Christmas day
Wisdom, Chapter 17, Verse 8-10
8 For they who undertook
to banish FEARS and terrors from the
sick soul themselves sickened with ridiculous fear. 9 For even though no
monstrous thing frightened them, they
shook at the passing of insects and the hissing of reptiles, 10 And perished trembling, reluctant to face even the air that they
could nowhere escape.
Darkness
afflicts the Egyptians, while the Israelites have light!
I
wake again, for the LORD sustains me. I fear not the myriads of people arrayed
against me on every side.
Nativity of Our Lord,
Or Christmas.[1]
Sunrise
OF THE SECOND MASS.
The Introit of this
Mass reminds us of the temporal birth of Our Savior in Bethlehem. A light shall
shine upon us to-day, for Our Lord is born to us, and He shall be called
Wonderful, God, the Prince of peace, the Father of the world to come, of Whose
reign there shall be no end” (Is. ix. 6). “The Lord hath reigned, He is clothed
with beauty; the Lord is clothed with strength, and hath girded Himself” (Ps.
xcii. 1).
Prayer.
Grant, we beseech Thee,
Almighty God, that we who are filled with the new light of Thy incarnate Word,
may show forth in our works what faith displays in our mind. Through the same
Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen
EPISTLE. Titus iii. 4-7.
Dearly Beloved: The
goodness and kindness of God our Savior appeared: not by the works of justice
which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the labor of
regeneration, and renovation of the Holy Ghost, Whom He hath poured forth upon
us abundantly, through Jesus Christ our Savior: that, being justified by His
grace, we may be heirs, according to hope, of life everlasting in Christ Jesus
our Lord.
What does St. Paul
teach us in this epistle?
He teaches us what God
has done and is doing that we may have eternal life, and why He does it. Not by
our own merits, but according to His mercy, He has saved us by holy Baptism,
for we were conceived and born in sin. Let us show by our lives that we are
renewed by the Holy Ghost, and animated by the hope of life everlasting.
Why did not God have
mercy on the fallen angels?
This is a mystery which
should heighten our love to God, but should also fill us with fear and
trembling, for if we do not use the goodness and kindness of God to our advantage
our punishment will be severer than that of the fallen angels.
GOSPEL. Luke ii. 15-20.
At that time the shepherds said one to
another: Let us go over to Bethlehem, and let us see this word that is come to pass,
which the Lord hath showed to us. And they came with haste: and they found Mary
and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. And seeing, they understood of
the word that had been spoken to them concerning this child. And all that heard
wondered: and at those things that were told them by the shepherds. But Mary
kept all these words, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God, for all the things they had heard and seen, as it
was told unto them.
How could the shepherds know that the
new-born child was the Savior of the world?
The angels had given them a sign: “You
shall find the infant wrapped in swaddling-clothes, and laid in a manger,” and
seeing, they believed, fell on their knees, and adored the child. They then
praised God for the graces they had received, and made known what they had
heard and seen to others.
What do we learn from Mary in this gospel?
That we should ponder the divine truths in
our hearts, and, by this heavenly nourishment, strengthen and preserve our
souls in spiritual life.
Christmas Customs[2]
Christmas Greeting
The popular American greeting "Merry Christmas"
is generally taken as a wish for a joyful feast, but in reality, it has a
different meaning. "Merry" originally meant "peaceful or
blessed," not jocular or happy; it was an adjective for heavenly serenity,
not earthly mirth. The phrase, "Merry England," for example, referred
to the spiritual character of the country. And in the carol, "God
rest you merry gentleman," the word "merry" does not refer
to "gentleman." Rather, it should be read, "God rest you merry,
gentleman," -- "that is, God rest you peacefully, gentleman."
Pageants
Like other high
points of the liturgical year, Christmas was the occasion of devout mystery
plays, dramas held in church after Mass which explained the meaning of the
mystery being commemorated. By the late Middle Ages these plays had become
elaborate pageants, public entertainment (usually held outside the church on a
movable stage) that consisted of various scenes from history or legend.
