We wish our readers a blessed and THE CATHOLIC WEEKLY OF SRI LANKA “REGISTERED IN THE DEPARTMENT OF POSTS OF SRI LANKA” UNDER NO. QD /74/NEWS/2020 joyful Christmas ! Sunday December 20, 2020 Vol 151 No 43 16 Pages Rs: 50.00 Registered as a newspaper

CHRISTMAS: A HOPE-FILLED CELEBRATION Christmas is the commemoration of from all cultural change" (Fratelli Tutti the Birth of Jesus in Bethlehem which 213). He reiterates that the Wellspring is God's entry into human history. of human dignity and fraternity is in Christmas invites us to believe in Jesus the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It gives way and come to experience life in His to the primacy given to relationships, name. (John 20:30-31). to the universal communion with the entire human family. He stresses that This year we commemorate the Birth it is the vocation of all of us. Christmas of Jesus in the midst of the COVID-19 celebrated amidst this pandemic invites Pandemic. After the tragic events of all of us to respect always the dignity Easter Sunday all men and women of of all, as the Holy Father underlines, it goodwill still await justice. Let us be is not something inserted or imagined attentive to the God of communion (Fratelli Tutti 277). who speaks to us in and through the events of our world as well. Therefore, in keeping with our vocation, The commemoration of the Birth of let us lift up our hearts to God in Jesus proclaims to us the love of God fervent prayer for all those who suffer, (John 3:16) and the dignity of the the poor and all our children. Mindful human condition. It is also the family of those who are less privileged, let of our children and of the Poor. Despite the seemingly hopeless situation possible. In keeping with our primary us share our bene�its with as many as confronting us due to the COVID- obligation, let us be united in very 19, Christmas gives us hope as the devout and fervent prayer with all Original Christmas. His Holiness Pope Francis in his latest encyclical teaches justice. who are af�licted and those who await that "every human being possesses We wish all our Faithful, our fellow an inalienable dignity is a truth that citizens and all men and women of corresponds to human nature apart goodwill a Blessed Christmas. by Mercilline Heenkenda

✠ Rt. Rev. Dr. J. Winston S. Fernando, SSS ✠ Rt. Rev. Dr. J. D. Anthony Jayakody Bishop of Badulla Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo Pope Francis proclaims President Secretary General Catholic Bishops' Conference in Sri Lanka. Catholic Bishops' Conference in Sri Lanka. “Year of St. Joseph” ith the Apostolic Letter Anniversary of Blessed Pope Pius IX’s “Patris corde” (“With a declaration of St. Joseph as Patron of CBCSL Statement on WFather’s Heart”), Pope the Universal Church. To celebrate Francis recalls the 150th Anniversary the anniversary, Pope Francis has Easter Sunday attack - 2019 of the declaration of Saint Joseph as proclaimed a special “Year of St The Catholic Bishops' Conference in Sri so that the appropriate legal action could Patron of the Universal Church. To Joseph,” beginning on the Solemnity of Lanka in its recently concluded plena- be taken without delay against those mark the occasion, the Holy Father has the Immaculate Conception 2020 and ry session focused its attention on the responsible for this dastardly attack proclaimed a “Year of Saint Joseph” extending to the same feast in 2021. Easter Sunday attack which took away against humanity. from, 8 December, 2020 to 8 December, more than 250 innocent lives and left This is absolutely necessary as a mat- 2021. Church grants plenary indulgence several others maimed for life and many ter of Justice to all those who lost their In a new Apostolic Letter entitled for the year of St. Joseph others seriously injured. It was noted lives and to many others whose future Patris corde (With a Father’s Heart), The Holy Father wrote Patris corde that 20 months have elapsed since the has been destroyed due to injuries both Pope Francis describes Saint Joseph as against the backdrop of the Covid-19 attack, and still those responsible and physical and psychological, incurred by a beloved father, a tender and loving pandemic, which, he says, has helped those who masterminded it have not yet the brutal attack. The perpetrators have father, an obedient father, an accepting us see more clearly the importance been brought before the law. father; a father who is creatively of “ordinary” people who, though to be brought before the law also consid- courageous, a working father, a father far from the limelight, exercise pa- We are made to understand through the ering the security of the country and the in the shadows. tience and offer hope every day. In media, that vital information has been safety of the precious lives of people ir- The Letter marks the 150th this, they resemble Saint Joseph, already gathered. It is time that the in- respective of nationality or creed. If the vestigations be brought to a conclusion ➢ CONTD ON PG. 2 ➢ CONTD ON PG. 2 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. (Luke 2:1) 2 Messenger Christmas Issue December 20, 2020

Contd. from Pg. 1 the law enforcing authorities and of every responsible CBCSL Statement on Easter... person to consider the security of the country. Sri Lanka Notice is a country with such a precious cultural heritage. It criminals and those aiding and abetting are allowed to is our duty to protect our country, our culture and our go unpunished, even worse dastardly attacks against people and ensure peace unity and prosperity for the Messenger Catholics and peoples of other faiths and foreigners in future generations. the future would be inevitable. There is also fear and reopens anxiety in the minds and hearts of people about pos- on January 4th sible future attacks unless justice is meted out speedily to perpetrators of such heinous crimes. The Catholic Press will be closed for Christmas It is our earnest appeal that petty differences, par- � Rt. Rev. Dr. J. Winston S. � Rt. Rev. Dr. J. D. Anthony and New Year from December 21st. The Press will ty politics, and vested interests of any kind should not Fernando, SSS Jayakody reopen on January 4th. Our Next issue will be out Bishop of Badulla Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo deter the impending judicial inquiry for the sake of the on January 10th. future of the country. On the contrary it should be the President Secretary General Catholic Bishops' aspiration of the government and its judicial processes, Catholic Bishops' Conference in Sri Lanka. Conference in Sri Lanka. Coordinator to the Christian Contd. from Pg. 1 Pope Francis... Joseph continues to protect.” From St. Joseph, writes Religious Affairs Minister Pope’”‹•‘‡”ǡ Francis, ‡˜‡”› “we ‹ϐ‹” must learn… ’‡”•‘ to ‹• love Ǯ–Š‡ the Š‹Ž†ǯ Church ™Š‘ and “the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and the poor” (5). Rev. Fr. Xystus Nicholas Fernando hidden presence,” who nonetheless played “an Kurukulasuriya has been appointed incomparable role in the history of salvation.” A father who teaches the value, dignity as the Coordinator to the Minister and joy of work at the Department of Christian A beloved, tender, obedient father “A carpenter who earned an honest living to provide Religious Affairs. He assumed duties Saint Joseph, in fact, “concretely expressed his for his family,” St. Joseph also teaches us “the value, the on December 9th. Messenger wishes fatherhood” by making an offering of himself in love dignity and the joy of what it means to eat bread that him success in his new appointment. “a love placed at the service of the Messiah who was is the fruit of one’s own labour.” This aspect of Joseph’s growing to maturity in his home,” writes Pope Francis, character provides Pope Francis with the opportunity quoting his predecessor St. Paul VI. to launch an appeal in favour of work, which has We congratulate... And because of his role at “the crossroads between become “a burning social issue” even in countries with the Old and New Testament,” St. Joseph “has always a certain level of well-being. “There is a renewed need Rev. Fr. Sylvester Ranasinghe – Doctor of been venerated as a father by the Christian people” Ministry (PC, 1). In him, “Jesus saw the tender love of God,” the which Saint Joseph is an exemplary patron,” the Pope From the Fordham University, the Jesuit one that helps us accept our weakness, because “it is writes.–‘ ƒ’’”‡ ‹ƒ–‡ –Š‡ ‹’‘”–ƒ ‡ ‘ˆ †‹‰‹ϐ‹‡† ™‘”ǡ ‘ˆ University of New York, USA through” and despite “our fears, our frailties, and our Work, he says, “is a means of participating in weakness” that most divine designs are realized. “Only the work of salvation, an opportunity to hasten the tender love will save us from the snares of the accuser,” coming of the Kingdom, to develop our talents and Rev. Fr. Christo Viraj Fernando – Doctorate emphasizes the Pontiff, and it is by encountering God’s abilities, and to put them at the service of society and in Canon Law mercy especially in the Sacrament of Reconciliation that fraternal communion.” Those who work, he explains, From the Faculty of Canon Law, St. Pius X we “experience His truth and tenderness,” – because “we “are cooperating with God Himself, and in some way University, Venice, Italy. know that God’s truth does not condemn us, but instead become creators of the world around us.” Pope Francis welcomes, embraces sustains and forgives us” (2). encourages everyone “to rediscover the value, the Messenger congratulates Rev. Fathers and Joseph is also a father in obedience to God: with his importance and the necessity of work for bringing wishes them success in their future endevours! about a new ‘normal’ from which no one is excluded.” “do the will of the Father.” Called by God to serve the Especially in light of rising unemployment due to the missionǮϐ‹ƒ–ǯŠ‡’”‘–‡ –•ƒ”›ƒ† ‡•—•ƒ†–‡ƒ Š‡•Š‹•‘–‘ of Jesus, he “cooperated… in the great mystery Covid-19 pandemic, the Pope calls everyone to “review Fratelli Tutti and Patris Corde of Redemption,” as St. John Paul II said, “and is truly a Pope Francis’ Social Encyclical ‘Fratelli Tutti’ and minister of salvation” (3). no young person, no person at all, no family should be Apostolic Letter ‘Patris Corde’ (With a Father’s Heart) without‘—”’”‹‘”‹–‹‡•dzƒ†–‘‡š’”‡••‘—”ϐ‹” ‘˜‹ –‹‘–Šƒ– work!” (6). Welcoming the will of God will be published by the Catholic Press in the near At the same time, Joseph is “an accepting Father,” A father “in the shadows,” centred future. because he “accepted Mary unconditionally” — an on Mary and Jesus important gesture even today, says Pope Francis, “in Taking a cue from The Shadow of the Father — a our world where psychological, verbal and physical Singapore Church marks violence towards women is so evident.” But the describes Joseph’s fatherhood of Jesus as “the earthly Bridegroom of Mary is also the one who, trusting in shadow„‘‘„›‘Ž‹•Š™”‹–‡” ƒ‘„”ƒ œ›Ñ•‹Ȅ‘’‡ ”ƒ ‹• of the heavenly Father.” 200 years of evangelization the Lord, accepts in his life even the events that he “Fathers are not born, but made,” says Pope Francis. does not understand, “setting aside his own ideas” and “A man does not become a father simply by bringing a Vatican News reconciling himself with his own history. child into the world, but by taking up the responsibility The Catholic Church of Singapore is marking its 200 Joseph’s spiritual path “is not one that explains, but to care for that child.” Unfortunately, in today’s society, years by inviting all its faithful to renew their faith and accepts” — which does not mean that he is “resigned.” children “often seem orphans, lacking fathers” who are re-launch their missionary zeal. The year long jubilee able to introduce them “to life and reality.” Children, the because with “Holy Spirit’s gift of fortitude,” and full Pope says, need fathers who will not try to dominate off on Sunday, December 13, with a virtual Mass by of •–‡ƒ†ǡ hope, heŠ‡ is ‹• able Dz ‘—”ƒ‰‡‘—•Ž› “to accept life ƒ† as ϐ‹”Ž› it is, with ’”‘ƒ –‹˜‡ǡdz all its them, but instead raise them to be “capable of deciding Archbishop ‡Ž‡„”ƒ–‹‘ǡ William †—„„‡† Goh ƒ–Š‘Ž‹ ʹͲͲ ǡ of Singapore. ‘ˆϐ‹ ‹ƒŽŽ› ‹ ‡† contradictions, frustrations and disappointments.” for themselves, enjoying the freedom and exploring In practice, through St. Joseph, it is as if God were to The inauguration included the launch of the new possibilities.” jubilee website and the logo, and the screening of repeat to us: “Do not be afraid!” because “faith gives This is the sense in which St Joseph is described a documentary on the social impact of the Catholic meaning to every event, however happy or sad,” and as a “most chaste” father, which is the opposite of domineering possessiveness. Joseph, says Pope Francis, Church in the smallest South-east Asian nation. from stony ground.” Joseph “did not look for shortcuts “knew how to love with extraordinary freedom. He butƒ‡•—•ƒ™ƒ”‡–Šƒ–Dz ‘† ƒƒ‡ϐŽ‘™‡”••’”‹‰—’ confronted reality with open eyes and accepted never made himself the centre of things. He did not Ignite and Shine with Faith personal responsibility for it.” For this reason, “he think of himself, but focused instead on the lives of The theme for the jubilee year, “Ignite and Shine encourages us to accept and welcome others as they Mary and Jesus.” with Faith”, is in line with the pastoral vision of the are, without exception, and to show special concern for Happiness for Joseph involved a true gift of self: “In Archdiocese of Singapore to shape a more vibrant, the weak” (4). him, we never see frustration, but only trust,” writes evangelizing and missionary Church. Several events Pope Francis. “His patient silence was the prelude during the year will focus on renewing the faith of to concrete expressions of trust.” Joseph stands out, A creatively courageous father, the example of love the Catholic community through four main actions: Patris corde highlights “the creative courage” of St. deepening, discerning, witnessing and celebrating. Joseph, which “emerges especially in the way we deal a world that “needs fathers,” and not “tyrants”; a –Š‡”‡ˆ‘”‡ǡsociety that ƒ• “rejects ƒ ‡š‡’Žƒ”› those who ϐ‹‰—”‡ confuse ˆ‘” authority ‘—” –‹‡ǡ with ‹ The celebrations will end on December 11, 2021, the Pope, was able to turn a problem into a possibility authoritarianism, service with servility, discussion with a Mass celebrated simultaneously in all of by™‹–Š†‹ˆϐ‹ —Ž–‹‡•ǤdzDzŠ‡ ƒ”’‡–‡”‘ˆƒœƒ”‡–Šǡdz‡š’Žƒ‹• trusting in divine providence.” He had to deal with with oppression, charity with a welfare mentality, Singapore’s parishes. “the concrete problems” his Family faced, problems power with destruction.” With a population of about 5.6 million, Singapore is faced by other families in the world, and especially True fathers, instead, “refuse to live the lives of their a multi-ethnic and multi-religious nation. The Chinese those of migrants. children for them,” and instead respect their freedom. are the largest ethnic group making up over 76 percent In this sense, St. Joseph is “the special patron of In this sense, says Pope Francis, a father realizes that the population, followed by Malays (15 percent) and all those forced to leave their native lands because of “he is most a father and an educator at the point when ethnic Indians (7.4 percent). While most Chinese are war, hatred, persecution and poverty.” As the guardian he becomes ‘useless,’ when he sees that his child has Buddhists, most Malays are Muslims. Among other of Jesus and Mary, Joseph cannot “be other than the become independent and can walk the paths of life religions are Taoism and Hinduism. Christians comprise unaccompanied.” Being a father, the Pope emphasizes, guardian of the Church,” of her motherhood, and of about 15 percent of the population. The Archdiocese “has nothing to do with possession, but is rather a ‘sign’ the Body of Christ. “Consequently, every poor, needy, of Singapore has 360,000 Catholics spread across 32 pointing to a greater fatherhood”: that of the “heavenly suffering or dying person, every stranger, every parishes. Father” (7). Vatican News

is was the rst enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled,.... (Luke 2:2-3) December 20, 2020 Messenger Christmas Issue 3

