Prayer Before Reading Our Blog

Come Holy SpiritCome Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.


V. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created.


R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.


O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.


Prayer for Enlightenment

O Holy Spirit, divine Spirit of light and love, I consecrate to Thee my understanding, my heart and my will, my whole being for time and for eternity. May my understanding be always obedient to Thy heavenly inspirations and the teachings of the holy Catholic Church, of which Thou art the infallible Guide; may my heart be ever inflamed with love of God and of my neighbor; may my will be ever conformed to the divine will, and may my whole life be a faithful following of the life and virtues of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to whom with the Father and Thee be honor and glory for ever. Amen.




Wednesday, December 19, 2012

THE BIBLICAL FOUNDATION OF CHRISTMAS CAROLS

The Angels announcing to the shepherds that the Savior is born


The origin of the Christmas Carol tradition is obviously the re-enactment of the Angelic Jubilation on the Birth of the Messiah found in Luke chapter 2. That is the reason why both Catholic and Protestant authors composed music of excellent quality proclaiming the Glorious Birth of the Savior and King combined with the joyous singing of the Choir of Angels. Examples of these are: O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL, JOY TO THE WORLD, HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING and many others. Obviously this Biblical Chapter is the origin of such a holy custom:


Luke 2:8-20 The Shepherds and the Angels

 8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” [The Angel prophesied that the Birth of the Messiah will bring great joy for all the people. Well, this is true first and foremost among Catholics who celebrates the Birth of Jesus with great celebrations and festivity. Others do not celebrate it at all – like the pagans… THOSE WHO ARE CLAIMING TO BE CHRISTIANS AND YET DO NOT CELEBRATE THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD JESUS WITH REJOICING ARE ACTUALLY PAGAN-LIKE in their belief and position.]

13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14″Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” [In Latin Vulgate: “Gloria in excelsis Deo, et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis…” See, the Latin inscription in the Belen is literally derived from the Bible.]

15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.


Source:
THE BIBLICAL FOUNDATION OF CHRISTMAS CAROLS