Gift Giving
Many Americans may be surprised to learn that the Christmas custom of
exchanging gifts does not always occur on Christmas morning. In some countries,
the Feast of St. Nicholas (December 6) is the traditionally preferred date,
while in France -- for adults at least-- it is January 1st. Still other
countries, such as Italy, imitate the Magi by presenting their gifts on the
Feast of the Epiphany. (Epiphany is also the day when gifts are exchanged in
the Eastern churches.) Finally, some areas of Europe exchange their gifts on
Christmas Eve before or after attending Midnight Mass. The giving of gifts may
also be spread over the duration of Christmas (hence, the carol, "The
Twelve Days of Christmas:" see below). December 26, for example, is called
Boxer Day in England and Canada because on this day the poor boxes of the
church were emptied by the priest and their contents distributed to the needy.
The day after Christmas has thus become a traditional day for giving gifts to
servants or to one's paperboy, mailman, barber, etc. In some places, some of
the gifts are withheld on Christmas to be given on Epiphany. This has the
advantage of prolonging children's delight in receiving presents, as opposed to
over-saturating them on Christmas Day.
Plants
It is only fitting that the season celebrating the Flower that comes from
the root of Jesse (Is. 11.2) should be so strongly associated with various
plants, some of which are included below:
Holly: Why do we deck the halls with boughs of holly?
Simple but profound in its symbolism, holly represents two sacred events: the
revelation of God's Holy Name to Moses on Mt. Sinai and the Crucifixion of our
Lord. On the one hand, the prickly leaves and red berries of holly call to mind
the burning bush from which Yahweh spoke; on the other they symbolize the Crown
of Thorns and the drops of Blood shed by our Lord during His Passion. The point
seems to be that in order to recognize the infant in the manger as the Godman,
one must look backward to His self-revelation in sacred history and forward to
His saving action on the Cross.
Mistletoe: Mistletoe was considered to be a powerful and
sacred healing agent by the Druids. It was considered so sacrosanct, in fact,
that enemies who met under it were forced to lay down their arms, embrace each
other, and vow not to fight until the following day. When England became
Christian, mistletoe was retained as a token of good will and friendship (along
with the custom of kissing under the mistletoe), while its association with
healing was transferred to Christ, whom the Advent hymn for Vespers calls the
"Cure for a sick world" (languidi mundi Medela).
Ivy: Ivy was originally banned from Christmas
celebrations because of its pagan associations with bacchanalia. It took
several centuries for the distaste of this symbolism to wear off, but when in
the Middle Ages it finally did, its natural qualities could be appreciated
anew. Seeing in its desperate clinging to rock an allegory for human dependence
on divine strength, Christians made ivy became a popular Christmas symbol, as
well as a favored indoor plant year-round.
Laurel (Bay): Whereas ivy suffered from its pagan meaning,
laurel benefited. As the ancient Roman symbol of victory, laurel became the
first plant to be used as a decoration for the newborn King. The Christmas
wreath hung on our doors also comes from this symbolism. The Romans considered
wreaths symbols of victory and celebration, placing them on their doors when an
occasion merited it.
Rosemary: As a Christmas symbol, rosemary is almost as
old as laurel. An ancient legend, explaining the reason for its use at
Christmas time, states that when the Holy Family was fleeing to Egypt Mary
stopped along the way, washed Jesus' tiny clothes, and spread them out to dry
on a rosemary bush. Since then God has rewarded the bush with a pleasing
fragrance.
Poinsetta: The most recent addition to the Christmas
plant pageant is the glorious poinsettia from Central America or, as it is
called in Mexico, the flower of Holy Night. It is of no consequence that the
plant's flaming red "petals" are actually its leaves; the poinsettia
is a perfect reminder of the fiery star that led the wise men to Bethlehem.
