Happy Third Day of Christmas! A few thoughts reminding us to celebrate Christmas in the days that follow this wonderful Feast!
– by Mary Reed Newland in The Year and Our Children.
On the twelve days of Christmas my True Love sent to me the feast of St. Stephen and the story of King Wenceslaus, the feasts of St. John the Evangelist and the Holy Innocents, the feasts of the Circumcision and the Holy Name of Jesus, and the feast of the Epiphany. And on through the feast of the Holy Family and the commemoration of the Baptism of Christ.
If you are loath to bid farewell to Christmas even then, you may continue it without interruption until Candlemas Day, February 2.
However you keep it, long or short, it is a far longer season for the Catholic child than the world understands.
For him festivity is not officially over with the last wrapping torn off the last gift, or the last nut retrieved from the last toe in the last stocking.
The Church would have us enjoy this season now that it is here, and celebrate the feasts that follow.
In order to indulge exhausted parents already drained of their grandest efforts for Christmas, try keeping Christmas-week feast days simply, using Christmas treats for desserts, and storytelling, reading aloud, and charades for entertainments.
Does your Christmas apron have beautiful stories to tell? Stories of baking and smiling children, setting up nativity scenes, leading the little ones in their Christmas novenas, lending an ear in spite of a busy household, hospitality mixed with steaming hot chocolate…. Our Christmas apron is the symbol of service in this special time of year…. ‘Tis the Season to be Christlike.
The Catholic Church is a Church of Martyrs: Homily on the Feast of the Holy Innocents. Fr speaks about the Christmas song “the 12 days of Christmas” & the meaning behind the carol. For more please go to http://www.reginaprophetarum.org & please say 3 Hail Marys for the priest.
This Maglet (magazine/booklet) is for you…dear young (and not-so-young), Catholic, Feminine Soul. It is a compilation of traditional, valuable Catholic articles on the subjects that touch the hearts of serious-minded Catholic young ladies. There are articles on courtship, purity, singleness, vocation, prayer, confession, friends, tea parties, obedience, etc. This information is solid, written by orthodox Catholic writers (most of them gone to their eternal home) that cared about the proper formation of a young Catholic adult in a confused world. Take this information to heart and your journey through adulthood will be filled with many blessings! It is 40 pages, packed with information.
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Blessed feast of st. John to you!
And thank you. 🙂
Love these posts. This is our second year observing the Christmas season past Christmas day and It brings such peace to my heart. We are doing little things which is all I can handle for now, but the Lord knows these are my best efforts.
Thank you for keeping Catholic Christmas alive!
This year I want to buy one really nice, symbolic gift every month, to be given on each of the 12 days of Christmas next year. This way I will spend a little more, getting thoughtful, quality family gifts. If anyone has ideas, please share?!