auspicious moment. With and in incarnation time is universe is ever-present   ͳͺ͸ͻ in us, amid us, amongst us, EDITORIAL Email:[email protected] Now is the beginning of a new life, a new creature, a new deep within us, above us, Website:colomboarchdiocesancatholicpress.com •ƒ –‹ϐ‹‡†ƒ†ƒ†‡•ƒ ”‡†Ǥ‘™‹•–Š‡ƒ—•’‹ ‹‘—•–‹‡Ǥ Telephone: 011 2695984 Fax: 2692586 / 2670100 under us, beside us, over granted and all we need to do is to claim it and to be us, below us, adjacent to December 20, 2020 worthyƒƒ†ƒ‡™™‘ƒǤ‡†‡’–‹‘Šƒ•ƒŽ”‡ƒ†›„‡‡ of it. us, next to us and by us. Incarnation is the protective skin of humanity. God can never abandon us, nor can He neglect us. ‡”–‹ϐ‹ ƒ–‹‘‘ˆ–Š‡ God encourages us,  ƒ”ƒ–‹‘‹•–Š‡‡ ‘†‹”–Š‘ˆ–Š‡‹˜‡”•‡Ǣ‹–‹•–Š‡ gently coarse us to take Cosmos Through a•‡ ‘†‹‰ƒ‰‘ˆ–Š‡—‹˜‡”•‡Ǥ –‹•–Š‡‘–‘”’‘™‡”‘ˆ divinely-incarnated cosmos. The birth of Jesus affected more and more risks on notŠ‹•–‘”›ǤŠ‡™Š‘Ž‡—‹˜‡”•‡‹•ƒ‹ ƒ”ƒ–‡†”‡ƒŽ‹–›Ǣ‹–‹• only humans but also the entire universe. Jesus is the behalf of love. Only a courageous person can love. Christmas saviour of the whole cosmos, of each galaxy, of each solar Every meaningful risk in life is a leap of faith. Every system, of each star and planet, of each supernova and such risk brings us closer to God a bit more God- s there anyone on earth who is not in need of a black hole, of each comet and asteroid and meteorite, becoming-man also means that God is closer to us Christ? Could we really kick Christ out of human I of each human being, of each animal and plant, of each than we are to ourselves. God has never abandoned history? Is not running away from Christ equals bacterium and chromosome and microcosm. The whole to running away from ourselves and from loving universe is eagerly and enthusiastically longing for its others? If humans reject Christ, who could replace Incarnator. —•Ǥ • –Š‡ ‰”‡ƒ– ‡”ƒ ‘‹‹ ƒ ›•–‹ ǡ ‡‹•–‡” Him? What is the spiritual alternative? Who could Incarnation is Divine Flesh entering our muscles,  Šƒ”–’‘‹–•‘—–ǢDz ‘†‹•ƒ–Š‘‡Ǥ –‹•™‡™Š‘Šƒ˜‡What does COVID-19 Pandemic conveys to us....? ‰‘‡ˆ‘”ƒ™ƒŽǤdz of the human heart? Could any other mundane and God feeding His body to us for our life, Divine blood The deeper meaning of Christmas? How does the materialϐ‹ŽŽ ƒ† ˆ—Žϐ‹ŽŽreality –Š‡ enter †‡‡’‡•– the human ƒ† ‹‡”‘•– heart the way Ž‘‰‹‰• God running in our hearts, Divine chromosomes entering our Christmas celebration respond to COVID-19? Is not would? cells, Divine red blood cells entering our bone marrows, the original meaning of Christmas in a deep mess What does the mystery of the Incarnation mean Divine lenses visioning our eyes, Divine breath entering today? for us today? Our fate is necessarily tied up with His our lungs, Divine enzymes entering our saliva, Divine For most people, Christmas has become a Christ- life with the coming of Christ. Even if we run away tissues entering our ligaments, Divine bearings entering less event. Most people seem to know a lot about from God, God would not run away from us. our knee caps and joints. Christmas but practically nothing about Christ. If they Incarnation, that is, God becoming a human being The deepest and the ultimate meaning of history really know who Christ is, will they truly celebrate it in Christ Jesus, hints at the proper orientation of stems from incarnation. History is a useless passion the way they do? Does Christ mean anything to them? human history. History is incarnation written large. without incarnation. History is full of horror and Will Christ be happy and contented with what we do Incarnation quenches the thirst for reincarnation. terror without it. Incarnation incorporates history Incarnation transcends and transforms the need in its unfolding. Incarnation invests in history out of –‘†ƒ›‹–Š‡ƒ‡‘ˆŠ”‹•–ƒ•ǫŠ”‹•–‹ϐ‹ ƒ–‹‘‘ˆ–Š‡ for reincarnation. Human history is restlessly and unconditional love, compassion, and mercy. Incarnation Christmas. investigates history out of clemency. God disincarnates ™Š‘Ž‡ ”‡ƒ–‹‘‹•–Š‡‘Ž›Œ—•–‹ϐ‹ ƒ–‹‘ˆ‘” ‡Ž‡„”ƒ–‹‰The more Christmases we celebrate, the more from His own self in order to incarnate in our midst. Christ-like we must become. Christmas must liberate embraced”‡Ž‡–Ž‡••Ž›‹•‡ƒ” Š‘ˆ‹–•  ƒ”ƒ–‘”ǡ‹–•‡†‡‡‡”Ǥ and befriended history and that was the God leaves His heavenly abode in order to pitch His tent us, and not enslave us. The celebration of Christmas –ƒ‹‰Š—ƒϐŽ‡•Šǡ ‘††‡ϐ‹‹–‡Ž›ƒ††‡ ‹•‹˜‡Ž› amongst us. needs also to be an experience of liberation. It nothing, hence God can perfectly redeem us even must not enslave us to destructive patterns of without„‡‰‹‹‰ reincarnation. ‘ˆ ‹–• ”‡†‡’–‹‘Ǥ ‡’‡–‹–‹‘ ‰—ƒ”ƒ–‡‡• are created to become divine, are created for the union unrestrained and mindless consumerism. Not only   ƒ”ƒ–‹‘ˆƒ ‹Ž‹–ƒ–‡•–Š‡’”‘ ‡••‘ˆ†‡‹ϐ‹ ƒ–‹‘Ǥ‡ With God, there is no past, present, and future. and communion with God and nothing less than that is There is only Eternal Now and therefore there an absolute waste of our precious life. In this sense, a Jesus but also distorted the deeper meanings and Šƒ† ™‡ –‘”–—”‡†ǡ Š—‹Ž‹ƒ–‡†ǡ ”— ‹ϐ‹‡†ǡ ƒ† ‹ŽŽ‡† is no need for reincarnation for our salvation. vast majority of people, without any doubt, waste their implications of His birthday celebration. Killing Him lives and have meaningless deaths. Most people may brutally and ruthlessly was injustice enough, but Incarnation offers the possibility for a new life right now we have added insult to injury by destroying His now,‡‹ ƒ”ƒ–‹‘ right at this ‹• moment, ƒ„•‘”„‡† right ‹ here. –Š‡ ‹ ƒ”ƒ–‹‘ǤThere is no but feel empty deeply and desperately. They are born, „‡ ”‹ Šǡ ‡†— ƒ–‡†ǡ ˆƒ‘—•ǡ ™‡ƒŽ–Š›ǡ ƒ† •‡ŽˆǦ•—ˆϐ‹ ‹‡– need to postpone it for another life, for another time. returns today, will He really recognize contemporary ‹”–Š†ƒ› ‡Ž‡„”ƒ–‹‘ „‡›‘† ”‡ ‘‰‹–‹‘Ǥ ˆ Š”‹•– Now is the temporal eternity. Now is the moment of born into this world. Christmas celebrations as something to do with His –Š‡›„—›ƒ†–Š‡›†‹‡™‹–Š‘—–ϐ‹†‹‰ƒ•–‘™Š›–Š‡›ƒ”‡ our redemption and emancipation. God is present in our pain, in our suffering, in our liberating message? Now is the moment of truth. The truth of daily struggles more intimately than we are present Jesus Christ once and for all opened up to us the incarnation permeates the entire universe with to ourselves. God also struggles with us, on our behalf, possibility of a new life, to be lived and ever-renewed sacredness, holiness, divineness and therefore every when we continue to struggle in life. The good news in Him. The world is no longer the same as a result of second, every moment is holy and therefore is an is that the Creator of this universe, the Maker of this His coming amongst us.

The Pandemic unmasked our vulnerability and priorities

he First global pandemic of the digital age had come For Pope Francis, “understanding what God is Tvery suddenly. The entire world was suspended of saying to us at this time of pandemic calls a challenge country, carefree its normal religious activities, business in the world has been †‡‡†ǡ challenged –Š‡ by ‘–‹‘ the virus. ‘ˆ ƒ The Dz•ƒˆ‡dz Covid •‘ ‹‡–› storm ‘”is and pleasure. seriously ill planet today, the behaviour of some of the ideal place toƒ†’‘‹•‡†ˆ‘”‹ϐ‹‹–‡Dz ‘•—’–‹‘dz discover fraternity because it is not ˆ‘” ‘—”•‡Ž˜‡• ƒ• ’”‹‡•–• ƒ† ’‡‘’Ž‡ ‘ˆ ‘†Ǥdz  –Š‹• “For weeks now it has been evening. Thick the political leaders also cannot be accepted and the situation to display or boast about strength and darkness has gathered over our squares, our streets and due to their personal agendas it has not been able security. The storm implies embracing everyone to to produce one vaccine for the entire world. When new forms of hospitality, fraternity and solidarity. Then with a deafening silence and distressing void. We feel it we read the history of the world we understand that everyone recognizes that this fraternity is not human in‘—” ‹–‹‡•Ǥ –Šƒ•–ƒ‡‘˜‡”‘—”Ž‹˜‡•ǡϐ‹ŽŽ‹‰‡˜‡”›–Š‹‰ the air, we notice in people’s gestures, their glances during world wars powerful nations were together work but only the spirit is capable of arousing. These are the words Pope Francis used to portray the world no common agendas. Instead they have their Finally let me end with Pope Francis’s unprecedented‰‹˜‡ –Š‡ ƒ™ƒ›Ǥ situation.  ‡  ϐ‹† ‘—”•‡Ž˜‡• ƒˆ”ƒ‹† ƒ† Ž‘•–Ǥdz –‘ ϐ‹‰Š–  –Š‡ ‘‘  ‡‡›ǡ„—– ‹ –Š‡ ’”‡•‡– †ƒ› captivating words. “The task for the Church is to vulnerability and the false and unnecessary security courage to imagine. We are accustomed to the probable, with’‡”•‘ƒŽƒ‰‡†ƒ•Ǥ—––Š‡’ƒ†‡‹ Šƒ•—ƒ•‡†‘—” which we have built our agendas, our projects, our we oftenŠ‡–Š‹ †ƒ”‡••ǡ–Š‡ƒŽŽ‘™•—•–‘ϐ‹†–Š‡ lack vision of the possible, which is sometimes habits and priorities. world,„‡ ƒ Dzϐ‹‡Ž† which  Š‘•’‹–ƒŽdz requires –‘ both Š‡ƒŽ the ƒ† recognition –‡† –Š‡ of ™‘—†• global In this situation, a change will occur if there is vulnerability‘ˆ Š—ƒ‹–›Ǥdz and † the –Š‹• imagination ‹• –Š‡ –‹‡ of the ‘ˆ real ƒ †‹ˆˆ‡”‡– Gospel We are not accustomed to dwelling in realism. possibility ‘ϐ‹‡†–‘–Š‡™‘”Ž†‘ˆ‹ƒ‰‹ƒ–‹‘Ǥ of a different world, “making all things, Rev. Fr. Camillus Fernando –Š‡Dz‘˜‡”ϐŽ‘™‹‰’”‘ Žƒƒ–‹‘‘ˆ–Š‡ ‘•’‡Žƒ†Ž‹ˆ‡ƒ•The corona virus has changed the way we look Editor Messenger at‹– ‘‡•Ǥdz‡‡‡†ƒ‡™–Š‡„‡‰‹‹‰Ǥ things because we saw the world turned upside down. ‡™dzƒ•–Š‡‘‘‘ˆ‡˜‡Žƒ–‹‘•ƒ›•ǤDz”‡™‡™‹ŽŽ‹‰–‘ Šƒ‰‡‘—”Ž‹ˆ‡•–›Ž‡•ǫdz ..... each to his own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea.... (Luke 2:3-4) 4 Messenger Christmas Issue December 20, 2020 Christmas - God is with us An Oasis of God’s love et us try to picture a man going through the She told us that she was dreading the approach of - there was no room for desert. The heat of the burning sun beats down Christmas. She had been an only child. But her parents Him at the inn. And even L mercilessly on him. Glare from the burning sand were long since dead. She had no aunts or uncles, no though her tears continue almost blinds him. He is ready to collapse from close relatives. She was all alone, the last of her family, to fall, she feels an inner happiness that is impossible exhausion. But the worst thing of all is the thirst. she had friends, yes she exchanged cards and gifts to describe or explain. Why? Because Christ gives a It torments him. with them at Christmas time. But somehow none of meaning to her loneliness and pain. He is her Saviour But then to his great joy he sees an oasis up ahead. them even thought of inviting her to their homes on and her Brother who came to share our lives, to help His spirits soar. He sees trees. These will give him shelter, Christmas Day! They did invite her on St. Stephen’s Day, us carry our burdens and to walk the road of life at our perhaps food as well. But the one thing he desperately but never on Christmas Day. side. That is the meaning of Christmas. needs and desires is water. There will surely be a well So how does she spend Christmas Day? Mostly on Here was someone who had the care of Christmas. her own, though she is by no means a recluse. After Christ was with her. And many of the trimmings were things, but no water. The well has dried up. an early morning Mass she goes out to help in some missing, she had the essential thing. She had found an –Š‡”‡Ǥ ‡”‡ƒ Š‡•–Š‡‘ƒ•‹•ǡϐ‹†•ƒ›‘–Š‡”†‡•‹”ƒ„Ž‡Most people look forward to Christmas. It is a kind voluntary work for others. Then she comes back, cooks of Oasis in the dark dreary desert of winter. However, dinner, and eats it on her own. She switches on the TV, the one thing necessary - water. we too might have all the outward trappings-the lights, but even the bright shows fail to raise her spirits. TV is ‘ƒ•‹•ǡƒ†–Š‘—‰Š‹–Žƒ ‡†–Š‡•—’‡”ϐŽ—‘—•‹–‡•ǡ‹–Šƒ†Is Christ at the centre of our celebration of trees, candles, cards, gifts -decorations, but no ‘water.’ no substitute for having someone with you. Christmas? If not then for us too there is no water at There is no Christ. From the Christian point of view, She cries a lot. She just can not help it. Towards the oasis. if Christ is not there, then Christmas is only a mirage. evening, as darkness sets in and the lights of a million With the virus of Covid 19, spreading all over globally Christmas trees come on she goes for a walk. But on Let us pray:- and locally our lives too have dried up without water, Christmas evening it is lonely out of doors too. The Lord, at your birth the angels sang. without Christ. It is like an oasis without water. streets and parks are deserted. All doors are closed. ‘Glory to God in the highest and peace I remember once as Christmas was approaching we She tries the door of her local church but that too is to his people on earth. Yet they still were discussing its meaning with a group of young peo- ϔ‹‰Š– ˆ‘” –Š‡ ’‘••‡••‹‘ ‘ˆ –Š‡ Žƒ† ple. In the group was a middle-aged woman whom we But then she told us how in the midst of her where you were born. Grant to us who ϐ‹”Ž›Ž‘ ‡†Ǥ by Rev. Fr. Athanasius unconsciously tended to ignore and omit from our dis- loneliness and tears she feels very close to Christ. She have heard the message of the Angels, Samarasinghe cussion. When we each had said our piece, she began feels close to His sufferings. She realises that in a very the peace and unity of Your Kingdom to speak, and when she did all listened very intently. where you live for ever and ever. Amen!