The Christmas Carol, "The Twelve Days of Christmas"[3]
The singing of
hymns and carols, even in an age which has lost the ability to sing, remains a
fixed and cherished part of Christmas. Unfortunately, we cannot adequately
examine the vast history or catalog of Christmas songs. Instead, we will focus
on one famous but misunderstood Christmas carol. Most holiday revelers do not
realize that the popular carol, "The Twelve Days of Christmas,"
is actually a hidden catechism for Catholics. From 1558 to 1829 the Catholic
Church was persecuted in England, making the transmission of the faith from one
generation to the next exceedingly difficult. One solution was to veil the
basic tenets of the faith in the symbols of a song. If caught, a Catholic could
claim that it was merely an innocuous ditty, or even, if pushed, a Protestant
catechism (since most of the song's teachings were also shared by the
Reformers).
Here are the
verses of the song, followed by its meaning:
The Twelve Days of Christmas
On the first day of Christmas, my
true love gave to me, a partridge in a pear tree.
On the second day of Christmas,
my true love gave to me, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree.
On the third day of Christmas, my
true love gave to me, three french hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a
pear tree.
On the fourth day of Christmas,
my true love gave to me, four calling birds, three french hens, two turtle
doves, and a partridge in a pear tree.
On the fifth day of Christmas, my
true love gave to me, five golden rings, four calling birds, three french hens,
two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree.
On the sixth day of Christmas, my
true love gave to me, six geese-a-laying, five golden rings, four calling
birds, three french hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree.
On the seventh day of Christmas,
my true love gave to me, seven swans-a-swimming, six geese-a-laying, five
golden rings, four calling birds, three french hens, two turtle doves, and a
partridge in a pear tree.
On the eighth day of Christmas,
my true love gave to me, eight maids-a-milking, seven swans-a-swimming, six
geese-a-laying, five golden rings, four calling birds, three french hens, two
turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree.
On the ninth day of Christmas, my
true love gave to me, nine ladies dancing, eight maids-a-milking, seven
swans-a-swimming, six geese-a-laying, five golden rings, four calling birds,
three french hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree.
On the tenth day of Christmas, my
true love gave to me, ten lords-a-leaping, nine ladies dancing, eight
maids-a-milking, seven swans-a-swimming, six geese-a-laying, five golden rings,
four calling birds, three french hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a
pear tree.
On the eleventh day of Christmas,
my true love gave to me, eleven pipers piping, ten lords-a-leaping, nine ladies
dancing, eight maids-a-milking, seven swans-a-swimming, six geese-a-laying,
five golden rings, four calling birds, three french hens, two turtle doves, and
a partridge in a pear tree.
On the twelfth day of Christmas,
my true love gave to me, twelve drummers drumming, eleven pipers piping, ten
lords-a-leaping, nine ladies dancing, eight maids-a-milking, seven
swans-a-swimming, six geese-a-laying, five golden rings, four calling birds,
three french hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree.
The
Carol's Meaning
·
My true love = God
·
Me = every baptized person, the
Church
·
A Partridge in a pear tree = The
Word made flesh, Jesus Christ (The portrayal of Christ as a mother partridge is
inspired by his lament: "Jerusalem! Jerusalem! How often would I have
sheltered thee under my wings, as a hen does her chicks, but thou wouldst not
have it so..."). The pear tree signifies the wood of the manger
(and also of the cross), while the fruit reminds us of the reason for the
Incarnation: God's desire to save us from the sin introduced by Adam's and
Eve's consumption of the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of good and evil.
The fruit also reminds us of the Tree of Life in the midst of the Garden.
·
Two Turtle Doves = The two parts
of the Sacred Scriptures [Old and New Testaments]
·
Three French Hens = The three
theological virtues, given from God and poured into our hearts [Faith, Hope,
and Charity]
·
Four Calling Birds = the four
Gospels/Evangelists [Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John]
·
Five Golden Rings = The first five Books
of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch" [Genesis, Exodus, Numbers,
Leviticus, and Deuteronomy]
·
Six Geese a-Laying = The six days
of creation
1st Day: Creation of light and its
separation from darkness
2nd Day: Creation of the firmament and
division of the waters
3rd Day: Collection of waters (sea) and
formation of dry land (earth); creation of plants according to their own
likeness
4th Day: Creation of heavenly bodies in
the firmament (sun, moon, and stars)
5th Day: Creation of sea creatures and
winged fowl from the waters
6th Day: Creation of cattle, creeping
things, and beasts from the dry land; creation of mankind, male and female
·
Seven Swans a-Swimming = the seven
gifts of the Holy Spirit
1.
wisdom
2.
understanding
3.
counsel
4.
fortitude
5.
knowledge
6.
piety
7.
fear of the Lord
Also, the seven sacraments of the Catholic
faith [Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Penance, Extreme Unction, Holy
Orders, and Matrimony]
- Eight
Maids a-Milking = the eight Beatitudes [Mt. 5.3-12]
1.
