Just a quick note that my Eucharistic fast has commenced. The Lord has answered my prayers and resides with me; I am my own little "bethlehem" today~
The midnight mass was truly a time for heartfelt rejoicing. God has so richly blessed me in my family and with this Church. Every moment rang verily tonight. Especially the moment I would advise against in the future: don't ever wear a musical Christmas necktie to a formal liturgy! I had to throw mine out the side door in the middle of the Creed! Oy!
Upon our return the luminaries were still glowing brightly and the greatest Luminary up in the heavens was casting yet another moonshadow across our front yard. Bestill my heart...
Can you imagine a similar scene in 1223? The moon overhead, a procession of glowing lights wending its way towards a cave in Greccio, where an ox and ass stood watch over a manger? Good St. Francis assembled the world's first Christmas creche and nativity scene (though that's open to debate). Now churches all over carry on the tradition, Catholic or not.
His goal was to contemplate the Incarnation not merely as an event that redeemed mankind, but the whole of Creation, including the beasts and fowl in the stable. What he created for the gathered faithful was a sensation of illuminated peace, not unlike my moonscape. They felt the Babe of Bethlehem tangibly present that night.
And so, tonight I removed the blanket in the creche to reveal the Infant Deity, the Christ Child, the Bread come down from Heaven, in the manger. May we be a Leaven in the world and a Light to the nations and all those dwelling in darkness or weighed down with suffering~
May His Reign of Peace never end! Gloria in Excelsis Deo!
12/25/2004
"House of Bread"
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Pope Points to Eucharistic Dimension of Jesus' Birth
--Christmas Midnight Mass
VATICAN CITY, DEC. 25, 2004 (ZENIT.org).- John Paul II presented the Eucharist as the sacrament in which the Son of God remains joined to humanity "with its burden of trials and troubles."
The Pope managed to preside at the long Christmas Eve Midnight Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, joined by 30 cardinals. The Mass was televised to about 70 countries.
At Christmas in this Year of the Eucharist, the Holy Father dedicated his homily to underline the intimate bond between the sacrament of the real presence of Christ, and the birth of Jesus two millenniums ago.
"Bethlehem! The city where Jesus was born in fulfillment of the Scriptures, in Hebrew means 'house of bread,'" John Paul II said. "It was there that the Messiah was to be born, the One who would say of himself: 'I am the bread of life.'
"In Bethlehem was born the One who, under the sign of broken bread, would leave us the memorial of his Pasch. On this holy night, adoration of the Child Jesus becomes Eucharistic adoration."
"We adore you, Lord, truly present in the Sacrament of the Altar, the living Bread which gives life to humanity," the Pope added in a homily that was shorter than those of past Christmas Eves. "We acknowledge you as our one God, a little Child lying helpless in the manger!"
"You are born on this Night, our divine Redeemer, and, in our journey along the paths of time, you become for us the food of eternal life," he said. "All humanity, with its burden of trials and troubles, stands in need of you."
He added: "Stay with us, living Bread which came down from heaven for our salvation! Stay with us forever!"
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