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Merry Christmas from catholic Stewards of Creation! "Caring for creation through peaceful responsibility."
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Christmas Legend:
The Animals Speak at Midnight
 Farm animals and perhaps a few wild animals were present in
the grotto and on the hillside where our Dear Lord Jesus was born. There is an
old Christmas legend that says on Christmas Eve that God gave the animals a
time to speak as a gift for their presence to comfort the baby Jesus, Mary and
Joseph. So, in the dark night, the animals are said to praise their Creator and
ours for the gift of the birth of His only Son, Jesus the Messiah, salvation
come down to earth, redeemer of all!
Jesus, our Brother, strong
and good,
Was humbly born in a stable rude,
And the friendly beasts around Him stood,
Jesus, our Brother, strong and good.
"I," said the donkey, shaggy and brown,
"I carried His mother uphill and down,
I carried His mother to Bethlehem
town;
I," said the donkey, shaggy and brown.
"I," said the cow, all white and red,
"I gave Him my manger for His bed,
I gave Him hay to pillow His head;
I," said the cow, all white and red.
"I," said the sheep with curly horn,
"I gave Him my wool for His blanket warm,
He wore my coat on Christmas morn;
I," said the sheep with curly horn.
"I," said the dove, from the rafters high,
"I cooed Him to sleep that He should not cry,
We cooed Him to sleep, my mate and I;
I," said the dove, from the rafters high.
Thus all the beasts, who there did dwell,
In the stable dark were glad to tell
Of the gifts they gave Emmanuel,
The gifts they gave Emmanuel.
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Christmas is God's Response to the Drama of Humankind
 VATICAN CITY, 20 DEC 2009 (VIS) - Bethlehem, considered as a symbol of
peace, was the theme of the Pope's reflections before praying the Angelus at
midday today with faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square.
The Pope began by referring to today's liturgy in which the
prophet Micah invites people to look to "Bethlehem of Ephrathah, ... one
of the little clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel". Bethlehem,
the Pope explained, "is also the symbolic city of peace, in the Holy Land and throughout the world.
"Unfortunately", he added, "in our own time it
does not represent a firm and stable peace, but a peace still sought and
awaited. Yet God never resigns Himself to this state of affairs and thus, this
year too, in Bethlehem and throughout the world, the mystery of Christmas will
be renewed in the Church, a prophecy of peace for all mankind which calls on
Christians to enter into the closures and dramas of the world, often unknown
and unseen, and into the conflicts of the contexts in which they live. There
they must being the sentiments of Jesus so that everywhere they may become
instruments and messengers of peace and bring love where there is hatred,
forgiveness where there is injury, joy where there is sadness and truth where
there is error, in the words of a famous Franciscan prayer".
The Holy Father concluded by saying that "today, as in
Jesus' own time, Christmas is not a children's fable but God's response to the drama
of humankind as it seeks true peace. 'He shall be the one of peace' says the
prophet referring to the Messiah. It is up to us to open wide the doors to
welcome Him. ... Happy Christmas to everyone!"
ANG/CHRISTMAS/...
VIS 091221 (310) Vatican Information Service 12-21-09
Nineteenth Year Number 223
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| FATHER RON'S COLUMN
Father Ron has shared a MOST BEAUTIFUL Christmas Message with us in THIS WEEK'S COLUMN. In typical Father Ron fashion, he will have you singing "GLORIA" as we move into this week of Light!
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| BUD'S BARKS!
It was a crisp, cold night filled with stars, as the sheep rested near the shepherds, and the donkey and cow knelt at the manger. How I wish I could have guarded the cave where my Master laid and licked His tender feet with my warm tongue in homage. My Lord and my God! May the beauty of Christmas fill your homes with the love of Our Creator and King! |
| THE EXHORTATION FROM ISAIAH
Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; the calf and the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them.
...There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the Lord, as water coverse the sea.
(Isaiah 11: 6,9)
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| SUSI'S COMMENTARY
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| CALLING ALL PETS!
We need adorable pet faces willing to inspire and entertain us! Email us your pet pictures and stories so we can make your pet the star of the week! Visit our STEWARD'S CORNER to submit pictures of your furred or feathered pet family member. |
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