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven.
2.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land.
3.
Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be
comforted.
4.
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice:
for they shall have their fill.
5.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
6.
Blessed are the clean of heart: they shall see God.
7.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called
the children of God.
8.
Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice'
sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Nine
Ladies Dancing = the nine choirs of angels (in ascending order)
1. Angels
2. Archangels
3. Virtues
4. Powers
5. Principalities
6. Dominations
7. Thrones
8. Cherubim
9. Seraphim
- Ten
Lords a-Leaping = the Ten Commandments
1. I am the Lord thy God; thou shalt not
have strange gods before me.
2. Thou shalt not take the name of the
Lord thy God in vain.
3. Remember that thou keep holy the
Sabbath day.
4. Honor thy father and mother.
5. Thou shalt not kill.
6. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
7. Thou shalt not steal.
8. Thou shalt not bear false witness
against thy neighbor.
9. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's
wife.
10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's
goods.
- Eleven Pipers Piping = the eleven faithful
apostles [Simon Peter, James the Great, John, Simon (the Zealot), Jude
(a.k.a. Thaddeus), Andrew, James the Less, Matthew, Phillip, Bartholomew,
and Thomas]
- Twelve Drummers Drumming = the twelve articles of the
Apostle's Creed
1. I believe in God, the Father almighty,
Creator of Heaven and earth.
2. And in Jesus Christ His only Son our
Lord:
3. Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was
crucified, died, and was buried.
5. He descended into Hell; on the third
day He rose from the dead.
6. He ascended into Heaven, sitteth at the
right hand of God the Father almighty.
7. From thence He shall come to judge the
living and the dead.
8. I believe in the Holy Spirit,
9. The Holy Catholic Church, the Communion
of Saints,
10. The forgiveness of sins,
11. The resurrection of the body,
12. And life everlasting. Amen.
The "Twelve Days of Christmas" is still an
excellent expression of joy in the Incarnate Lord and a well-rounded summary of
the life of Faith. And, by giving us something on which to meditate for each
day, it is also an ideal way to spend the twelve days of Christmas. It even
reminds us (by virtue of its history) of the cost many generations had to pay
in order for us to receive the Good News we celebrate during this holy season.
Nativity of Our Lord,
Or Christmas.[4]
Full Daytime
OF THE THIRD MASS.
The
Introit of the third Mass reminds us of the spiritual birth of Christ in our
hearts. “A child is born to us, and a son is given to us, and the government is
upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called the Angel of great counsel”
(Is. ix. 6). “Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle, for He hath done wonderful things”
(Ps. xcvii.1).
Prayer.
Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that the new birth of
Thine only begotten Son in the flesh may deliver us, who are held by the old
bondage under the yoke of sin. Amen.
EPISTLE. Heb. i. 1-12.
God, Who at sundry times and in divers
manners spoke in times past to the fathers by the prophets, last of all in
these days, has spoken to us by His Son, Whom He hath appointed heir of all
things, by Whom also He made the world : Who being the brightness of His glory,
and the figure of His substance, and upholding all things by the word of His
power, making purgation of sins, sitteth on the right hand of the Majesty on
high: being made so much better than the angels, as He had inherited a more
excellent name than they. For to which of the angels hath He said at any time:
Thou art My Son, to-day have I begotten Thee? And again: I will be to Him a
Father, and He shall be to Me a Son? And again, when He bringeth in the
first-begotten into the world, He saith: And let all the angels of God adore
Him. And to the angels indeed He saith: He that maketh His angel’s spirits, and
His ministers a flame of fire. But to the Son: Thy throne, O God, is forever
and ever: a scepter of justice is the scepter of Thy kingdom. Thou hast loved
justice and hated iniquity: therefore God, Thy God hath anointed Thee with the
oil of gladness above Thy fellows. And: Thou in the beginning, O Lord, didst
found the earth: and the works of Thy hands are the heavens. They shall perish,
but Thou shalt continue, and they shall all grow old as a garment. And as a
vesture shalt Thou change them and they shall be changed: but Thou art the
self-same, and Thy years shall not fail.