”‡ƒŽ •‡•‡ ‡ ™ƒ• ƒ ‘—–•‹†‡” ƒ– Š‡” ϐ‹”•– Š”‹•–ƒ• Sunday Aid Stories Little Jesus.... Christmas to New year Little Jesus, wast Thou shy To Thee in my father’s way-- Advent 4th Sunday Aid Story Miss Legras was a collaborator with St. Vincent De Once, and just so small as I? When Thou wast so little, say, Paul when he founded the Sisters of Charity. One day And what did it feel like to be Couldst Thou talk Thy Father’s way?... in the hospital she was caring for a Turk whom disease Out of Heaven, and just like me? So a little Child, come down had made it extremely irritable. When he felt better he was able to eat an egg, but being angry because he was Didst Thou sometimes think of THERE, And hear a child’s tongue like Thy own; And ask where all the angels were? Take me by the hand and walk, face. She wiped herself off and went to get another I should think that I would cry. And listen to my baby-talk. ƒŽŽ‘™‡†‘Ž›‘‡ǡŠ‡ϐŽ—‰‹–‹”ƒ‰‡ƒ––Š‡›‘—‰Žƒ†›ǯ•egg but had no better luck and was moreover grossly For my house all made of sky; To Thy Father show my prayer insulted. However, Miss Legras says to him in a sweet entreating manner; “Why do you do that? I love you I would look about the air, (He will look. Thou art so fair, like a brother?” It struck the heart of the man. “Who are And wonder where my angels were; And say: ‘O Father, I, Thy Son, you? You are not a woman, you are an Angel,” exclaimed And at waking ‘twould distress me- Bring the prayer of a little one.’ the Turk. “Who taught you to treat a beast like me in Not an angel there to dress me! around her neck. “Jesus, my Teacher.” When the Turk Hadst Thou ever any toys, And He will smile, that children’s tongue •— Šƒ™ƒ›ǫdzŠ‡›‘—‰‰‹”Ž•Š‘™‡†Š‹–Š‡”— ‹ϐ‹šsaw that, he exclaimed, “A religion that teaches so much Like us little girls and boys? Has not changed since Thou wast young! virtue must come from God.” And didst Thou play in Heaven with all Christmas Aid Story The angels that were not too tall, Ex Ore Infantium On Sunday, July 23, 2006, Indian army men rescued With stars for marbles? Did the things Poem by Francis Thompson Courtesy: Among Ourselves - Kandy Diocese Bulletin Play Can you see me? through their wings? tube well pit. The rescue operation, which lasted 30 ƒϐ‹˜‡›‡ƒ”‘Ž†„‘›ƒ‡†”‹ ‡ˆ”‘ƒ͸Ͳˆ‡‡–†‡‡’hours, was watched by the whole nation with bated And did Thy Mother let Thee spoil Thy robes, with playing on OUR soil? for 50 hours. Assistant Sub-Inspector Amarnath of the How nice to have them always new „”‡ƒ–Š‘Ǥ”‹ ‡†‡ϐ‹‡††‡ƒ–Š„›•–ƒ›‹‰‹–Š‡’‹– pit by descending through a parallel tunnel and pulling In Heaven, because ‘twas quite clean blue! ƒ”›ƒƒ‘Ž‹ ‡ϐ‹ƒŽŽ›”‡ƒ Š‡†–Š‡–”ƒ’’‡†„‘›‹•‹†‡–Š‡him out. Something similar happens in the Incarnation. God descends into muck to save you and me. Didst Thou kneel at night to pray, And didst Thou join Thy hands, this way? Holy Family Aid Story After the Episcopal Ordination, Bishop Honorarius And did they tire sometimes, being young, spent some days with his parents. Proudly, he showed And make the prayer seem very long? his aged parents his new, shining ring and exclaimed, And dost Thou like it best, that we “Isn’t this ring beautiful?” His mother smiled, held the wrinkled hand of his father, pointed to their unpolished Should join our hands to pray to Thee? rings and replied, “Son, without these rings you would I used to think, before I knew, never have got your ring!” The prayer not said unless we do. New Year Aid Story And did Thy Mother at the night A young Irish girl who was compelled to go to Kiss Thee, and fold the clothes in right? a heretic school cried because she always heard blasphemies against the Blessed Virgin. One day in the And didst Thou feel quite good in bed, presence of a protestant she was asked, “You claim that Kissed, and sweet, and thy prayers said? Mary is, the mother of Jesus, is the Queen of Heaven. How do you know it? And where have you seen it?” The Thou canst not have forgotten all “You ask me how do I know that the Blessed Virgin is That it feels like to be small: ‰‹”Žin heaven; Š‡•‹–ƒ–‡† and ˆ‘” I ask; ƒ ‘‡– “if she was ƒ† not –Š‡ there ϐ‹”Ž› where ”‡’Ž‹‡†Ǣ else And Thou know’st I cannot pray can she be?” According to the Protestants there is no purgatory. Therefore if she is not in heaven she has to be in hell; and what kind of a loving Jesus would He be to let His mother suffer in hell?” Very Rev. Fr. Ciswan De Croos

“Behold,.....to the I have city preparedof David mythat banquet, is called my Bethlehem, calves and because fattened he cattle was of are the killed, house and and everything family of David,.... is ready;... (Luke (Matthew 2:4) 22:4) December 20, 2020 Messenger Christmas Issue 5 Who was Jesus of Nazareth? Why is He the core of our Faith?

e all know only too only the story of Jesus has been 430 years or so in exile under and III, and Nicea II. Using the churches, recite the same Lord’s well that Jesus who preserved as a very exceptional the Pharaohs and the pursuit concepts of Greek Philosophy, Prayer, and embrace the same Wcame from the village of freedom enjoyed from the the major one in that epoch, Holy Scriptures despite some of Nazareth close to the town of onwards. Followers of Jesus entrance to the promised land these councils proclaimed the denominations differing in the Capernaum in lower Galilee was even‡‘”›ˆ”‘–Š‡ϐ‹”•– ‡–—”› were ready for death of Canaan where they could true humanity of Christ, the choice of books in their canon. a historical person whom His in not giving up their faith in worship God, the only one true divinity of Christ, with Over the last 500 years Jesus and true divinity whom they these two natures found in just of Nazareth has continued to their teacher and subsequently, apostles with the exception acknowledged having revealed one person. Despite the settling impact the world and even the bothϐ‹”•–†‹• ‹’Ž‡•ƒ ‘™Ž‡†‰‡†ƒ• in the course of the three of ‡•—• St. ”— ‹ϐ‹‡† John faced ƒ† martyrdom ”‹•‡Ǥ ŽŽ Himself to their forefathers of these controversies in world of communications and years they associated with Him even as the Church leaders Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and doctrines, tensions continued and more convincingly after up to the fourth century until who communicated to them to plague the Church with the even among non-Christian the Resurrection as the Son of Constantine began his Christian through Moses at the sacred two massive schisms that tore researchersϐ‹‡ƒ”–•ǤŠ‡”‡‹•ƒŽ‹˜‡Ž›‹–‡”‡•– to discover this God. They confessed Him as empire, among whom were mountains of Horeb in the her seamless robe of which historical Jew who was Jesus. the long-awaited Messiah who burning bush and later on Sinai Thousands of books have been missionaries went from their where they received the ten many Eastern Churches making written on this once humble eight centuries earlier. Isaiah’s earliest–Š‡ ϐ‹”•– among ’‘’‡•Ǥ them Š‡”‡˜‡” preached –Š‡ commandments. Every year, Constantinople–Š‡ϐ‹”•–™ƒ•‹ͳͲͷͶ™Š‡ the center, citizen of ancient Nazareth, prophecyˆ—Žϐ‹ŽŽ‡† ’”‘’Š‡ ‹‡• of the suffering —––‡”‡† all Jewish families to this day separated themselves from movies made, and plays staged servant of Yahweh who takes which was a shocking scandal to commemorate annually the the authority of the Pope who like the Oberammergau passion upon Himself the sins of the‘Ž› Jews Š”‹•– themselves ƒ† ‹ and ”— ‹ϐ‹‡†ǡ utter feast of the Paschal Lamb and claims continuity with Peter play in Germany every 10 others and Jeremiah’s words foolishness to the non-Jewish catechize their children about as the head of the Church and years since 1634. His story has concerning the one who would gentiles whom they reached crowned their own patriarch mingled with the socio-cultural be rejected and later at the as far from Jerusalem to the this meal. Jesus celebrates the as their orthodox head. The currents worldwide. He is seen appearance of John the baptizer imperial city of Roman and all last–Š‡ supper ‹’‘•‹‰ at His •‹‰‹ϐ‹ ƒ ‡ last Passover ‘ˆ second more devastating was as an object of contemplation, who pointed to Him as the lamb other colonies in the middle- meal with His disciples and the Protestant reformation and an inspiration in the that takes away the sins of the east within the Roman empire. transforms it anew to be the beginning with the rebellion of struggles of human liberation, world were evidence enough to The story of the immense sacrament of His own Body the German Augustinian monk, the icon of solemn liturgies, see Jesus as the Son of God and numbers martyred in the and Blood as the paschal lamb Martin Luther in the early and as a greatly loved religious the Saviour. They proclaimed amphitheater of the Colosseum of the New Testament. The 16th century. This western teacher by other world religious baptism in His name if people in the heart of the Rome of wine is changed into the blood schism that gave birth to the traditions. Christian ministers wished to be saved. St. Paul Caesars’ is a chilling bit of the of Christ that washes away the Protestant churches anchored invoke His name in their proclaimed Him as the Risen Church’s earliest history. It was sins of the world. The Gospels services of healing. He continues Lord, the cosmic Christ to a period of severe persecutions do not mince words when they by faith and that Scriptures to captivate historians, writers, the Philippians and to the for the Church scattered as insist on the passion, death, alone‘ –Š‡ being †‘ –”‹‡ the ‘ˆonly Œ—•–‹ϐ‹ ƒ–‹‘ authentic researchers, poets, and artists. Corinthians whose presence is it was in many cosmopolitan and Resurrection of Jesus, source of the faith. He denied Above all He is believed to experienced in the celebration centers of the empire. which now reveals their faith the need for teaching authority be alive in the Church which of the Eucharist. While the three The Gospel writers strived in the historical Jesus who laid in the church to interpret the confesses Him as Lord and as evangelists Mark, Matthew, and skillfully to render the story down His life as Christ. He is Scriptures and repudiated the humanity’s Redeemer, whose Luke mince no words about of Jesus of Nazareth as God the Anointed One of God who scandalous abuse of authority mystery is celebrated in her His authoritative teaching, His and Saviour in the literary in the creation of indulgences prayer and liturgy and whose powers to heal, work miracles, styles available at the time. announce and establish the era which he condemned as message enshrined in the drive out demons, the detailed They situated it in the ofϐ‹ŽŽ‡† grace ™‹–Š in –Š‡ which ’‹”‹– people ƒ‡ are –‘ simony. The reform of Luther Gospel is proclaimed to the events of His passion and death background of the religious healed, freed, and given life in spread very fast into the ends of the earth. As the Church followed by the Resurrection faith and experience of the its fulness. Scandinavian countries. It led grows in holiness, it is the Body narratives, John the mystical Jews. The story was couched Thus, Jesus Christ resonates to a serious division between of Christ that is being built up. Gospel writer sees Him as the in the liturgical setting of the as the center of our faith, the Catholic Church and the He is alive too in the poor and calendar and worship of the worship, and works of charity protestant churches which those who suffer in many ways as the One who is the light of temple of Jerusalem and in the in which Christian communities further fragmented into other and are in want, in serving the‹˜‹‡ world, ‘”† providing „‡ ‘‡ the ϐŽ‡•Š bread ƒ† synagogues. Recent biblical are engaged to this day. The denominations. At this point, whom, we serve Christ Himself of life and the living water that scholars have shown how the history of the Church also one could point to three main as the life of Mother Teresa of gives us the taste of eternal life.. evangelists beginning with the shows that she was engaged branches of Christendom: Calcutta, the saint of the gutters The apostles exhort the in preserving the faith while namely, Roman Catholicism, has shown. Truly the greatest newly baptized to give up their so meticulously and astutely battling with the heresies Eastern Orthodoxy, and story ever told in our hearing, former lives of sin and live in wovenϐ‹”•– ‘•’‡Žǡ the Jesus –Šƒ– ‘ˆstory ƒ” around Šƒ˜‡ that tended to deny some Protestantism. However, the this Eternal Galilean dazzles as Christ. St. Paul wishes that they the great events of the Paschal aspects of the mysteries of major points of the faith were put on the mind of Christ. He Lamb killed by the Israelites the faith as for example the not compromised by any, interprets his own life as life in at their last meal in Egypt just such as the Divinity of Christ, centuriesƒ Ž—‹‘—• of ϐ‹‰—”‡ the world’s ‘ˆ ‹‡•‡ global prior to the freedom journey of ecumenical councils from 325 the Incarnation, the need for history. ‘•‹  •‹‰‹ϐ‹ ƒ ‡ ƒ ”‘•• his evil desires and lives a the Exodus itself. These events AD‹–‡”˜‡–‹‘•‘ˆ–Š‡ϐ‹”•–•‡˜‡ – 787 AD, beginning with grace for salvation, and the Š”‹•–‹™Š‹ ŠŠ‡Šƒ• ”— ‹ϐ‹‡† were meant for the liberation that of Nicea, through those two sacraments of initiation. Rev. Fr. Leopold Ratnasekera there were many rebels that of the oppressed Israelites, of Constantinople I, Ephesus, All these churches would have OMI •’‹”‹–Ǧϐ‹ŽŽ‡† ‡š‹•–‡ ‡Ǥ Š‘—‰Š God’s people who were for over Chalcedon, Constantinople II the symbol of the cross in their

™‡”‡ ‡š‡ —–‡† „› ”— ‹ϐ‹š‹‘ǡ Liturgical Calendar Year B 20th Dec. - 27th Dec. 2020 Wonderful Star of Bethlehem Sun: Fourth Sunday of Advent It shines, its brightest with happiness The baby smiles, 2 Sam. 7: 1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Paving the narrow way for the shepherds Each and every shepherd smiles, Rom. 16: 25-27; Lk. 1: 26-38 Mon: Song 2: 8-14 or Zeph. 3: 14-18a; Lk. 1: 39-45 Who embarks on their joyful journey Mother Mary smiles, Tue: 1 Sam. 1: 24-28; Lk. 1: 46-56 Joseph, the foster father too, smiles Wed: Mal. 3: 1-4, 23-24; Lk. 1: 57-66 Thu: 2 Sam. 7: 1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Lk. 1: 67-79 In‘ϐ‹†–Š‡•Ž‡‡’‹‰‡™„‘”„ƒ„›Ǥ the midst of smelling cattle with their “staffs” Thus, the Nativity of Jesus, (Mid Night Mass) Is. 9: 1-6; Tit. 2: 11-14; Lk. 2: 1-14 They found “Messiah” in a feeding trough With various signs and wonders. Fri: Christmas Day The great joy of all people of good will Is. 52, 7-10; Hebr. 1: 1-6; Jn. 1: 1-18 (or 1-5, 9-14) To spread the greatest joy to all nations. Sat: Feast of St. Stephen Protomartyr, ‘‘”•Š‡’Š‡”†•ƒ•–Š‡ϐ‹”•–™‹–‡••‡•ǡ Ac. 6: 8-10, 7: 54-59; Mt. 10: 17-22 ˜‡–Š‘—‰Š–Š‡„ƒ„›Šƒ•ƒ‹••‹‘–‘ˆ—Žϐ‹ŽŽ Sun: Feast of Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph Ivor Hapuarachchi Gen. 15: 1-6, 21: 1-13; Hebr. 11: 8, 11-12, 17-19; Lk. 2: 22-40 or (22: 39-40)

