SAINT OF THE WEEK “before” and “after” Christ, one might presume that Jesus was born in the year one, or perhaps the year zero. Well, there was no year SAINT STEPHEN zero. And tradition has it that a sixth century monk names Dionysis December 26 Exiguus xed the date at the year 1, but errors in his calculations The story of the rst Christian martyr, who have led scholars to believe that the actual year may be between worked “great wonders” and had “the face 4 and 6 BC. Historical evidence, based on references from Luke’s of an angel,” is told in Acts chapters 6-7. Gospel, might lead us to concur. Astronomical research by Dr. Likely a Greek-speaking Jew, Stephen was William Bidelman at Case Western University makes a strong case among seven deacons chosen to help the for April or March of the year 2 BC. widows in Jerusalem’s Hellenistic commu- Ultimately, for Christian believers, the precise date and year nity, who were being neglected. But the won- isn’t of primary importance. For us, most important is the underlying ders he worked rattled local Jewish leaders. fact, which we celebrate at Christmas: that God loved us enough to Witnesses at his trial before the Sanhedrin become human, to share our human experience, and achieve our gave false testimony, and Stephen defended himself with a stirring redemption. Whenever we celebrate Christmas, we remember that speech recalling the long history of Israel’s relationship with God Christ’s Incarnation has changed our world—and our lives—forever. and calling his listeners “stiff-necked people . . . just like your ances- Father Rice is Vocations Director for the Paulist Fathers tors.” Saul, later the Apostle Paul, witnessed the stoning of Stephen and heard him pray for his persecutors. He is the patron of bricklay- CATECHETICAL CORNER ers, stonemasons, and numerous individual Christian churches. THE CHRISTMAS MANGER SCENE “Following a beautiful and rmly-rooted tradition, many families set up their Crib immediately after the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, as if to relive with Mary those days full of trepidation FACT OF FAITH that preceded the birth of Jesus. Putting up the Crib at home can be a simple but effective way of presenting faith, to pass it on to THE DATE OF CHRISTMAS one’s children. The Crib helps us contemplate the mystery of God’s love that was by Rev. Larry Rice, CSP revealed in the poverty and simplicity of the Bethlehem Grotto. St. If you ask nearly anyone in the Western world the date of Christmas, Francis of Assisi was so taken by the mystery of the Incarnation that chances are you’ll be told it’s December 25. And if you ask them he wanted to present it anew at Greccio in the living Nativity scene, what Christmas celebrates, chances are you’ll be told it’s the com- thus beginning an old, popular tradition that still retains its value for memoration of Christ’s birth. But the question remains, was Jesus evangelization today. born on December 25? Well, the most diplomatic answer would be, Indeed, the Crib can help us understand the secret of the true “experts differ.” Christmas because it speaks of the humility and merciful goodness Given the popularity of Christmas in today’s world, it’s hard to of Christ, who ‘though he was rich he made himself poor’ for us imagine that Christmas wasn’t always seen as particularly import- (2 Cor 8:9).” ant. The earliest records we have of the Church observing the —Pope Benedict XVI, Angelus feast of Christ’s birth date from the fourth century. By the time St. December 11, 2005 John Chrysostom was bishop of Constantinople in 398, most of the Christian world observed Christmas on December 25. The Church in Armenia was at that time marking Christmas on January 6; today much of the Orthodox Church follows this tradition. But why was December 25 chosen? Many believe that the date was chosen to counter the Roman feast of Saturnalia. Certainly, in the history of the Church, and the history of Christmas in particu- lar, there are plenty of examples of Christians shifting local pagan observances to Christian ones, effectively “baptizing” their culture and customs. This doesn’t mean that Christmas is some kind of dis- guised pagan festival, it simply re ects the very understandable human need to integrate our faith and culture and to allow our faith to transform every part of our lives. Regarding the actual year of Christ’s birth, we don’t nd much more clarity. Since the calendar is traditionally divided into epochs

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