Tag: Christmas
Pandemic Christmas: A Silent Night
Today is officially the first day of Advent and the countdown to Christmas, which means it's a brand new year on the Church's liturgical calendar. At times like this, I can't help but reflect on how the past year has been. They say the word "Israel" means to wrestle with God. Well, if I were ...
Coming Home for Christmas
This morning I engaged in a gentle exchange in the "comments" section of a popular Catholic Instagram account called @LitCatholicMemes (which I typically enjoy, by the way). I rarely ever comment on stuff, but this time I felt like I had to speak up, because this topic has been weighing on my mind for some time ...
Not Feeling the Christmas Spirit? Try this.
Most of us don't want to be downers during Christmastime, but sometimes we can't help it. Work deadlines get in the way. Final exams stress us out. Malls get insanely crowded and Christmas parties feel like a chore. Sometimes we lose touch with friends and can't help but feel their vacancy. Other times we experience spiritual dryness and feel abandoned by ...
Christmas: Joy in the Midst of Suffering
As much as we'd rather sweep things under the rug and hope the sparkle of sequinned dresses and Christmas lights can distract us, the Advent season does not make us immune to stress, pain, mourning, loneliness, illness, and suffering. Life does not suddenly stop throwing curveballs just because its Christmas. No, life keeps on rolling, ...
What if Christmas Only Required Honesty?
I don't even have to tell you about "the true meaning of Christmas" -- we all know what it is. Go to church and the scriptures tell it beautifully. Even the holiday movies sometimes get it right, with themes of 'joy' and 'celebration' and 'forgiveness' and 'family' and 'giving'. So what happens? We do what ...
Celine Diaz: Real Talk 