.... to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there, the time came for her.... (Luke 2: 5-6) 6 Messenger Christmas Issue December 20, 2020 December 20, 2020 Messenger Christmas Issue 7 His Birth in History and A Face that Reveals God Our 'New' Birth Today! Facial recognition plation of the Lord’s Face in this life is a certain begin- for each of us. “For the Son of God, Jesus Christ … was by Rev. Fr. Eymard Fernando situation Etc,... myself so completely to God that ‘Christ is formed in Quite a number of mobile phones nowadays are not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. For all the In a situation of this nature, Christmas in 2020 can me again and again at every Christmas’. Once ‘Christ is “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and equipped with a facial recognition app. It activates the in the next (cf. Summa Theologiae, II, II, 180, 4). be looked at as a wakeup call to all of us to experience formed’ in me, His nature immediately begins to work ning of the happiness of the beati�ic vision of that Face they shall call Him Immanuel” (Isa. 7:14). phone once the face of the owner is in front of the camera. 1:19-20). a real new birth in ourselves, making every possible at- through me, as St. Paul categorically reiterates in the promises of God �ind their Yes in him” (2 Corinthians We, humans, actually have built-in facial recognition Contemplating the face of Jesus tempt to have a fresh start bidding farewell to our own words: His Birth in History – Christmas is undoubtedly the capabilities. Yet, during this pandemic, we must have May our prayer this Christmas be: “My heart says to Contemplatives in the middle of the world weaker side which keeps us away from God and His “… It is no longer I who live, but Christ Who lives in ‘God with struggled to recognize a friend or colleague because thee ‘Thy face, Lord, do I seek’. Hide not thy face from In the beautiful painting by the Dutch artist Mat- Holy Will. me. And the life I now live in the �lesh I live by faith in the us’. He was born into this world, not from it. He became they are wearing a face-mask. This is understandable me” (Psalms 27:8-9). The Birth of Jesus bids us take a thias Stomer, The Adoration of the Shepherds (c. 1635), Son of God…” (Gal. 2:20). joyfulone with celebration us, “…not of of the blood, Birth nor of ofImmanuel the will of– the �lesh, since people in front of us have a greater part of their step closer to Him, our Lord and Saviour, to grow in our Fr. Donncha observes how the rugged faces of the shep- What does this new birth and fresh start point to? This is what is made so profoundly possible for nor of the will of man, but of God” (Jn. 1:13). Thus, He Christian life. herds are bathed in the light which streams from the you and me through the redemption of man brought faces covered. came into history from the outside in a supernatural St. John Paul II spoke to young Swiss Catholics in face of the Christ Child which they contemplate. This His Birth in Me – “My little children, for whom I labour about by Jesus Christ. If this radical inner change takes Despite this downside of the current pandemic, way. He is not man becoming God, but God Incarnate however, it also has providential aspects. Perhaps, one June 2004: “Christianity is not just a book of culture or “dialogue” is the vocation of each one of us, called to in birth again until Christ is formed in you…” (Gal. 4:19). place in us every Christmas, and if it is made a reality an ideology, nor is it merely a system of values or prin- be contemplatives in the middle of the world, seeking These inspiring words of St. Paul very well illustrate in us very especially this Christmas, celebrated amidst of these is the opportunity to rediscover the beauty of here on earth is the highest and the most sublime enter- ciples, however lofty they may be. Christianity is a per- out, discovering, and savouring the Face of Jesus in our the meaning of a new birth and a fresh start in Jesus COVID, we can undoubtedly change the deadly COVID each and every human face, the unique face which re- ing– God through coming the into most human humble �lesh of fromdoors. outside Our Lord’s it. His Birth life veals the unique person. What is more, we are created son, a presence, a face: Jesus, who gives meaning and daily life, work, family, friendships, sufferings and joys. Our Saviour. Just as Our Lord came into something positive in the spiritual realm: to contemplate and adore the divine-human face of our fullness to human life Have you tried contemplating the Nativity scene, into human history from outside it, He God in human form for us and for our salvation. ‘It can loving Saviour. This is the only Face which ultimately “To look upon the face of Christ, to recognize its realizing that we are before a mystery of God’s love? must also come into me from outside C - Christmas bewas visualized an advent as ofthe a Creatorunique takingnature the – the form appearance of a creature of mystery amid the daily events and the sufferings of His Covid-Christmas in this disturbing and trying O - Offering to save the entire creation’! – “Christ Jesus, Who, though “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I human life, and then to grasp the divine splendor de- with meaning. The time we spend contemplating this situation. Have I allowed V - Vital This is a wonderful way of �illing this He was in the form of God did not regard equality with comesatis�ies and us behold and makes The face us of exclaim God?” (Psalms with the 42:2). psalmist: my innermost being to I - Inner God as something to be exploited, but emptied Himself, This Christmas, most probably will be more sedate the right hand of the Father: this is the task of every will spill over into the rest of our activities no matter become the ‘Manger D - Difference! �initively revealed in the Risen Lord, seated in glory at Face in the crèche, on the cruci�ix, or in the tabernacle taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. and silent than those of other years. This affords us follower of Christ and therefore the task of each one of how busy we are. This is because contemplation is a in Bethlehem’ for the And being found in human form, He humbled Himself the opportunity to do contemplative prayers. The us. In contemplating Christ's face we become open to question of love and when love is nurtured it grows. As Son of God Who is Thus, if we change ourselves learning from the Cat- and became obedient to the point of death – even death (n. 2724) teaches us that receiving the mystery of Trinitarian life, experiencing Joseph Pieper puts it in his essay Happiness and Con- eagerly waiting to echism of the Catholic Church on a cross” (Phil. 2:6-8). situation, God will undoubtedly hear our prayers ever anew the love of the Father and delighting in the templation: “Contemplation is a loving attainment of enter into my inner We are going to celebrate this Birth of Jesus in the and change the situation to our advantage by mak- joy of the Holy Spirit” (Apostolic Letter, Rosarium Vir- awareness. It is an intuition of the beloved object”. self this Christmas an attentiveness to the Word of God, a silent love”. Per- year 2020 in a completely different scenario, as it comes ing it a ‘Blessing in Disguise’, because He is ever- “contemplative prayer is a gaze of faith �ixed on Jesus, ginis Mariae, 9). The time spent quietly and alone before the Crib is amidst all chaotic haps one of the graces of a “Covid-Christmas” may be a to us wrapped in a time of a global pandemic. Dealing loving and merciful beyond our realm of compre- more serene and deeper contemplation of Christ who conditions? with the unforeseen challenges caused by the Covid- hension to the extent of sharing the gift of is, in the Holy Father’s words, Misericordiae Vultus, that mind’s construction in the face” (Macbeth I, IV). In all those who need and seek the Saviour. Our silent I cannot Shakespeare wrote that “there’s no art to �ind the not a sel�ish activity, but rather reaches out to embrace His Only Begotten Son with us, so that in is, “the Face of the Father’s Mercy” (Papal Bull, Extraor- Christ’s Face there is however no insincerity. He who prayer before the face of the Child Jesus can be a pow- enter the across the world. Even the countries that the virus has and through Him we may regain our lost dinary Jubilee of Mercy, April 2015). sees him sees the Father (cf. John 14:9). The Face of erful impetus towards bringing Him to other people. As realm of 19 pandemic has taken a signi�icant toll on people all relationship of being His sons and daughters in the We are indeed created to behold that Face. Contem- Pope Francis reminds us, Cont on pg 13 hit less aggressively are still under considerable strain. the Kingdom of God unless and until I am born again The entire world is buzzing with uncertainty and ques- from above by a birth totally unlike the physical one. supernatural order. Jesus is the transparent re�lection of the Trinity’s love tions like: How long will the pandemic last? Will the “…You must be born from above” (Jn. 3:7). This is not a “For God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Gospel Meditation on the Nativity of Our Lord – Luke 2:1-14 command, but a fact based on the all- abiding Authority Son so that whoever believes in Him should not perish it? What will people’s lives be like in a post-pandemic of God. The evidence of this new birth is that I yield but have eternal life” (Jn. 3:16). great surprise, the shepherds enter the rocky enclave world ever be able to �ind a satisfactory remedy to �ight Rev. Fr. Nilindra Gunesekera continue our meditation. Picture in your mind that where Mary and the women are. The women have lit he word Christmas means Christ’s Mass. The JosephThe �irstand partMary of have today’s joined Gospel us because has ended, our family but we is exact date of birth of Jesus remains unknown. travelling to Hebron, further south of Bethlehem. Mary ger hewn of rock in which lay the infant wrapped in I Never Dreamed-Mary TScholarly consensus is that 25th December was is heavy with child. Yet, she has travelled these 90 miles swaddlinga �ire to keep clothes. Mary A warm. shepherd In its says glow, to Mary,we see ‘An a angelman- The Mystique of Christmas Joy chosen by Early Christians to Christianize pagan fes- on a donkey. We have now reached the outskirts of There is a story told about the stormy events of the French Revolution when a mob was surging through tivals prevalent at the time such as either the Roman Bethlehem. and behold him, the Lord’. Another shepherd touches by Oscar E V Fernando Saturnalia or the Winter Solstice festival. The pagan It is neigh for Mary to be delivered, but there is no theof God infant’s told us feet. where The to baby �ind gurgles. you’. Mary We replies, rush forward ‘Come the corridors of the royal palace in Paris, determined hat is Christmas? this and insist, he is only Roman festival of Saturnalia, was a weeklong period of room in the inn. So, we shelter in a rocky enclave, and and crowd around the manger to look at the child. Mary to kill Queen Marie Antoinette, in the forefront of asked Jack from man - that's why this Joy lawlessness from the 17th-25th December. The Winter Mary gives birth that night. The women in our group says, ‘I wrapped him in swaddling clothes to straighten W the large crowd was a young girl. The milling crowd John- "why does it make at Christmas" said John. Solstice festival marked the shortest day and the lon- act as midwives. We men pitch camp for the night some his limbs’. Someone says, ‘Even Solomon was wrapped pushed her with such force against the door that it people happy - joyfully Yes - we sniff this en- gest night, signaling that the ‘extreme of winter’ was distance away. in swaddling clothes to show that despite his greatness gave way and she was hurled forward and lay uncon- enthusiastic - with silver thusiasm at Christmas now past and milder climes await. It was a festival as- So as the second part of today’s Gospel narrates, he was a mortal man. Therefore, this is a sign that the bells and stars in a Christ- sociated with the sun-god. "while they were there, the time came for her to be de- Messiah of God has embraced mortality’ (cf. Wisdom regained consciousness to see, bending over her, the mas tree - making it so appropriate to celebrate beautiful,scious on the compassionate �loor. Bruised face and of bleeding, Marie Antoinette.she �inally much a mystique". - may so what? be a day - some �ixed do so we now look to the historical circumstances surround- wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a begotten of God, for Mary had conceived by the Holy With her handkerchief the queen was trying to stop Having brie�ly traced the evolution of the celebration, "Mystique", john said gorge themselves with ing the messiah’s birth. After 27 years of his enthrone- manger,livered. becauseAnd she there gave wasbirth no to place her for�irst-born them in sonthe inn"and Spirit’.7:4). Joseph A shepherd says, ‘The says child to Mary,is the ‘An�irst-born angelic – hostthe only an- the bleeding. The young girl burst into tears and "is food for the heart and fancy clothes and good- ment as emperor of Rome, Augustus Caesar decreed (Luke 2:6-7). nounced this child’s birth. Clearly, he is marked for a thought, “Oh, I never dreamed she was like this. I nev- soul to enable love and ies to eat - try their ine- that all the world should be enrolled. Thus began a mass The second part of the Gospel ends but we continue special destiny’. Joseph says, ‘The child was laid in the er dreamed she was so beautiful". forgiveness and enthusi- waiting for that crunch of wine to gorge and satisfy displacement of people, as each went to his ancestral our meditation. Now picture in your mind that we see manger for warmth’. Another shepherd says, ‘It is also asm is - God within - so joy-they sing and swing his melancholic depres- Re�lection home to be enrolled. Augustus becomes the unknowing a sign to us because in time of famine, we eat the cattle briated best to �ind that their hands-tap their feet- worms and then for their sion - looks out his win- Like the young girl, some people have the little idea agent of God who sets in motion the sequence of events As the third part of today’s Gospel narrates, "in that corn left over in this manger. This child is destined to bread �irst for the hungry ary". all for good-only if they own turn. dow - sees the sad and leading to the Messiah’s birth in Bethlehem, the city of some shepherds nearby, keeping watch by their �lock. be a source of nutrition for the poor. We do not know of the beauty and kindness of one far more attractive de�inedJack continued in the diction- to say do think of others - but do Can we ever feel joy how; but he will surely feed us and nourish us. The hungry bellies - invites and kindly than the French queen: Mary, the virgin that only turkey and wine they experience that joy on seeing the wailing and (5:1-2). In the period of a Roman emperor known for Lordregion appeared there were to them, shepherds and the out glory in theof the �ield, Lord keeping shone swaddling clothes too, are a sign. These linen cloths them to share his bounti- mother of Jesus. Before they learn about Mary, they David, in ful�illment of the ancient prophecy of Micah could induce this hap- - with no such thought- suffering outside - and his reign of peace, God raises up the Prince of Peace. watch over their �lock by night. And an angel of the will mark his life’. Yet another shepherd raises his arms ful table - and be trans- harbour mistaken ideas about her. When we honour piness and enthusiasm. no-no- perhaps - a carnal shout with a sarcastic This is the miracle of Christmas! angel said to them, ‘Be not afraid; for behold, I bring and gazes to the heavens and says in a trance, ‘I see a formed into that happy Jesus’ mother, they think “idolatry.’ When we pay any John said - "it is so for pleasure for a while to pleasure of a Mary Antoi- We begin our meditation as we place ourselves at the around them, and they were �illed with fear. And the - joyful and enthusiastic attention to her, they say, “You are neglecting the son.” you good news of a great joy which will come to all the cross, not now but in the near future with linen cloths nette looking down from scene of the Gospel, to re-live it, and to be nourished those who believe that wallow in that so called And when we pray in the creed. “We believe in Jesus people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a hanging from is horizontal beams. I hear mourning and the balcony - to throw a scrooge - leaping for Joy and challenged by it, today. As today’s Gospel narrates, Jesus is no God". happiness and love of Christ born of the Virgin Mary” they think “Impos- Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign weeping. I see a man shining like the sun and dressed in piece of cake to meet the from then on - realizing- "in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus "Why do you say Jesus self. sible’”. Once people come to know Mary, study her in glistening white coming towards me. He will be invin- is God?" asked Jack. It dawns on some oth- hunger of those groaning we must love neighbour clothes and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was the gospel accounts, once they know what Catholics cible. He will conquer the old foe, destroy death itself’. Read the Bible both old ers to love neighbour as in discomfort and weak- as self. enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And withfor you: the youangel will a multitude �ind a babe of the wrapped heavenly in host swaddling prais- really believe about her and why they may readily that all the world should be enrolled. This was the �irst Mary says, ‘Angel Gabriel told me that this child is to and new with the mind’s self - then look around ness with a desire to eat Yes friends - this all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. And Joseph ing God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and agree with the young girl, “Oh, I never dreamed she be named Jesus, and that he would be called Son of the eye open - follow teach- - for those others much and then force a grin of COVID-Christmas - let us also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!’" was like this.” Elizabeth’s words to Mary in Luke’s Most High, and be given the throne of David forever’ (cf. ings how ‘Jesus instituted less fortunate - what do sadistic joy. turn a scrooge to the less Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, (Luke 2:8-14). Gospel ring true: “Blessed are you among women, Luke 1:31-33). Joseph says, ‘Mary is a holy woman. She church’ - to know Jesus is they see - bodies naked- Or like scrooge in Dick- fortunate and experience because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be The third part of the Gospel scene ends and we con- and blessed is the fruit of your womb”’(1:42). God - while some others eyes red - noses wet - hun- ensian Christmas - having the leap of Joy that fol- enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child" tinue our meditation. Picture in your mind that as the is graced by God. I shall guard, defend and venerate her Sent by woefully attempt to deny gered mouths - waiting- a tableful of turkey and lows Christmas Sharing. (Luke 2:1-5). shepherds make haste for the manger, we follow. To our all of my days’. His Lordship Most Rev Dr. Harold Anthony Perera

