man in the person of Jesus Christ in the form of a little baby.
I honor J.R.R. Tolkien today because his “complex”, extensive, and intricate sub-creation of Middle Earth provokes a sense of joy in the little acts done in great love and sacrifice. Ultimately, after reading any of his works, I am reminded to be grateful for creative genius not as a worship of the fantasy author. Instead, I honor him as he points me to the Real and Truth Author of All of Reality!
“At the name of Jesus, every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” –Philippians 2:10-11
