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Somebody asked me, “Father, what’s your favorite Christmas cookie?”

Hmmm … what’s my favorite Christmas cookie? Now, that’s a hard one because there’s so many to choose from. And the very thought of it reminds me of the kitchen in the home I grew up in with my mother wearing an apron and putting tin tray after tin tray of Christmas cookies into the oven. And that rich, sweet smell was all over the house – especially upstairs because heat rises!

She started baking those cookies on December 6, the Feast of St. Nicholas, and kept at it until Christmas Eve. But by the time Christmas Day arrived, they were all gone. The 8 Hoffman children had eaten them all! I suppose we should have called them “Advent Cookies” because they didn’t make it to Christmas.

So what’s my favorite Christmas cookie?  The one I just ate.

I wonder what Fr. Simon’s favorite Christmas cookie is?

And what’s yours?

Somebody asked me, “Father, what’s your favorite Christmas cookie?”
Hmmm … what’s my favorite Christmas cookie? Now, that’s a hard one because there’s so many to choose from. And the very thought of it reminds me of the kitchen in the home I grew up in with my mother wearing an apron and putting tin tray after tin tray of Christmas cookies into the oven. And that rich, sweet smell was all over the house – especially upstairs because heat rises!
She started baking those cookies on December 6, the Feast of St. Nicholas, and kept at it until Christmas Eve. But by the time Christmas Day arrived, they were all gone. The 8 Hoffman children had eaten them all! I suppose we should have called them “Advent Cookies” because they didn’t make it to Christmas.
So what’s my favorite Christmas cookie?  The one I just ate.
I wonder what Fr. Simon’s favorite Christmas cookie is?
And what’s yours?

Welcome to Advent Inspirations! You'll get a one-minute Advent-themed reflection from Father Rocky, each day of Advent. You can subscribe for free at relevantradio.com/advent.

Welcome to Advent Inspirations! You'll get a one-minute Advent-themed reflection from Father Rocky, each day of Advent. You can subscribe for free at relevantradio.com/advent.

Advent Inspirations

Receive Advent Inspirations in your email inbox each morning of Advent. It's a great way to prepare your heart for Christmas.

Receive Advent Inspirations in your email inbox each morning of Advent. It's a great way to prepare your heart for Christmas.

Advent Inspirations 2025

Back by popular demand! Please enjoy Father Rocky's Advent Inspirations!

Back by popular demand! Please enjoy Father Rocky's Advent Inspirations!

Advent Inspirations 2024 Edits

Christmas Cookies

St. Emeric’s Church on the near west side of Cleveland would leave the beautiful Christmas decorations up until February 2, a full forty days after Christmas.

Hi, this is Fr. Rocky, with another Advent Inspiration.

The Christmas decorations inside of St. Emeric’s Catholic Church were so beautiful, so ornate, so elaborate, I figured “Well if it took so much time to put them up, you might as well leave them up for a long time.” But then I discovered that some people – especially from Eastern European countries -- stretch out the Christmas season all the way to February 2, the Feast of the Presentation of the Christ Child in the Temple, also known as Candlemas, because your holy candles can be blessed that day.

For Catholics, the official Christmas season starts at sundown on Christmas Eve and lasts until the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which is on the Sunday after Epiphany.  Epiphany is when the Three Kings came to adore the Christ Child, and that is “Twelve Days of Christmas.”

St. Emeric&rsquo;s Church on the near west side of Cleveland would leave the beautiful Christmas decorations up until February 2, a full forty days after Christmas.
Hi, this is Fr. Rocky, with another Advent Inspiration.
The Christmas decorations inside of St. Emeric&rsquo;s Catholic Church were so beautiful, so ornate, so elaborate, I figured &ldquo;Well if it took so much time to put them up, you might as well leave them up for a long time.&rdquo; But then I discovered that some people &ndash; especially from Eastern European countries -- stretch out the Christmas season all the way to February 2, the Feast of the Presentation of the Christ Child in the Temple, also known as Candlemas, because your holy candles can be blessed that day.
For Catholics, the official Christmas season starts at sundown on Christmas Eve and lasts until the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which is on the Sunday after Epiphany.&nbsp; Epiphany is when the Three Kings came to adore the Christ Child, and that is &ldquo;Twelve Days of Christmas.&rdquo;

How long is the Christmas Season?