.... to have her child, and she gave birth to her �irstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes... (Luke 2: 6-7) ..... and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were shepherds... (Luke 2: 7-8) 6 Messenger Christmas Issue December 20, 2020 December 20, 2020 Messenger Christmas Issue 7 His Birth in History and A Face that Reveals God Our 'New' Birth Today! Facial recognition plation of the Lord’s Face in this life is a certain begin- for each of us. “For the Son of God, Jesus Christ … was by Rev. Fr. Eymard Fernando situation Etc,... myself so completely to God that ‘Christ is formed in Quite a number of mobile phones nowadays are not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. For all the In a situation of this nature, Christmas in 2020 can me again and again at every Christmas’. Once ‘Christ is “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and equipped with a facial recognition app. It activates the in the next (cf. Summa Theologiae, II, II, 180, 4). be looked at as a wakeup call to all of us to experience formed’ in me, His nature immediately begins to work ning of the happiness of the beati�ic vision of that Face they shall call Him Immanuel” (Isa. 7:14). phone once the face of the owner is in front of the camera. 1:19-20). a real new birth in ourselves, making every possible at- through me, as St. Paul categorically reiterates in the promises of God �ind their Yes in him” (2 Corinthians We, humans, actually have built-in facial recognition Contemplating the face of Jesus tempt to have a fresh start bidding farewell to our own words: His Birth in History – Christmas is undoubtedly the capabilities. Yet, during this pandemic, we must have May our prayer this Christmas be: “My heart says to Contemplatives in the middle of the world weaker side which keeps us away from God and His “… It is no longer I who live, but Christ Who lives in ‘God with struggled to recognize a friend or colleague because thee ‘Thy face, Lord, do I seek’. Hide not thy face from In the beautiful painting by the Dutch artist Mat- Holy Will. me. And the life I now live in the �lesh I live by faith in the us’. He was born into this world, not from it. He became they are wearing a face-mask. This is understandable me” (Psalms 27:8-9). The Birth of Jesus bids us take a thias Stomer, The Adoration of the Shepherds (c. 1635), Son of God…” (Gal. 2:20). onejoyful with celebration us, “…not of of the blood, Birth nor of ofImmanuel the will of– the �lesh, since people in front of us have a greater part of their step closer to Him, our Lord and Saviour, to grow in our Fr. Donncha observes how the rugged faces of the shep- What does this new birth and fresh start point to? This is what is made so profoundly possible for nor of the will of man, but of God” (Jn. 1:13). Thus, He Christian life. herds are bathed in the light which streams from the you and me through the redemption of man brought faces covered. came into history from the outside in a supernatural St. John Paul II spoke to young Swiss Catholics in face of the Christ Child which they contemplate. This His Birth in Me – “My little children, for whom I labour about by Jesus Christ. If this radical inner change takes Despite this downside of the current pandemic, way. He is not man becoming God, but God Incarnate however, it also has providential aspects. Perhaps, one June 2004: “Christianity is not just a book of culture or “dialogue” is the vocation of each one of us, called to in birth again until Christ is formed in you…” (Gal. 4:19). place in us every Christmas, and if it is made a reality an ideology, nor is it merely a system of values or prin- be contemplatives in the middle of the world, seeking These inspiring words of St. Paul very well illustrate in us very especially this Christmas, celebrated amidst of these is the opportunity to rediscover the beauty of here on earth is the highest and the most sublime enter- ciples, however lofty they may be. Christianity is a per- out, discovering, and savouring the Face of Jesus in our the meaning of a new birth and a fresh start in Jesus COVID, we can undoubtedly change the deadly COVID each and every human face, the unique face which re- ing– God through coming the into most human humble �lesh of fromdoors. outside Our Lord’s it. His Birth life veals the unique person. What is more, we are created son, a presence, a face: Jesus, who gives meaning and daily life, work, family, friendships, sufferings and joys. Our Saviour. Just as Our Lord came into something positive in the spiritual realm: to contemplate and adore the divine-human face of our fullness to human life Have you tried contemplating the Nativity scene, into human history from outside it, He God in human form for us and for our salvation. ‘It can loving Saviour. This is the only Face which ultimately “To look upon the face of Christ, to recognize its realizing that we are before a mystery of God’s love? must also come into me from outside C - Christmas bewas visualized an advent as ofthe a Creatorunique takingnature the – the form appearance of a creature of mystery amid the daily events and the sufferings of His Covid-Christmas in this disturbing and trying O - Offering to save the entire creation’! – “Christ Jesus, Who, though “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I human life, and then to grasp the divine splendor de- with meaning. The time we spend contemplating this situation. Have I allowed V - Vital This is a wonderful way of �illing this He was in the form of God did not regard equality with comesatis�ies and us behold and makes The face us of exclaim God?” (Psalms with the 42:2). psalmist: my innermost being to I - Inner God as something to be exploited, but emptied Himself, This Christmas, most probably will be more sedate the right hand of the Father: this is the task of every will spill over into the rest of our activities no matter become the ‘Manger D - Difference! �initively revealed in the Risen Lord, seated in glory at Face in the crèche, on the cruci�ix, or in the tabernacle taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. and silent than those of other years. This affords us follower of Christ and therefore the task of each one of how busy we are. This is because contemplation is a in Bethlehem’ for the And being found in human form, He humbled Himself the opportunity to do contemplative prayers. The us. In contemplating Christ's face we become open to question of love and when love is nurtured it grows. As Son of God Who is Thus, if we change ourselves learning from the Cat- and became obedient to the point of death – even death (n. 2724) teaches us that receiving the mystery of Trinitarian life, experiencing Joseph Pieper puts it in his essay Happiness and Con- eagerly waiting to echism of the Catholic Church on a cross” (Phil. 2:6-8). situation, God will undoubtedly hear our prayers ever anew the love of the Father and delighting in the templation: “Contemplation is a loving attainment of enter into my inner We are going to celebrate this Birth of Jesus in the and change the situation to our advantage by mak- joy of the Holy Spirit” (Apostolic Letter, Rosarium Vir- awareness. It is an intuition of the beloved object”. self this Christmas an attentiveness to the Word of God, a silent love”. Per- year 2020 in a completely different scenario, as it comes ing it a ‘Blessing in Disguise’, because He is ever- “contemplative prayer is a gaze of faith �ixed on Jesus, ginis Mariae, 9). The time spent quietly and alone before the Crib is amidst all chaotic haps one of the graces of a “Covid-Christmas” may be a to us wrapped in a time of a global pandemic. Dealing loving and merciful beyond our realm of compre- more serene and deeper contemplation of Christ who conditions? with the unforeseen challenges caused by the Covid- hension to the extent of sharing the gift of is, in the Holy Father’s words, Misericordiae Vultus, that mind’s construction in the face” (Macbeth I, IV). In all those who need and seek the Saviour. Our silent I cannot Shakespeare wrote that “there’s no art to �ind the not a sel�ish activity, but rather reaches out to embrace His Only Begotten Son with us, so that in is, “the Face of the Father’s Mercy” (Papal Bull, Extraor- Christ’s Face there is however no insincerity. He who prayer before the face of the Child Jesus can be a pow- enter the across the world. Even the countries that the virus has and through Him we may regain our lost dinary Jubilee of Mercy, April 2015). sees him sees the Father (cf. John 14:9). The Face of erful impetus towards bringing Him to other people. As realm of 19 pandemic has taken a signi�icant toll on people all relationship of being His sons and daughters in the We are indeed created to behold that Face. Contem- Pope Francis reminds us, Cont on pg 13 hit less aggressively are still under considerable strain. the Kingdom of God unless and until I am born again The entire world is buzzing with uncertainty and ques- from above by a birth totally unlike the physical one. supernatural order. Jesus is the transparent re�lection of the Trinity’s love tions like: How long will the pandemic last? Will the “…You must be born from above” (Jn. 3:7). This is not a “For God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Gospel Meditation on the Nativity of Our Lord – Luke 2:1-14 command, but a fact based on the all- abiding Authority Son so that whoever believes in Him should not perish it? What will people’s lives be like in a post-pandemic of God. The evidence of this new birth is that I yield but have eternal life” (Jn. 3:16). great surprise, the shepherds enter the rocky enclave world ever be able to �ind a satisfactory remedy to �ight Rev. Fr. Nilindra Gunesekera continue our meditation. Picture in your mind that where Mary and the women are. The women have lit he word Christmas means Christ’s Mass. The JosephThe �irstand partMary of have today’s joined Gospel us because has ended, our family but we is exact date of birth of Jesus remains unknown. travelling to Hebron, further south of Bethlehem. Mary ger hewn of rock in which lay the infant wrapped in I Never Dreamed-Mary TScholarly consensus is that 25th December was is heavy with child. Yet, she has travelled these 90 miles swaddlinga �ire to keep clothes. Mary A warm. shepherd In its says glow, to Mary,we see ‘An a angelman- The Mystique of Christmas Joy chosen by Early Christians to Christianize pagan fes- on a donkey. We have now reached the outskirts of There is a story told about the stormy events of the French Revolution when a mob was surging through tivals prevalent at the time such as either the Roman Bethlehem. and behold him, the Lord’. Another shepherd touches by Oscar E V Fernando Saturnalia or the Winter Solstice festival. The pagan It is neigh for Mary to be delivered, but there is no theof God infant’s told us feet. where The to baby �ind gurgles. you’. Mary We replies, rush forward ‘Come the corridors of the royal palace in Paris, determined hat is Christmas? this and insist, he is only Roman festival of Saturnalia, was a weeklong period of room in the inn. So, we shelter in a rocky enclave, and and crowd around the manger to look at the child. Mary to kill Queen Marie Antoinette, in the forefront of asked Jack from man - that's why this Joy lawlessness from the 17th-25th December. The Winter Mary gives birth that night. The women in our group says, ‘I wrapped him in swaddling clothes to straighten W the large crowd was a young girl. The milling crowd John- "why does it make at Christmas" said John. Solstice festival marked the shortest day and the lon- act as midwives. We men pitch camp for the night some his limbs’. Someone says, ‘Even Solomon was wrapped pushed her with such force against the door that it people happy - joyfully Yes - we sniff this en- gest night, signaling that the ‘extreme of winter’ was distance away. in swaddling clothes to show that despite his greatness gave way and she was hurled forward and lay uncon- enthusiastic - with silver thusiasm at Christmas now past and milder climes await. It was a festival as- So as the second part of today’s Gospel narrates, he was a mortal man. Therefore, this is a sign that the bells and stars in a Christ- sociated with the sun-god. "while they were there, the time came for her to be de- Messiah of God has embraced mortality’ (cf. Wisdom regained consciousness to see, bending over her, the mas tree - making it so appropriate to celebrate beautiful,scious on the compassionate �loor. Bruised face and of bleeding, Marie Antoinette.she �inally much a mystique". - may so what? be a day - some �ixed do so we now look to the historical circumstances surround- wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a begotten of God, for Mary had conceived by the Holy With her handkerchief the queen was trying to stop Having brie�ly traced the evolution of the celebration, "Mystique", john said gorge themselves with ing the messiah’s birth. After 27 years of his enthrone- manger,livered. becauseAnd she there gave wasbirth no to place her for�irst-born them in sonthe inn"and Spirit’.7:4). Joseph A shepherd says, ‘The says child to Mary,is the ‘An�irst-born angelic – hostthe only an- the bleeding. The young girl burst into tears and "is food for the heart and fancy clothes and good- ment as emperor of Rome, Augustus Caesar decreed (Luke 2:6-7). nounced this child’s birth. Clearly, he is marked for a thought, “Oh, I never dreamed she was like this. I nev- soul to enable love and ies to eat - try their ine- that all the world should be enrolled. Thus began a mass The second part of the Gospel ends but we continue special destiny’. Joseph says, ‘The child was laid in the er dreamed she was so beautiful". forgiveness and enthusi- waiting for that crunch of wine to gorge and satisfy displacement of people, as each went to his ancestral our meditation. Now picture in your mind that we see manger for warmth’. Another shepherd says, ‘It is also asm is - God within - so joy-they sing and swing his melancholic depres- Re�lection home to be enrolled. Augustus becomes the unknowing a sign to us because in time of famine, we eat the cattle briated best to �ind that their hands-tap their feet- worms and then for their sion - looks out his win- Like the young girl, some people have the little idea agent of God who sets in motion the sequence of events As the third part of today’s Gospel narrates, "in that corn left over in this manger. This child is destined to bread �irst for the hungry ary". all for good-only if they own turn. dow - sees the sad and leading to the Messiah’s birth in Bethlehem, the city of some shepherds nearby, keeping watch by their �lock. be a source of nutrition for the poor. We do not know of the beauty and kindness of one far more attractive de�inedJack continued in the diction- to say do think of others - but do Can we ever feel joy how; but he will surely feed us and nourish us. The hungry bellies - invites and kindly than the French queen: Mary, the virgin that only turkey and wine they experience that joy on seeing the wailing and (5:1-2). In the period of a Roman emperor known for Lordregion appeared there were to them, shepherds and the out glory in theof the �ield, Lord keeping shone swaddling clothes too, are a sign. These linen cloths them to share his bounti- mother of Jesus. Before they learn about Mary, they David, in ful�illment of the ancient prophecy of Micah could induce this hap- - with no such thought- suffering outside - and his reign of peace, God raises up the Prince of Peace. watch over their �lock by night. And an angel of the will mark his life’. Yet another shepherd raises his arms ful table - and be trans- harbour mistaken ideas about her. When we honour piness and enthusiasm. no-no- perhaps - a carnal shout with a sarcastic This is the miracle of Christmas! angel said to them, ‘Be not afraid; for behold, I bring and gazes to the heavens and says in a trance, ‘I see a formed into that happy Jesus’ mother, they think “idolatry.’ When we pay any John said - "it is so for pleasure for a while to pleasure of a Mary Antoi- We begin our meditation as we place ourselves at the around them, and they were �illed with fear. And the - joyful and enthusiastic attention to her, they say, “You are neglecting the son.” you good news of a great joy which will come to all the cross, not now but in the near future with linen cloths nette looking down from scene of the Gospel, to re-live it, and to be nourished those who believe that wallow in that so called And when we pray in the creed. “We believe in Jesus people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a hanging from is horizontal beams. I hear mourning and the balcony - to throw a scrooge - leaping for Joy and challenged by it, today. As today’s Gospel narrates, Jesus is no God". happiness and love of Christ born of the Virgin Mary” they think “Impos- Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign weeping. I see a man shining like the sun and dressed in piece of cake to meet the from then on - realizing- "in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus "Why do you say Jesus self. sible’”. Once people come to know Mary, study her in glistening white coming towards me. He will be invin- is God?" asked Jack. It dawns on some oth- hunger of those groaning we must love neighbour clothes and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was the gospel accounts, once they know what Catholics cible. He will conquer the old foe, destroy death itself’. Read the Bible both old ers to love neighbour as in discomfort and weak- as self. enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And withfor you: the youangel will a multitude �ind a babe of the wrapped heavenly in host swaddling prais- really believe about her and why they may readily that all the world should be enrolled. This was the �irst Mary says, ‘Angel Gabriel told me that this child is to and new with the mind’s self - then look around ness with a desire to eat Yes friends - this all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. And Joseph ing God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and agree with the young girl, “Oh, I never dreamed she be named Jesus, and that he would be called Son of the eye open - follow teach- - for those others much and then force a grin of COVID-Christmas - let us also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!’" was like this.” Elizabeth’s words to Mary in Luke’s Most High, and be given the throne of David forever’ (cf. ings how ‘Jesus instituted less fortunate - what do sadistic joy. turn a scrooge to the less Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, (Luke 2:8-14). Gospel ring true: “Blessed are you among women, Luke 1:31-33). Joseph says, ‘Mary is a holy woman. She church’ - to know Jesus is they see - bodies naked- Or like scrooge in Dick- fortunate and experience because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be The third part of the Gospel scene ends and we con- and blessed is the fruit of your womb”’(1:42). God - while some others eyes red - noses wet - hun- ensian Christmas - having the leap of Joy that fol- enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child" tinue our meditation. Picture in your mind that as the is graced by God. I shall guard, defend and venerate her Sent by woefully attempt to deny gered mouths - waiting- a tableful of turkey and lows Christmas Sharing. (Luke 2:1-5). shepherds make haste for the manger, we follow. To our all of my days’. His Lordship Most Rev Dr. Harold Anthony Perera