Meditation.
How magnificently does this epistle set
forth the kindness and love of God the Father, Who, for a teacher, has given
us, not a prophet, but His only Son! how beautifully does it prove the divinity
of Christ, since God has begotten Him from all eternity, and created the
heavens and earth through Him, Who is always the same, and His throne forever
and ever! Learn, O Christian soul, from this epistle, how much thou art obliged
to love God, to trust Him, and to follow Christ thy example, for without
imitating Him thou canst neither belong to His elect, nor have part in His
redemption.
Aspiration.
O heavenly Father, I thank Thee with my
whole heart, for having spoken to us through Thy only begotten Son, Whom Thou
hast made better than the angels. I will, O Father of mercy, listen to Him with
gratitude, and use His sublime teachings for the perfect enlightenment of my
mind and heart.
GOSPEL. John i. 1-14.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were
made by Him and without Him was made nothing that was made. In Him was life,
and the life was the light of men; and the light shineth in darkness, and the
darkness did not comprehend it. There was a man sent from God whose name was
John. This man came for a witness, to give testimony of the light, that all men
might believe through him. He was not the light, but was to give testimony of
the light, that was the true light which enlighteneth every man that cometh
into this world. He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the
world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as
many as received Him, He gave them power to be made the sons of God; to them
that believe in His name. Who are born, not of blood, nor of the will of the
flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH, and dwelt
among us; and we saw His glory, the glory as it were of the only begotten of
the Father, full of grace and truth.
· What
does St. John mean by the “Word”?
He means the Son of God, Who is called the Word of the
Father, because He was begotten as the word is produced from the thought, but
in a manner more beautiful and mysterious. In His divine nature He is one with
the Father; but in person distinct from Him; as the word spoken is at the same
time one with Him Who speaks, and yet distinct from Him. He is also called the
Word because it is through Him that the Father has declared to us His will.
· What
is the meaning of, “in the beginning was the Word”?
It means that at the beginning of the world the Son of God already
was, and, therefore, was begotten of His Father from all eternity. Thus, at the
beginning of his gospel St. John teaches Christ’s eternity, divinity, and
equality with the Father.
· What
is the meaning of, “all things were made by the Word”?
That the Son of God, Himself true God, with the Father and
the Holy Ghost, created all things that were made, both visible and invisible,
in perfect order and beauty (Prov. viii. 30).
· What
is the meaning of, “in Him was life”?
That, as the living God, He was the source and fountain of all
life.
· How
was the “Life the light of men”?
The Eternal Son, Who was the life, was also the light of
men, because He was the Truth to enlighten them with the knowledge and love of
God, that, avoiding sin and ignorance they might walk with safety in the way of
salvation.
· In
what sense are we to understand the words, “and the light shineth in darkness,
and the darkness did not comprehend it”?
Christ made known the true knowledge of God to men who were
in spiritual darkness, that is, in error and ignorance, but they would not
receive His holy teaching. This is still the case with those who,
notwithstanding the preaching of the Gospel, Will not believe, and particularly
with those hardened sinners who will not return to God, although He pours upon
them the light of His grace to move them to penance.
· Who
is meant by “him who came to bear witness of that light”?
St. John the Baptist, who endeavored by his preaching to
prepare the Jews for the coming of Christ, and who testified before the whole
world that He was the expected King and Messiah.
· How
are we made children of God?
By the grace which we receive in holy Baptism.
· What
is to be understood by, the Word was made flesh?