Does your family have Christmas traditions?

Hi, this is Fr. Rocky with another Advent Inspiration.

I think every family should have its own Christmas traditions, passed down from generation to generation. It’s one way of fulfilling the Fourth Commandment, “To honor your mother and father.”

I have some friends who still keep alive a family tradition after many generations.  Every year on Christmas Eve they invite friends and family over to their house for a wonderful party, and everyone brings along a favorite dish. It’s a great moment to reconnect with friends and family you haven’t seen in a year and catch up on the news. But the highlight is when everyone gathers in the living room around the piano to sing Christmas carols, and the all-time favorite in this family is Silent Night, because their ancestors came from Germany and Silent Night was composed originally in German.

We sing all the verses in English, and then do our best in German, as we reflect in wonder and awe of what it must have been like to leave Germany 170 years ago to start a new life in America. After all these generations, are we keeping the faith?

Does your family have Christmas traditions?
Hi, this is Fr. Rocky with another Advent Inspiration.
I think every family should have its own Christmas traditions, passed down from generation to generation. It’s one way of fulfilling the Fourth Commandment, “To honor your mother and father.”
I have some friends who still keep alive a family tradition after many generations.  Every year on Christmas Eve they invite friends and family over to their house for a wonderful party, and everyone brings along a favorite dish. It’s a great moment to reconnect with friends and family you haven’t seen in a year and catch up on the news. But the highlight is when everyone gathers in the living room around the piano to sing Christmas carols, and the all-time favorite in this family is Silent Night, because their ancestors came from Germany and Silent Night was composed originally in German.
We sing all the verses in English, and then do our best in German, as we reflect in wonder and awe of what it must have been like to leave Germany 170 years ago to start a new life in America. After all these generations, are we keeping the faith?

Silent Night

I remember how the crowds rejoiced and cheered when the helicopter carrying St. John Paul II approached the stadium.

Hi, this is Fr. Rocky with another Advent Inspiration.

It was World Youth Day in Denver in 1993, and Mile High Stadium was overflowing with young people. Suddenly, on the far side of the stadium, the pope’s helicopter appeared and the crowd roared with rejoicing.  But we still had to wait a little time until the Pope actually appeared in the stadium.

That’s what the Third Sunday of Advent is like. We call it “Gaudete Sunday” because we rejoice that Christ is about to be here. But we still have to wait a week or so. That final week of preparation is really important:  we still have time to go to Confession, to put up the Christmas decorations, to give alms to the poor, or help decorate your Church.

Christmas day will soon be here.  Jesus Christ is coming.  How will you prepare?

I remember how the crowds rejoiced and cheered when the helicopter carrying St. John Paul II approached the stadium.
Hi, this is Fr. Rocky with another Advent Inspiration.
It was World Youth Day in Denver in 1993, and Mile High Stadium was overflowing with young people. Suddenly, on the far side of the stadium, the pope&rsquo;s helicopter appeared and the crowd roared with rejoicing.&nbsp; But we still had to wait a little time until the Pope actually appeared in the stadium.
That&rsquo;s what the Third Sunday of Advent is like. We call it &ldquo;Gaudete Sunday&rdquo; because we rejoice that Christ is about to be here. But we still have to wait a week or so. That final week of preparation is really important:&nbsp; we still have time to go to Confession, to put up the Christmas decorations, to give alms to the poor, or help decorate your Church.
Christmas day will soon be here.&nbsp; Jesus Christ is coming.&nbsp; How will you prepare?

Christmas Cookies

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