.... to have her child, and she gave birth to her �irstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes... (Luke 2: 6-7) ..... and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were shepherds... (Luke 2: 7-8) 8 Messenger Christmas Issue December 20, 2020 9 ‡–”‹ƒƒ‡‡ϐ‹– ƒ”‡••‹‰–Š‡ ‘‘†‹ŽŽ–Š‹  ”‡™‡Š—ƒ„‡‹‰•‘–Š‡”‹‰Š–’ƒ–Šǫ any years ago with its penchant for creating a Godless, this poem be an ƒ†‡Ž‹‰‹‘—• ”‘—’•Ǧ’‘•–‘Ž‹ — ‹‘‹”‹ƒƒ Mwhen I was a greedy and valueless society where everything inspiration for us to student in Rome I open our hearts to that perennial call of the came across a poem secular, a-moral and man centered Utopia and Lord: "‡–—” –‘ ‡ ˆ‘”  Šƒ˜‡ ”‡†‡‡‡† written in German by the‹•”‡Žƒ–‹˜‹œ‡†‘”ϐŽƒ––‡‡†‘—–ˆ‘”–Š‡•ƒ‡‘ˆƒ earth itself made to become a victim to a ›‘—" [Isaiah 44:22] Rev. Fr. Camillus Fernando, Editor, Catholic Messenger recently interviewed the Vatican Apostolic Nuncio for an unknown author process of "creation upside down", meaning The question ought to be honestly asked: Sri Lanka His Excellency Monsignor Brian Udaigwe, Titular Archbishop of Suelli entitled "Creation a gradual and sure destruction of its God "are we human beings on the right path"? Upside Down" and I given harmony and beauty, this poem poses a Haven't we created a Godless society which was deeply fascinated challenge to all of us calling for a return to faith is without a sense of direction, conviction Question: What Answer: There are many by it, for, it was a and commitment to moral and spiritual was your feeling challenges in our world today. I had known your country pretty well beautiful and poetic uprightness? Haven't we compromised on It is not just priests. Many of the when you were even before my appointment. I knew analysis of how mankind was on a destructive of‹ ‘†ƒ†ƒ•’‹”‹–—ƒŽ‹–›‘ˆϐ‹” ‘‹–‡––‘ our religious convictions. It does not call for almost everything with might becoming problems exist in the society and informed that a bit already about its rich history, path of choices which were leading it to what it aŽ‘˜‡ƒ†•‡ŽϐŽ‡••‡••‹–Š‡ƒ—–Š‡–‹ ’”ƒ –‹ ‡ mere human fraternity which lacks the inner right, money becoming God, self becoming priests are part of that society. I you are to civilization and people. I even noticed called the "last seven days of the earth". Today the centre of every consideration, the earth remember when we were in the be posted as some similarities with my own country after more than forty years I came across, a readiness to reach out to the others and to becoming the victim of our egoism, and life nuncio to this Academy in Rome, one of our †›ƒ‹•‘ˆ”‡Ž‹‰‹‘„—– ƒϐ‹”ƒ†•‡ŽϐŽ‡•• of origin, Nigeria translation of the same done by me, when itself being considered as a relative value in island- nation? Professors said that one of the I was a young priest, and published in the With the terrible plague of Covid 19 relation to our greed? work of Ambassadors, Nuncios, Catholic Messenger of 21st December, 1980 in affectingϐ‹†–”—‡ˆ”ƒ–‡”‹–›‹‘—”ˆƒ‹–Šˆ—Ž‡••–‘ ‘†Ǥ and threatening the very survival of Answer: When the Cardinal [Malcolm Ranjith] a couple of times was to get information. But now the special supplement for Christmas with the humanity today, we should move towards a over it and plead with the Lord to be merciful I received the when he was Secretary of the Congregation for information reaches everywhere title "The Story Of Creation Upside Down". true spirit of conversion of hearts and a return to us‡–—•–Š‡”‡ƒ†–Š‹•’‘‡ǡ”‡ϐŽ‡ –ƒ†’”ƒ› and to spare us from the terrible disaster, message from the Secretariat of State that I was the Evangelization of the Peoples, in Rome. I was before you can write about it. to God, taking an honest look at ourselves, of egoism with which we seem to be enslaved. to be transferred from where I was serving as happy to receive a very nice letter from him after Time has changed, Things have terrible disasters overtaking humanity today our value systems and our behaviour. May #Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith Nuncio in two West African countries, I had the appointment, welcoming me to Sri Lanka, changed. Within the society ‡ƒ†‹‰ –Š”‘—‰Š ‹– ƒ† ”‡ϐŽ‡ –‹‰ ‘ –Š‡ Archbishop of Colombo mixed feelings. Mixed feelings because I loved and was pleasantly surprised to learn that he where information is so fast, those countries very much, the Republic of Benin still remembered our meetings in Rome many one has to be extra careful. Š‡–‘”›‘ˆ”‡ƒ–‹‘’•‹†‡‘™ years ago, when I was still a young diplomat. I The problem is no longer about getting the information, but Holy Father Pope Francis called Sri had not imagined that he would remember that. In the beginning God created being able to discern and analyse Lanka, as "The Pearl of the East". I received nice and fraternal messages also from the heavens and the earth. it. It is about the authenticity I wish that Sri Lanka continues to the President of the Bishops' Conference and from many other Bishops. Through this medium, of the information. Priests live But after many millions of years be a pearl from all perspectives in this society. They, have to be I express my appreciation to them once more. and particularly in its rich history very careful and prudent. We and said: Who is it that talks about God here? and civilization, and harness the cannot just follow the society Iƒ„‡ ƒ‡•—ˆϐ‹ ‹‡–Ž›‹–‡ŽŽ‹‰‡– take my future into my own hands, „‡‡ϔ‹–•‘ˆ‹–•˜ƒ”‹‡–›‘ˆ Question: Your Excellency, we would like and its errors, but to lead and and he took it, and thus began Religions and peoples to know about yourself.... Would you tell us give good examples. This is why the last seven days of the earth. something about your personal life? we are entrusted with different responsibilities, like schools and Š‡‘”‹‰‘ˆ–Š‡ ‹”•–ƒ› and Togo. In the second place, after seven years, I Answer: Well, you know this already from the even care of souls. Man decided thought it was good to have another experience. announcements given during my appointment. I to be free, good, beautiful and happy. I was overjoyed to learn that it was to Sri Lanka, Question: Many talk about Not anymore according to the image and likeness of God but of man. Asia, because it would be an opportunity to have the priests....most of them do Your culture as well as mine respect And because he had to believe in something the experience of Asia as a Nuncio. I already religious leaders a lot, irrespective not talk to the priests. They by Catholics. When I met the President, H. E. know Asia to some extent as I was Counsellor at he believed in freedom and happiness. ‘ˆ–Š‡”‡Ž‹‰‹‘—•ƒˆϔ‹Ž‹ƒ–‹‘Ǥ‡ ƒ—•‡ talk about the priesthood. A real solution Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa on the day I presented the Nunciature in Thailand and from there I also my Credential Letters to him, I referred to the of such respect, people tend to place can be found by talking to the priests..... the earth on which his feet stood he had effective control the stars and the last cockroach who had worked and knew many other Asian countries, like importance of this word. religious leaders on a pedestal and how do you see that? with ˆƒ –ˆ‘”Š‹•‘™•‡ —”‹–›Š‡Šƒ†ϐ‹ŽŽ‡†ǡ missiles and nuclear warheads. but yet because someone had forgotten to survived in an anti-missile bunker Myanmar. Cambodia, Singapore, Laos. Malaysia, The Holy Father Pope Francis called your close the containers of germs ready died because of the excessive heat Brunei.... Hence, prior to this appointment, I had rarely dare to talk to them about their country as "the Pearl of the East". I wish that Š‡‡ ‘†ƒ›‘ˆ–Š‡Žƒ•–†ƒ›• for the next war.... which did not make it easy at all for him. the opportunity to meet many Asian Bishops and [the religious leaders] issues, but Answer: Yeah... It is different from country to Sri Lanka continues to be a pearl from all Died, And their medicines could not help them particularly during FABC meetings in Bangkok. rather concentrate on their own [the country. It is different from culture to culture, perspectives and particularly in its rich history because they had made everything part of TŠ‡‡˜‡–Šƒ› Narrowing down my answer to Sri Lanka, people's] problem. Priests are really like yours, like mine. Your culture as well as mine polluted with industrial wastes, the birds the market complex, There was peace. respect religious leaders a lot, irrespective of in fact, I am happy to inform you that I had treated as people set apart. It is not so variety of religions and peoples. It is good to –Š‡ϐ‹•Š‘ˆ–Š‡™ƒ–‡”•„‡ ƒ—•‡–Š‡›™‡”‡ others died of hunger, Finally. ƒ† ‹˜‹Ž‹•ƒ–‹‘ǡ ƒ† Šƒ”‡•• –Š‡ „‡‡ϐ‹–• ‘ˆ ‹–• by inhaling the dust and chemical fumes from known your country pretty well even before in some Western countries have people with different backgrounds, who the factory chimneys, because some of them had hidden The earth was desolate and empty, and was my appointment. I knew a bit already about people tend to place religious leaders on a think in different ways, have different ideas. My the keys of the granary. –Š‡”‡Ž‹‰‹‘—•ƒˆϐ‹Ž‹ƒ–‹‘Ǥ‡ ƒ—•‡‘ˆ•— Š”‡•’‡ –ǡ died the hares by eating the grass polluted by dark above the cracks and clefts which were its rich history, civilization and people. I even pedestal and rarely dare to talk to them about wish to the good people of Sri Lanka is that they insecticides and weedicides And they cursed God, Clearly visible on the dry crust of the earth. noticed some similarities with my own country their [the religious leaders] issues, but rather the herrings in the oil and nuclear-waste because He was the cause of their And the spirit of man roamed about as a ghost, am from Nigeria, but was born in Cameroon, in concentrate on their own [the people's] problems. the differences they have, call it religion, ethnic polluted waters of the ocean. misfortune even though they had long ago over the chaos. 1964. I did my studies in Nigeria and Italy, but Priests are really treated as people set apart. It „‡ƒ„Ž‡–‘Šƒ”‡••–Š‡„‡‡ϐ‹–•‘ˆ–Š‡˜ƒ”‹‡–›‘ˆ It is good to have people with different groups or races and so on. May God bless you! Š‡ ‹ˆ–Šƒ› Down in the abyss of Hell also in some other parts of Europe. I was ordained is not so in some Western countries.-As the Holy backgrounds, who think in different Thank you very much ! Š‡Š‹”†ƒ› The last lot of men pressed, people were recounting the captivating story a priest in 1992 and a bishop in 2013, following Father said, priests should not just remain in the of man ways, have different ideas. My wish to the red button because they felt my appointment as Apostolic Nuncio. comfort of their churches waiting for people to and so also the leaves of the trees, themselves threatened. who took his future into his hands and the the good people of Sri Lanka is that Š‡‰”ƒ••‘ˆ–Š‡ϐ‹‡Ž†•†”‹‡†—’ come to talk to them. We need to go out to the the moss on the rocks Fire surrounded the planet, the mountains laughs were rumbling up to the heavens, –Š‡›„‡ƒ„Ž‡–‘Šƒ”‡••–Š‡„‡‡ϔ‹–• The problem is no longer about Question: Your Excellency, have you been burnt, the seas evaporated and the skeletons even up to the choirs of angels up there for of the variety of the differences they getting the information, but being to Sri Lanka before? We should not wait for people to come to us. We because it was man himself who ordered of cement in the cities were standing erect, they said: ’‡‘’Ž‡Ǣƒ†ƒ•’ƒ•–‘”•ǡˆ‡‡Ž–Š‡•‡ŽŽ‘ˆ–Š‡ϐŽ‘ Ǥ able to discern and analyse it. It ƒ†–Š‡ϐŽ‘™‡”•‹–Š‡‰ƒ”†‡•ǡ have, call it religion, ethnic groups or should go to them. the weather conditions and distributed rain black and smoking. "Man who rejected God races and so on is about the authenticity of the according to a precise plan. And the angels in heaven saw Has destroyed himself" Answer: information. Priests live in this There was only a little error in the computer how the blue planet became red, Ladies and Gentlemen, nothing guarantees us about the country. I had also known its history Question: What is your message to Sri ‘ǡ–Š‹•‹•›ϐ‹”•––‹‡ǡ„—– Šƒ˜‡”‡ƒ† society. They, we. have to be very that distributed, the rain. And when they then brownish and in the end ash grey. that man can remain without exhausting his and some of its challenges even before my Lanka at present time....to the Catholics of origin, Nigeria. I had met people from here careful and prudent. We cannot just found the error, the pontoons of the bridges And interrupted their hymns of chances and lo, all of them, in this game. We appointment. and even lived in the same house at the London and to the rest of the people in our country? follow the society and its errors, were ly-ing on the dried up beds of the rivers. praise for ten minutes. can only believe that this world and with it Nunciature with Benedictine Sisters of Grace and but to lead and give good examples. man himself and his future are in the hands Answer: In the few articles and books that I Š‡ ‘—”–Šƒ› Compassion. Some of them were Sri Lankans. Question: Your Excellency, the entire Church This is why we are entrusted with TŠ‡‹š–Šƒ› of another. have read, I often met the word "Reconciliation, Died three out of the four billion Good people. Good Sisters. Others were from is going through a bit of a transition The light was extinguished Translated and adapted from the original different responsibilities, like schools human beings. Tamil Nadu, India. I know that this Congregation period. How do you see the priestly life in Reconciliation", I have seen this word commented Dust and ashes surrounded the sun, moon and German by Fr. Malcolm Ranjith and even care of souls Some through sicknesses over which man said is present here in Sri Lanka. I had even met with the present day; in contemporary society? upon in various books, especially books written