We are to understand by it that the Word was not changed
into human nature, but that He became incarnate by the Holy Ghost, of the
Virgin Mary, and was made man, uniting in one person the two natures, divine
and human. He was the Godman, Who walked among men thirty-three years, marking
every step by favors and benefits. He assumed, says St. Leo, the nature of man,
who was to be reconciled to God, in order that Satan, the author of death,
might be overcome by that same nature which he had before conquered; and thus
Our Lord and Savior vanquished our most cruel enemy, not in majesty, but in
humility.
·
What is the meaning of, “and we saw His glory,
the glory of the only-begotten of the Father”?
The evangelist hereby indicates that he and his fellow apostles
were permitted to see the glory of the Godman; for instance, on Mount Tabor; in
His miracles; in His glorious resurrection and ascension. Thus, they saw Him
and knew that He was the true Son of God, the fountain of all good, from which
all receive life, and light, and grace (John i. 16).
Aspiration.
O God, Father in heaven, Who, in the form of an amiable
child, hast given to us poor sinners this past night Thy only begotten Son,
born of the immaculate Virgin Mary, to be our Mediator and Redeemer, we thank
Thee with all our hearts for this inexpressible grace, and beseech Thee, of Thy
goodness, to preserve in us the perpetual memory of it, that, in all our
adversities and temptations, we may have comfort and consolation, with strength
to love, serve, and praise Thee, in holiness and purity, until the last hour of
our lives. Amen.
Christmas - The First Day[5]
The purest of Virgins gave us our God,
who was this day born of her, clothed in the flesh of a Babe, and she was found
worthy to feed him at her Breast: let us all adore Christ, who came to save us.
Ye faithful people, let us all rejoice, for our Savior is
born in our world: this Day there has been born the Son of the great Mother,
and she yet a pure Virgin.
O Queen of the world, and Daughter of a kingly race! Christ
has risen from thy womb, as a Bridegroom coming from the bride-chamber: He that
rules the stars lies in a Crib. — Antiphon from the ancient Church of Gaul
·
Day One activity (Christmas Drama)
·
Day One recipe (Breton Nut Bread)
20 Christmas Movies[6]
The following movies have
been evaluated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops according to artistic
merit and moral suitability. The reviews include the USCCB rating, the Motion Picture
Association of America rating,
and a brief synopsis of the movie.
Browse your TV listings,
video store shelves, or your movie service website to find one of these classic
gems and recent favorites to share with your family.
The Shop Around the Corner (1940)
Delightful romantic comedy
set in a Budapest department store where two clerks (James Stewart and Margaret
Sullavan) nurture a mutual dislike of the other while each exchanges love
letters with a lonely heart’s pen pal until ultimately discovering they have
been corresponding with each other. Director Ernst Lubitsch treats the workaday
friction between the clerks with some wry humor while building sympathy for
both, then brings them together in an emotionally satisfying conclusion that
has charmed viewers ever since. Romantic complications. (A-II) (NR)
The Bells of St. Mary's (1945)
Director Leo McCarey's
sequel to "Going My Way" (1944) pulls out all the emotional stops in
a sugary confection that takes happy-go-lucky Father O'Malley (Bing Crosby) to
a poor parish with a crumbling school run by overworked Sister Benedict (Ingrid
Bergman). Though their conflicting views on education have less to do
with the plot than the chasm between their personal relations, Bergman's
shining performance as the idealistic nun is still worth watching.
Sentimental yet warm picture of Catholic life in an age of innocence. (A-I)
(NR)
It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
Seasonal favorite about
the joys and trials of a good man (James Stewart) who, facing financial ruin on
the eve of Christmas, contemplates suicide until his guardian angel (Henry
Travers) shows him how meaningful his life has been to those around him.
