Thursday, November 29, 2007

More Christmas Reflections

St. Nicholas
  • He lived during the 4th century in Lycia, a province on the southwest coast of Asia Minor.
  • Traveled to Egypt and Palestine.
  • Became Bishop of the church at Myra.
  • During the period of Christian persecution he was imprisoned by Diocletian.
  • Later released by Constantine the Great who issued the Edict of Milan in AD 313 which called for a toleration of all religions.
  • Protestant churches in Germany transformed St. Nicholas into Father Christmas. Kriss Kringle -- Christ Kindle, meaning Christ child.

CHRISTMAS comes from the Old English term Cristes maesse meaning Christ’s mass -- a festival service of worship help on Dec 25th to commemorate the birth of Jesus.

Three masses in the Roman Catholic Church on Christmas day.

  • Midnight represents the birth of the Lord before the ages.
  • Dawn supposedly represents the birth by the Blessed Virgin.
  • Daylight hours represents the birth in the hearts of the faithful.

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