21 December 2018
“The heart is a small vessel,
but all things are
contained in it; God is there,
the angels are there,
and there also is life
and the Kingdom,
the heavenly cities
and the treasures of grace.”
Saint Dimitri of Rostov
1651-1709
A little reflection for Christmas!
May yours be the happiest,
the most peaceful,
and full of hope for the New Year
just around the corner.
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And a blessed Christmas to you and yours, Ginny!
Are you a Midnight Mass Catholic, or night before, or Christmas Day? Here across the Pond finding Christmas Mass at 12 midnight is increasingly rare; most churches begin at 9 or 10 p.m. A pity, in my opinion, as heading out in the cold, crisp darkness to the warm and vibrant church added to the excitement and contemplation of the miracle of the Incarnation, especially as kids. Rushing home after Midnight Mass, we would race to place the baby Jesus in our crèche before jumping into our beds, so that “Santa” could arrive in time.
Ah, memories…
Midnight is very much an Easter Mass here Harry, but even so within a shout there are at least two Christmas Masses that start then. Otherwise it’s 9pm.
In the old days in HongKong it was three, one after another beginning at midnight – ending with an early breakfast provided by the nuns and dawn across the harbour!
Yes, good days and happy memories. May yours today stack up for the future! Ginny
I love the idea of the endlessly inflatable heart Ginny.
Talking of which….some giant inflatable Santa’s are scaling our neighbours’ house fronts, along with twinkling lights and joyous trees decked out in all their finery.
It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas in our neck of the woods!
Wishing a happy, joy filled, peaceful Christmas to one and all.
It must look really jolly Mary, is it snowing?
Incidentally, I saw on the News this week that there’s a town in Texas that’s lit up magnificently entirely by wind and solar power. The whole town! For some reason Texas is called ‘red neck’ — maybe that means everyone is sunburned?
I am seriously impressed by their planet saving attitude. Look it up on YouTube or wherever!
Happy and peaceful Christmas to you, from Ginny.
Yes indeed, there’s a great story to tell in Texas: click here.
As for “red neck,” you’d risk your life calling someone that in Texas! It’s a derogatory term used by urban elites, meaning crass, dumb, unsophisticated. It derives from the poorer farm workers whose necks were always red from sunburn due to outdoor labour. It’s come back into use lately as most Texans are Trump supporters and therefore condemned as illiterate.
That’s a timely warning Harry, thanks very much. I’m so glad you told me as a trip to the States is being hatched (can’t believe it), and although restricted to NYC, you never know who you might bump into on Ellis island or Washington Square. Gin
Happy Christmas Ms Barton!!
I love Saint Dimitri’s words ❤️