Director Frank Capra's unabashedly sentimental picture of mainstream American
life is bolstered by a superb cast (including Lionel Barrymore as a conniving
banker) and a wealth of good feelings about such commonplace virtues as hard
work and helping one's neighbor. Young children may find the story's dark
moments unsettling. (A-II) (NR)
The Bishop's Wife (1947)
A debonair, smartly
tailored angel (Cary Grant) uses his heavenly powers to help the neglected wife
(Loretta Young) of a busy Episcopalian bishop (David Niven) renew her husband's
ministry to those in need rather than in raising the money for a new
cathedral. Director Henry Koster's sentimental Christmas fable has the
virtue of a good script, sincere performances and some amusing moments with
Grant's angelic powers and Monty Wooley as a softhearted old cynic. Most
of the family will find it charming entertainment. (A-II) (NR)
Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
Familiar seasonal favorite
follows a department store Santa (Edmund Gwenn) as he strives to convince a
lonely little girl (Natalie Wood) that he's the genuine article, despite the
objections of her rigidly pragmatic mother (Maureen O'Hara) and a court trial
that hinges on the U.S. Post Office. Director George Seaton's amusing romantic
fantasy has its sentimental moments while spreading a reasonable amount of
holiday cheer, largely due to Gwenn's charming performance as Kris Kringle.
Problems of single parenthood. (A-II) (NR)
Three Godfathers (1948)
After robbing a bank, an
outlaw trio (John Wayne, Pedro Armendariz and Harry Carey Jr.) pause to help a
dying woman (Mildred Natwick) deliver her infant son on Christmas Eve, then take
the babe with them as they are pursued across a desert wasteland. Dedicated by
director John Ford to Western actor Harry Carey, Sr., the story may be
unabashedly sentimental, and the action romanticized, but its lyrical images
and religious resonances celebrate the myth of the Old West and its rugged
heroes with good hearts. Off-screen suicide of one of the principals. (A-II)
(NR)
Come to the Stable (1949)
Sentimental but amusing
picture from Clare Booth Luce's story of two French nuns (Loretta Young and Celeste
Holm) trying to establish a hospital in New England with some help from an
eccentric artist (Elsa Lanchester) and a cynical songwriter (Hugh Marlowe).
Director Henry Koster gets some smiles from the nuns' adapting to American ways
and the bemused reactions of the locals to the newcomers' otherworldly
simplicity, with mostly heartwarming results. Unpretentious, generally
high-minded fun. (A-I) (NR)
A Christmas Carol (1951)
This British version of
the Dickens' classic has worn well over the years principally because of
Alistair Sim's zestful performance as Scrooge, the old humbug whose transformation
into a loving human being is a pleasure to behold. Director Brian Desmond
Hurst's period piece does well with its 19th-century London setting and the
ghostly visitations are done simply but with considerable flair. The
result is dandy family viewing. (A-I) (NR)
White Christmas (1954)
Cheerful but synthetic
musical comedy about two World War II veterans (Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye) who
use their popularity as entertainers to make a success out of the winter resort
opened by their wartime commander (Dean Jagger). Directed by Michael Curtiz,
the post-war feel-good plot is less memorable than Kaye's clowning and Crosby's
crooning of the title song among other Irving Berlin numbers originally written
for the earlier, better "Holiday Inn" (1942) pairing Crosby with Fred
Astaire. While not a classic, it offers some good family entertainment.
