Monday, December 26, 2016

If We Would Please Him


'If we would please this Divine Infant, we too must become children, 
simple and humble. We must carry to Him flowers of virtue, of meekness, 
of mortification, of charity; we must clasp Him in the arms of our love.'

St. Alphonsus

Sunday, December 18, 2016

God Grant You


'God grant you the light of Christmas, which is faith;
the warmth of Christmas, which is purity;
the righteousness of Christmas, which is justice;
the belief in Christmas, which is truth;
the all of Christmas, which is Christ.'

Venerable Bede

Painting: Ferdinand du Puigaudeau

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

There's Something in My Shoe


Why, look at this! It's December 6th, and is this a letter from Santa that I see in my blog-shoe?

Dear Boys and Girls,

I have a confession to make. I'm not exactly who you think I am.

Oh, I'm real all right, and I hope my telling you that right off the bat will make you feel better. But I confess that I'm not the precise person, technically, specifically, who, in all honesty, places toys by that pretty tree on Christmas. Your tree looks especially nice this year, by the way, and yes - I can see it. I live where I can see lots of things, someplace much cooler than the North Pole.

I live with God.

I am, you see, a saint. I was a bishop and I lived in the fourth century and I fought heresy. Oh yes, I did. You can go read about that by clicking on this line right here.

People who teach heresy lead God's people away from Him, and that's just not nice. I guess you could say little Arius wound up on my naughty list.

So yes, Virginia, there is a me. And as for you, Harold and Jason and Emma - why, look here! Everybody who's reading this is on the Nice List!
 
Keep up the good work, boys and girls. Stay in touch with God, and have a HO HO HO Meerrrrrrrrrry Christmas!

Love,
Nicholas of Myra, Bishop
(but you can call me Santy as long as you want)  


(This was originally posted on a blog I had several years ago.  Shared here because, well, sometimes we just need a touch of whimsey....)

Friday, November 25, 2016

Friday, November 18, 2016

God Alone



Painting: Bruno Liljefors, Autumn Landscape with Fox, 1918