Two weeks to celebrate Christmas

Do you remember when the Apollo 11 astronauts returned to earth? I know, that was 50 years ago, but everyone’s still talking about it. That celebration lasted for weeks, with ticker-tape parades all over the country. Hi, this is Fr. Rocky with another Advent Inspiration. Sending three men into th…

The Four Masses of Christmas

Hi, this is Fr. Rocky with another Advent Inspiration. Why do so many people go to Mass on Christmas?  Because no one wants to miss the opportunity to share in the Good News that a Savior has been born for us to save us from our sins. That’s really good news and gives everyone hope. Christmas is …

Silent Night

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 hav…

How do we know that Jesus was born on December 25?

How do we know Jesus was born on December 25th? Hi, this is Fr. Rocky with another Advent Inspiration. Everyone knows that Christ was born on Christmas Day, December 25th, but how do we know that? That’s an important and fascinating question, and I’ve spent the past twenty years searching for the…

The Christmas Tree

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, how lovely are your branches! Hi, this is Fr. Rocky with another Advent Inspiration. Everyone loves a Christmas tree, and no two trees are the same. Growing up in my family we would put up the tree around December 13, the Feast of Santa Lucia and the ancient fe…

Do you have a favorite Christmas carol?

Do you have a favorite Christmas carol? Hi, this is Fr. Rocky with another Advent Inspiration. There must be hundreds of Christmas carols, from many countries and in many languages. St. Josemaría’s favorite is in Spanish, and it’s based on a beautiful medieval tradition of providing shelter for t…

Christmas Cookies

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 t…

St. Nicholas Day

Jolly Old St. Nicholas, lean your ear this way! Hi, this is Fr. Rocky with another Advent Inspiration. December 6th is the Feast of St. Nicholas. You know who he is, don’t you? That’s St. Nicholas of Bari, a small town on the Adriatic Coast of Italy. Some of his relics are in a Church there, but …

Christmas Cards

Send a Christmas card, get a Christmas card. Or is it the other way around? Get a Christmas card, send a Christmas card? Everyone loves to get a Christmas card, especially these days when so much communication is electronic. But a real card, in your own handwriting, with a stamp you licked yoursel…

Christmas Ornaments

How many Christmas ornaments can you put on a tree? The number of Christmas ornaments you can put on a tree is directly proportional to the size of the tree, the number of the branches, the size of the ornaments, the time you have available, and your determination. If you’ve been paying attention,…