(A-I) (NR)
A Christmas Story (1983)
Adapted from Jean
Shepherd's nostalgic piece of whimsey, "In God We Trust, All Others Pay
Cash," the movie re-creates what it was like to be a boy (Peter
Billingsley) yearning for a genuine Red Ryder air rifle for Christmas in the
Midwest of the 1940s. Director Bob Clark gets some good performances from
Darren McGavin and Melinda Dillon as the understanding parents and the period
atmosphere is nicely conveyed win what is essentially a warm celebration of a
more innocent, less sophisticated America. A few vulgar syllables. (A-II)
(PG)
The Fourth Wise Man (1985)
Adaptation of Henry Van
Dyke's vintage short story "The Other Wise Man," tells of a fourth
Magi (Martin Sheen) who is delayed in following the star to Bethlehem, then
finally catches up with it in Jerusalem some 33 years later in an encounter
which fulfills his life's search for truth. Produced by Paulist Father Ellwood
Keiser and directed by Michael Rhodes, the 72-minute dramatization effectively
amplifies the religious dimension of the original while adding some light humor
from Alan Arkin as the Magi's servant. Family entertainment with the universal
theme of bettering oneself by helping others. (A-I) (NR)
Prancer (1989)
Sweet-natured Christmas
story about a spirited 8-year-old farm girl (Rebecca Harrell) who cares for an
injured reindeer believing it is one of Santa's team. While this
"E.T." clone may have its fill of cranky adults and earnest moments,
John Hancock's direction has a feel for rural community life that will please
older viewers while younger ones will love the reindeer and the praise lavished
on the spunky heroine for revitalizing the town's Christmas spirit. (A-I)
(G)
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
In this sprightly version
of Charles Dickens' ``A Christmas Carol,'' Muppets Kermit, Miss Piggy, the
Great Gonzo, Rizzo the Rat and Fozzie Bear have incidental roles as Michael
Caine portrays skinflint Ebenezer Scrooge, who is visited by the spirits of
Christmas Past, Present and Future so he can learn the true spirit of
Christmas. Director Brian Henson retells the holiday classic with delightful
musical numbers, though with less frenzied fun than the usual Muppet outings. (A-I)
(G)
The Polar Express (2004)
Visually captivating,
animated fantasy -- in which Tom Hanks plays five separate roles -- about a
doubting young boy who is whisked away on Christmas Eve aboard a magic train
bound for Santa's village in the North Pole. Based on the children's novel by
Chris Van Allsburg, director Rob Zemeckis' hauntingly beautiful fairy tale
celebrates childlike wonder and -- though secular in tone -- imparts a
profoundly faith-friendly message about the importance of believing in things
that can't be seen. (A-I) (G)
Christmas with the Kranks (2004)
Delightful yuletide comedy
about a Chicago couple (Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis) who boycott Christmas
after their daughter leaves home to join the Peace Corps, sparking unforeseen
reactions from their militantly merry neighbors (led by Dan Aykroyd). The film is
based on the novella "Skipping Christmas" by John Grisham. Director
Joe Roth delivers a dose of holly-jolly fun that is, by turns, extremely funny
and poignantly tender, and its warmhearted message of selflessness, family and
coming together as a community clearly embodies the truest spirit of the
season. Some suggestive humor, comic violence and mildly crude language.
(A-II) (PG)
The Nativity Story (2006)
Dramatization of the New
Testament birth narratives from the Annunciation to the birth of Jesus,
focusing on the relationship between Mary (Keisha Castle-Hughes) and Joseph
(Oscar Isaac) and their arduous trek from Nazareth to Bethlehem, with subplots
tracking the journey of the three Magi and the efforts of King Herod (Ciaran
Hinds) to prevent the prophecy of a messiah from coming to pass. A composite of
the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, embroidered with apocryphal traditions and the
imagination of the filmmaker, the Bible story gets the prestige treatment in
director Catherine Hardwicke's artful, reverent and affecting retelling, with
soulful performances from an excellent international cast -- including Shohreh
Aghdashloo as Elizabeth -- and impressive production design. Mike Rich's
screenplay manages to flesh out Mary and Joseph while remaining faithful to
Scripture, poignantly suggesting the humanity beneath the halos. Some violent
images. A-I (PG)
Joyeux Noel (2006)
Intensely moving World War
I tale of soldiers -- Scottish, French and German -- who spontaneously agree to
a cease-fire on the Western front on Christmas Eve as they hear carols wafting
from the enemy's trenches, intermingle and bond on a humanistic level, to the
eventual disdain of their superiors. Writer-director Christian Carion's film,
inspired by true events, is sensitively acted (by an international cast
including Guillaume Canet, Daniel Bruhl and Benno Furmann) and conveys a
powerful message about the senselessness of war, while there is an admirable
religious underpinning in the character of a dedicated Anglican priest (Gary
Lewis) who brings everyone together for a liturgy on that special night.
Partially in English, partially subtitled. Battlefield violence with death,
some profanity and crude language, discreet husband-wife bedroom scene. (A-II)
(PG-13)
Fred Claus (2007)
A Christmas Carol (2009)
Daily Devotions
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