..... in that region living in the elds and keeping the night watch over their ock. e angel of the Lord appeared to them,...... (Luke 2:8-9) 8 Messenger Christmas Issue December 20, 2020 9 ‡–”‹ƒƒ‡‡ϐ‹– ƒ”‡••‹‰–Š‡ ‘‘†‹ŽŽ–Š‹  ”‡™‡Š—ƒ„‡‹‰•‘–Š‡”‹‰Š–’ƒ–Šǫ any years ago with its penchant for creating a Godless, this poem be an ƒ†‡Ž‹‰‹‘—• ”‘—’•Ǧ’‘•–‘Ž‹ — ‹‘‹”‹ƒƒ Mwhen I was a greedy and valueless society where everything inspiration for us to student in Rome I open our hearts to that perennial call of the came across a poem secular, a-moral and man centered Utopia and Lord: "‡–—” –‘ ‡ ˆ‘”  Šƒ˜‡ ”‡†‡‡‡† written in German by the‹•”‡Žƒ–‹˜‹œ‡†‘”ϐŽƒ––‡‡†‘—–ˆ‘”–Š‡•ƒ‡‘ˆƒ earth itself made to become a victim to a ›‘—" [Isaiah 44:22] Rev. Fr. Camillus Fernando, Editor, Catholic Messenger recently interviewed the Vatican Apostolic Nuncio for an unknown author process of "creation upside down", meaning The question ought to be honestly asked: Sri Lanka His Excellency Monsignor Brian Udaigwe, Titular Archbishop of Suelli entitled "Creation a gradual and sure destruction of its God "are we human beings on the right path"? Upside Down" and I given harmony and beauty, this poem poses a Haven't we created a Godless society which was deeply fascinated challenge to all of us calling for a return to faith is without a sense of direction, conviction Question: What Answer: There are many by it, for, it was a and commitment to moral and spiritual was your feeling challenges in our world today. I had known your country pretty well beautiful and poetic uprightness? Haven't we compromised on It is not just priests. Many of the when you were even before my appointment. I knew analysis of how mankind was on a destructive of‹ ‘†ƒ†ƒ•’‹”‹–—ƒŽ‹–›‘ˆϐ‹” ‘‹–‡––‘ our religious convictions. It does not call for almost everything with might becoming problems exist in the society and informed that a bit already about its rich history, path of choices which were leading it to what it aŽ‘˜‡ƒ†•‡ŽϐŽ‡••‡••‹–Š‡ƒ—–Š‡–‹ ’”ƒ –‹ ‡ mere human fraternity which lacks the inner right, money becoming God, self becoming priests are part of that society. I you are to civilization and people. I even noticed called the "last seven days of the earth". Today the centre of every consideration, the earth remember when we were in the be posted as some similarities with my own country after more than forty years I came across, a readiness to reach out to the others and to becoming the victim of our egoism, and life nuncio to this Academy in Rome, one of our †›ƒ‹•‘ˆ”‡Ž‹‰‹‘„—– ƒϐ‹”ƒ†•‡ŽϐŽ‡•• of origin, Nigeria translation of the same done by me, when itself being considered as a relative value in island- nation? Professors said that one of the I was a young priest, and published in the With the terrible plague of Covid 19 relation to our greed? work of Ambassadors, Nuncios, Catholic Messenger of 21st December, 1980 in affectingϐ‹†–”—‡ˆ”ƒ–‡”‹–›‹‘—”ˆƒ‹–Šˆ—Ž‡••–‘ ‘†Ǥ and threatening the very survival of Answer: When the Cardinal [Malcolm Ranjith] a couple of times was to get information. But now the special supplement for Christmas with the humanity today, we should move towards a over it and plead with the Lord to be merciful I received the when he was Secretary of the Congregation for information reaches everywhere title "The Story Of Creation Upside Down". true spirit of conversion of hearts and a return to us‡–—•–Š‡”‡ƒ†–Š‹•’‘‡ǡ”‡ϐŽ‡ –ƒ†’”ƒ› and to spare us from the terrible disaster, message from the Secretariat of State that I was the Evangelization of the Peoples, in Rome. I was before you can write about it. to God, taking an honest look at ourselves, of egoism with which we seem to be enslaved. to be transferred from where I was serving as happy to receive a very nice letter from him after Time has changed, Things have terrible disasters overtaking humanity today our value systems and our behaviour. May #Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith Nuncio in two West African countries, I had the appointment, welcoming me to Sri Lanka, changed. Within the society ‡ƒ†‹‰ –Š”‘—‰Š ‹– ƒ† ”‡ϐŽ‡ –‹‰ ‘ –Š‡ Archbishop of Colombo mixed feelings. Mixed feelings because I loved and was pleasantly surprised to learn that he where information is so fast, those countries very much, the Republic of Benin still remembered our meetings in Rome many one has to be extra careful. Š‡–‘”›‘ˆ”‡ƒ–‹‘’•‹†‡‘™ years ago, when I was still a young diplomat. I The problem is no longer about getting the information, but Holy Father Pope Francis called Sri had not imagined that he would remember that. In the beginning God created being able to discern and analyse Lanka, as "The Pearl of the East". I received nice and fraternal messages also from the heavens and the earth. it. It is about the authenticity I wish that Sri Lanka continues to the President of the Bishops' Conference and from many other Bishops. Through this medium, of the information. Priests live But after many millions of years be a pearl from all perspectives in this society. They, have to be I express my appreciation to them once more. and particularly in its rich history very careful and prudent. We and said: Who is it that talks about God here? and civilization, and harness the cannot just follow the society Iƒ„‡ ƒ‡•—ˆϐ‹ ‹‡–Ž›‹–‡ŽŽ‹‰‡– take my future into my own hands, „‡‡ϔ‹–•‘ˆ‹–•˜ƒ”‹‡–›‘ˆ Question: Your Excellency, we would like and its errors, but to lead and and he took it, and thus began Religions and peoples to know about yourself.... Would you tell us give good examples. This is why the last seven days of the earth. something about your personal life? we are entrusted with different responsibilities, like schools and Š‡‘”‹‰‘ˆ–Š‡ ‹”•–ƒ› and Togo. In the second place, after seven years, I Answer: Well, you know this already from the even care of souls. Man decided thought it was good to have another experience. announcements given during my appointment. I to be free, good, beautiful and happy. I was overjoyed to learn that it was to Sri Lanka, Question: Many talk about Not anymore according to the image and likeness of God but of man. Asia, because it would be an opportunity to have the priests....most of them do Your culture as well as mine respect And because he had to believe in something the experience of Asia as a Nuncio. I already religious leaders a lot, irrespective not talk to the priests. They by Catholics. When I met the President, H. E. know Asia to some extent as I was Counsellor at he believed in freedom and happiness. ‘ˆ–Š‡”‡Ž‹‰‹‘—•ƒˆϔ‹Ž‹ƒ–‹‘Ǥ‡ ƒ—•‡ talk about the priesthood. A real solution Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa on the day I presented the Nunciature in Thailand and from there I also my Credential Letters to him, I referred to the of such respect, people tend to place can be found by talking to the priests..... the earth on which his feet stood he had effective control the stars and the last cockroach who had worked and knew many other Asian countries, like importance of this word. religious leaders on a pedestal and how do you see that? with ˆƒ –ˆ‘”Š‹•‘™•‡ —”‹–›Š‡Šƒ†ϐ‹ŽŽ‡†ǡ missiles and nuclear warheads. but yet because someone had forgotten to survived in an anti-missile bunker Myanmar. Cambodia, Singapore, Laos. Malaysia, The Holy Father Pope Francis called your close the containers of germs ready died because of the excessive heat Brunei.... Hence, prior to this appointment, I had rarely dare to talk to them about their country as "the Pearl of the East". I wish that Š‡‡ ‘†ƒ›‘ˆ–Š‡Žƒ•–†ƒ›• for the next war.... which did not make it easy at all for him. the opportunity to meet many Asian Bishops and [the religious leaders] issues, but Answer: Yeah... It is different from country to Sri Lanka continues to be a pearl from all Died, And their medicines could not help them particularly during FABC meetings in Bangkok. rather concentrate on their own [the country. It is different from culture to culture, perspectives and particularly in its rich history because they had made everything part of TŠ‡‡˜‡–Šƒ› Narrowing down my answer to Sri Lanka, people's] problem. Priests are really like yours, like mine. Your culture as well as mine polluted with industrial wastes, the birds the market complex, There was peace. respect religious leaders a lot, irrespective of in fact, I am happy to inform you that I had treated as people set apart. It is not so variety of religions and peoples. It is good to –Š‡ϐ‹•Š‘ˆ–Š‡™ƒ–‡”•„‡ ƒ—•‡–Š‡›™‡”‡ others died of hunger, Finally. ƒ† ‹˜‹Ž‹•ƒ–‹‘ǡ ƒ† Šƒ”‡•• –Š‡ „‡‡ϐ‹–• ‘ˆ ‹–• by inhaling the dust and chemical fumes from known your country pretty well even before in some Western countries have people with different backgrounds, who the factory chimneys, because some of them had hidden The earth was desolate and empty, and was my appointment. I knew a bit already about people tend to place religious leaders on a think in different ways, have different ideas. My the keys of the granary. –Š‡”‡Ž‹‰‹‘—•ƒˆϐ‹Ž‹ƒ–‹‘Ǥ‡ ƒ—•‡‘ˆ•— Š”‡•’‡ –ǡ died the hares by eating the grass polluted by dark above the cracks and clefts which were its rich history, civilization and people. I even pedestal and rarely dare to talk to them about wish to the good people of Sri Lanka is that they insecticides and weedicides And they cursed God, Clearly visible on the dry crust of the earth. noticed some similarities with my own country their [the religious leaders] issues, but rather the herrings in the oil and nuclear-waste because He was the cause of their And the spirit of man roamed about as a ghost, am from Nigeria, but was born in Cameroon, in concentrate on their own [the people's] problems. the differences they have, call it religion, ethnic polluted waters of the ocean. misfortune even though they had long ago over the chaos. 1964. I did my studies in Nigeria and Italy, but Priests are really treated as people set apart. It „‡ƒ„Ž‡–‘Šƒ”‡••–Š‡„‡‡ϐ‹–•‘ˆ–Š‡˜ƒ”‹‡–›‘ˆ It is good to have people with different groups or races and so on. May God bless you! Š‡ ‹ˆ–Šƒ› Down in the abyss of Hell also in some other parts of Europe. I was ordained is not so in some Western countries.-As the Holy backgrounds, who think in different Thank you very much ! Š‡Š‹”†ƒ› The last lot of men pressed, people were recounting the captivating story a priest in 1992 and a bishop in 2013, following Father said, priests should not just remain in the of man ways, have different ideas. My wish to the red button because they felt my appointment as Apostolic Nuncio. comfort of their churches waiting for people to and so also the leaves of the trees, themselves threatened. who took his future into his hands and the the good people of Sri Lanka is that Š‡‰”ƒ••‘ˆ–Š‡ϐ‹‡Ž†•†”‹‡†—’ come to talk to them. We need to go out to the the moss on the rocks Fire surrounded the planet, the mountains laughs were rumbling up to the heavens, –Š‡›„‡ƒ„Ž‡–‘Šƒ”‡••–Š‡„‡‡ϔ‹–• The problem is no longer about Question: Your Excellency, have you been burnt, the seas evaporated and the skeletons even up to the choirs of angels up there for of the variety of the differences they getting the information, but being to Sri Lanka before? We should not wait for people to come to us. We because it was man himself who ordered of cement in the cities were standing erect, they said: ’‡‘’Ž‡Ǣƒ†ƒ•’ƒ•–‘”•ǡˆ‡‡Ž–Š‡•‡ŽŽ‘ˆ–Š‡ϐŽ‘ Ǥ able to discern and analyse it. It ƒ†–Š‡ϐŽ‘™‡”•‹–Š‡‰ƒ”†‡•ǡ have, call it religion, ethnic groups or should go to them. the weather conditions and distributed rain black and smoking. "Man who rejected God races and so on is about the authenticity of the according to a precise plan. And the angels in heaven saw Has destroyed himself" Answer: information. Priests live in this There was only a little error in the computer how the blue planet became red, Ladies and Gentlemen, nothing guarantees us about the country. I had also known its history Question: What is your message to Sri ‘ǡ–Š‹•‹•›ϐ‹”•––‹‡ǡ„—– Šƒ˜‡”‡ƒ† society. They, we. have to be very that distributed, the rain. And when they then brownish and in the end ash grey. that man can remain without exhausting his and some of its challenges even before my Lanka at present time....to the Catholics of origin, Nigeria. I had met people from here careful and prudent. We cannot just found the error, the pontoons of the bridges And interrupted their hymns of chances and lo, all of them, in this game. We appointment. and even lived in the same house at the London and to the rest of the people in our country? follow the society and its errors, were ly-ing on the dried up beds of the rivers. praise for ten minutes. can only believe that this world and with it Nunciature with Benedictine Sisters of Grace and but to lead and give good examples. man himself and his future are in the hands Answer: In the few articles and books that I Š‡ ‘—”–Šƒ› Compassion. Some of them were Sri Lankans. Question: Your Excellency, the entire Church This is why we are entrusted with TŠ‡‹š–Šƒ› of another. have read, I often met the word "Reconciliation, Died three out of the four billion Good people. Good Sisters. Others were from is going through a bit of a transition The light was extinguished Translated and adapted from the original different responsibilities, like schools human beings. Tamil Nadu, India. I know that this Congregation period. How do you see the priestly life in Reconciliation", I have seen this word commented Dust and ashes surrounded the sun, moon and German by Fr. Malcolm Ranjith and even care of souls Some through sicknesses over which man said is present here in Sri Lanka. I had even met with the present day; in contemporary society? upon in various books, especially books written

..... in that region living in the elds and keeping the night watch over their ock. e angel of the Lord appeared to them,...... (Luke 2:8-9) 10 Messenger Christmas Issue December 20, 2020 December 20, 2020 Messenger Christmas Issue 11 Three lessons from the life of End of the World and The Chip St. Nicholas for the modern man A Christian Response realities taken from the Hebrew Scripture. It is worth The beast from the land is at the service of that by Rev. Fr. Alvin Peter Fernando Who was the real man behind the Santa Claus legend, and what can his story teach us today? noting that these ‘signs of time’ were put forward as from the sea. It is a ‘false prophet which has obtained t. Nicholas is a peculiar saint to consider closely. It need might feel like a chore, but it is a true imitation of St. henever there is war, persecutions of Chris- punishments for the disobedience to God’s voice. In- authority from the sea beast (16:13, 19:20, 20:10). It seems like everybody, Christian or not, knows his Nicholas, and is always worth the effort. tians in particular, a natural catastrophe, or a terpretations of these so called “signs of times’ as call resembles the Iamb but speak like a dragon (13:11). It Sname—jolly old St. Nick, right? But even though Wpandemic like Covid-19, the fundamentalists to conversion are worth accepting and not as a threat, appears to be from the Lamb of God but is evil, from the Santa Claus is a beloved �igure all over the world, the his- TRUST IN GOD'S PROVIDENCE interpret them as signs of the end of the world. In the frightening the people regarding the end of the world. dragon. It performs miracles, wonders and great works torical record leaves us with little biographical informa- For many people, 2020 has been a year that has test- End of times is not destruction but is judgement. The as though from the Spirit, to mislead the faithful to em- tion about the real man behind the legend. ed their faith in God. So many comforts and sources of Revelation 13:16-18 citing that the chip that is planned faithful eagerly wait to meet their Lord, because they peror cult (13:13ff). recent developments they speak of the ful�illment of joy, both large and small, have been taken away from us, to be inserted under the skin as the mark of the beast, have lived according to His will. Whereas for the un- The dragon, the sea beast and the land beast form you can see his bones at the Basilica di San Nicola in and we do not know when we will get them back. the devil, the Satan. This is mere eisegesis: eisegesis is faithful it is a day of doom, because they know they de- the opposite of the Trinity, the demonic trinity. The Bari,To Italy. be sure, In fact, his inhistorical 2014, experts existence used is veri�iable,3D interactive and Scripture shows us a consistent pattern of adverse interpreting a text in such a way as to introduce one’s serve severe punishment for not obeying the Lord. number 666 or 616 of the beast refers to whom is de- technology and facial reconstruction to recreate what circumstances testing the faith of holy men and women. own presuppositions, agendas or biases; it is common- bated, but it refers to a person, a human being (13:18). he may have looked like based on his bone structure. It can be hard to fathom how these people held onto ly known as reading into the text. It is not the accepted 2. The Chip as the Mark of the Beast Though over the course of history “666’ was interpreted But the earliest surviving biography of the saint was faith in the face of such dire calamities. But each time Christian way of interpretation. In this article, we shall With the Covid-19. the world is trying to do away to refer to many so-called evil persons (and also to the written nearly 500 years after he died, so it can be hard they persisted in trusting God’s loving providence, despite explore these two false interpretations of both the signs with cash, cards and other access devices that could Pope), we need to keep in mind that the author writ- to separate the myths from the facts. all evidence to the contrary, they were richly rewarded. of the time and the Bible: The End of the World and The spread the virus through interaction and introduce a ing to his audience made sure that they knew to whom Not only did God pour down His grace and peace on What we do know about his life, however, is both in- Chip as the Mark of the beast. chip under the skin of human beings. The fundamen- he is referring. Moreover, we need to ask the question them, but He gave them an honoured place in the story structive and inspiring. He was an extraordinary man, talists have begun to interpret Revelation 13:16-18 as of salvation, either as an ancestor of Christ or a worker whose goodness is still renowned more than 16 centuries 1. The End of the World the text The cruel persecutor of the followers of Christ, for His kingdom. after he died, and whose generosity has become an in- Jesus in the Gospels clearly speaks about the reality cated Christians are also bought into this false theory. as to how this reference �its into the literary context of This recurrent scriptural narrative did not end with of the end of the world. The end is sure to take place. the ful�illment of the prophecy and many good and edu- ternational byword. On his feast day, men can turn to the Apostles, but continues in the lives of holy men and Here we shall explore the meaning of the text and help description. Depending on the spelling in Hebrew his The end will come only when the Gospel of the kingdom the Roman Emperor Nero Caesar, is thought to �it this St. Nicholas for his heavenly intercession and for an ex- women today. Another story about St. Nicholas is a won- the reader understand the veracity. name will make up 666 or 616. Moreover, the number will be preached throughout the whole world’ (Mat- ample of holiness in action. derful example. This one tells of a miracle he worked, as six is less than seven, the perfect number and when it thew 24:14), and we know that still there are places family. The exact details of the story differ in the various told by The St. Nicholas Center: is repeated thrice, it means total incomplete- that have not heard of Jesus and His In Revelation 13, we �ind two beasts being men- YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE PERFECT TO BE A SAINT versions, but the gist is that a destitute family could not In this legend, Nicholas is in his hometown of Myra ness or symbol of wickedness. Gospel. The missionaries go out into One of the stories about St. Nicholas that has survived afford dowries for their three daughters, so St. Nicholas during a famine. A ship was in the port, loaded with The seal or the mark implies allegiance the whole world to proclaim Christ be- through the centuries is the time when he infamously lost threw bags of gold coins in the window or down the wheat for the emperor in Constantinople. Nicholas or belongingness. The servants of God are cause of this. his temper at the Council of Nicaea and slapped an Arian chimney to help them. His act of generosity is the origin asked for some of the wheat from the ship for people marked with the divine seal on their fore- As for the time of the end of the heretic across the face. It is intriguing to imagine what of the Christmas tradition of �illing stockings in front of heads (7:2-3; 14:1). So, too, the servants of world no one knows, not even the Son, circumstances could have led to this outburst—appar- the �ireplace with gifts. olas promised them that they would not get in trouble the beast are marked with the mark of the who were hungry. At �irst, the sailors refused, but Nich- but the Father only (Matthew 24:36). ently Church councils were a bit more dramatic in 325! It would be pretty unusual to throw gold into some- for sharing. When the ship arrived at its destination, the beas (13:l6). 13:7 speaks of economic sanc- Mark 13; Matthew 24-25 (also Mat- (Although some scholars doubt the story’s historicity, one’s window nowadays, but the principle behind St. sailors discovered that the weight of the load had not tions that were imposed on those who re- thew 10:17-22) and Luke 21 (also many defend it, arguing that bagiographers would not Nicholas’s actions is something each of us can take to changed, even though some wheat had been removed. fused the emperor worship. Furthermore, Luke 17:20-37) speak about the details have invented a story that was so embarrassing and re- heart. Hearing of a family in dire need, he did not wash The amazing thing was that there was enough wheat the Jews wore the phylacteries, (tephillin) of the end of the world. Even a casual his hands of the situation, telling himself, “It’s not my to supply the town for two full years with enough for on their foreheads and left hand based on planting. reading of these chapters will help us Any man who has struggled to control his temper, problem.” Instead, he found a way to help, and tried to the following scripture texts: Exodus 13:9; �lected poorly on the saint.) The story calls to mind Christ’s multiplication of the situate ourselves in proper perspective do so secretly so as not to boast of his good deeds or em- Deuteronomy 6:8; 11:18. But the mark of the with regard to the end of the world. barrass the family at having to accept charity (although beast will be on the right hand, the right op- or felt tempted to �ight with somebody who was really gious orders have their own stories of food and resourc- There will be wars, earthquakes, about St. Nicholas losing his cool. Even saints made mis- legend tells us that eventually the father of the family posite of the way the Word of God was worn getting under his skin, can �ind solidarity in this story esloaves miraculously and �ishes, multiplying and indeed, to many help saintsthose inand need. holy reli- famines and pestilences, terrors and takes and behaved poorly at times! Nobody is perfect, stayed awake to catch the anonymous giver in the act). by the followers of God. Just as St. Nicholas trusted God to provide wheat for great signs from heaven, and persecu- not even “Santa” himself, but with the aid of Christ’s When we hear of someone in need, we can take the tions but Jesus says that it is the begin- grace, we can ask forgiveness and try again. time and effort to think of ways to help. Perhaps you CONCLUSION ning of the birth-pangs (Mark 13:8; could run errands for a sick friend, drop off a meal or It is important that we get to the mind of nothis hungryin the way �lock, we wewanted can turn or expected, to God in but all in the a way trials that of Matthew 24:8; Luke 21:9). The end is WHEN YOU HEAR OF SOMEONE IN NEED, FIND WAYS send a gift card to a meal delivery app, buy a Christ- the author in reading the biblical texts. Yet isour real own and lives, meaningful, con�ident as thatHe assured He will us:provide—maybe ““Come to me, near but it is not the end. The faithful TO HELP mas gift for a child in need, or volunteer to help with the reference is not to an archaic text that all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you will be saved. The imagery of the birth- One of the most famous stories about St. Nicholas is an unpleasant but necessary task (like helping a friend rest” (Matthew 11:28). pangs is biblical and beautiful: it encourages the reader move homes). Going out of your way to help someone in tioned: the beast that comes out of the sea (13:1) and ond century. The Bible has value and meaning to the -Aleteia- to go through pain because it is momentary and tem- the “beast rising out of the land’ (13:11) - the sea beast readers ofhad the value21st century.to the people But how of the to �irst interpret or the itsec- to the time he secretly provided �inancial help to a poor porary. Moreover, Jesus warns us that we should not be and the land beast. The dragon mentioned in chapter our context is the process of hermeneutics. The Book deceived by the false teachers and false prophets. They 12 is the Satan. In 12:18 we see the defeated dragon of Revelation gave courage and helped the Christians of will appear to come in His name and mislead people. ‘By standing on the seashore. In 13:1 the beast comes out that time to persevere in faith and endurance. It does The oldest Sinhala carol your endurance you will gain your lives’ (Luke 21:19). of the sea, that is to say that this beast is dragon’s in- not refer to the realities of the 21st century. We need to know the correct biblical understanding strument in his warfare against the ‘seed of the woman’ sical compositions began to appear in their proper form for the misinterpretation of the fundamentalists with (12:17). Satan cannot destroy the Church and therefore these symbolic characters is against the process of due greatly to the pioneering efforts of the missionaries study of Sinhala, acquainted himself with the manners, regard to the signs of the times as the end of the world. it attacks the members of the Church, the faithful of God hermeneutics.Hence baseless The Book and of unfounded Revelation identi�icationis valid for us to- of ary – Jacome Gonsalves – who applied himself to the who rendered an inestimable service to the develop- customs, words and modes of expression of the com- (12:13-17). ment of a Christian musical tradition in Sri Lanka. mon man. Fr. Gonsalves was also a musician who ap- mentalists appear in Deuteronomy 28. This chapter It is the dragon that gives power to this beast from but in understanding the message. There is no refer- preciated oriental music and the value of folk songs in The �irst mention of the ‘signs of times’ of the funda- speaks of the blessings the people of God will receive the sea (13:2). In Jewish thought sea is the abode of evil. enceday not to 5Gin theor chip identi�ication under the ofskin the in symbolic these texts. characters in Sinhala in 1723 with melodies in Western notation. Sri Lanka. for their obedience (28:1-14) and curses for their dis- The beast coming from the sea is evil as well. The de- The message is clear: in all ages persecution of AccordingPerhaps to the the �irst introduction such effort was of thea hymnal hymnal produced it was obedience (28:15-68). What we note here is that there scription of this beast resonates with Daniel 7, where Christians will remain a reality. Evil will appear in new is no reference to the end of the world. and was used by Sinhalese communities especially in Fr. Gonsalves, collection of religious songs – the and modern forms but evil will not last. The believer written in 1730 and is based on oriental melodies of Another text that needs our attention is 2 Samuel Kotte,printed Negombo “for the andedi�ication Kalutara. of Sinhalese music lovers” Mangala Gitaya – or chants for festive occasions was Roman Empire that persecutes the followers of Christ. who is faithful to Christ and His teaching will surely be the Carnatic variety. It set the pattern for the establish- various kingdoms rule. This oppressive �igure is the Later in the early 18th Century South Indian models 24:12ff. where famine, war and pestilence are men- The seven heads and ten horns refer to the rulers of the rewarded. The struggle between good and evil will go ment of Sinhala Catholic musical tradition. like the nadagam provided the basis for dramatic pro- tioned as punishment for the pride of David, from which Roman Empire. The seven heads can also refer to the on till the second coming of Christ. The evil would seem by Quintus Fernando Mangala Gitaya consisted of songs composed on di- he was given the freedom to choose. Once again, there seven hills on which Rome was situated. The peoples to be victorious but will never be victorious. It is only hristmas began with a song-the heavenly song of verse religious themes of which 16 are on the Nativity. provide the mood and the spirit of the season. It is re- is no reference to the end of the world. Furthermore, of the world worshipped the beast and the dragon that a mirage, an optical illusion only. For sure, good will the angels to the shepherds, singing glory to the Perhaps the song that gained much popularity is the cordedductions that which even helped the Catholics to re�lect of popular Vanni in feelings 1706 gaveand God promised not to destroy every living creature from gave power to it (13:3-4). It refers to the emperor cult, new born king. Ever since songs have become an C expression to their faith in the dramatic performances the face of the earth again because of man, after the del- which is, worshipping the emperor as god, which the when and how the Christians will be persecuted and integral feature of the Christmas season. foú∫ Wmkafkah - i;=ks in the nature of puppet shows which were already fa- uge in the time of Noah (Gen 8:20ff). Christians refused to accept. The beast is allowed to ex- thebe victorious. world will Therefore,come to an our end, concern but how is to not be to faithful �ind out to Christmas was a fertile ground for Sinhala carol- miliar to the people of the country. Shepherd’sfoú∫ Wmkafkah Song – - Tfyda To conclude this section, though one can say that at ercise its authority, certainly by God, only for forty-two Christ, and persevere in faith in the face of persecution. lers too. Early in the 16th Century Sinhala carols found Perhaps the greatest contribution towards the de- which depicts the midnight scene of Nativity very viv- their origin in the traditions of Dutch, Latin and English the time of the Old Testament there was no concept of months (13:5), which is half of seven years that refer to The whole of the Book of Revelation points to the truth velopment of a Sinhala Catholic musical tradition came the end of the world, one should not forget that the fun- hymns, canticles and chants which were used more for from a Konkani Brahamin priest from India who gave makes us feel in the company of Shepherds watching a temporary period. And the people of God are invited that bearing witness to Christ, the slain yet living Lamb damentalists speak of the end of the world in terms of religious instruction. up a brilliant University career to work among the poor tinyidly. BabeIt takes in aour Manger. minds back to the �irst Christmas and of God will be rewarding. the Old Testament. Jesus being a Jew, referred to these It was really in the 17th century that hymns and mu- Catholic villagers of Sri Lanka. This dedicated mission- period that will surely come to an end (13:10). Courtesy: Among Ourselves Kandy Diocese Bulletin Cont on pg 13 to endure and remain in faith in this dif�icult but a short

.... and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, ... (Luke 2: 9-10) .... “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. (Luke 2:10) 10 Messenger Christmas Issue December 20, 2020 December 20, 2020 Messenger Christmas Issue 11 Three lessons from the life of End of the World and The Chip St. Nicholas for the modern man A Christian Response realities taken from the Hebrew Scripture. It is worth The beast from the land is at the service of that by Rev. Fr. Alvin Peter Fernando Who was the real man behind the Santa Claus legend, and what can his story teach us today? noting that these ‘signs of time’ were put forward as from the sea. It is a ‘false prophet which has obtained t. Nicholas is a peculiar saint to consider closely. It need might feel like a chore, but it is a true imitation of St. henever there is war, persecutions of Chris- punishments for the disobedience to God’s voice. In- authority from the sea beast (16:13, 19:20, 20:10). It seems like everybody, Christian or not, knows his Nicholas, and is always worth the effort. tians in particular, a natural catastrophe, or a terpretations of these so called “signs of times’ as call resembles the Iamb but speak like a dragon (13:11). It Sname—jolly old St. Nick, right? But even though Wpandemic like Covid-19, the fundamentalists to conversion are worth accepting and not as a threat, appears to be from the Lamb of God but is evil, from the Santa Claus is a beloved �igure all over the world, the his- TRUST IN GOD'S PROVIDENCE interpret them as signs of the end of the world. In the frightening the people regarding the end of the world. dragon. It performs miracles, wonders and great works torical record leaves us with little biographical informa- For many people, 2020 has been a year that has test- End of times is not destruction but is judgement. The as though from the Spirit, to mislead the faithful to em- tion about the real man behind the legend. ed their faith in God. So many comforts and sources of Revelation 13:16-18 citing that the chip that is planned faithful eagerly wait to meet their Lord, because they peror cult (13:13ff). recent developments they speak of the ful�illment of joy, both large and small, have been taken away from us, to be inserted under the skin as the mark of the beast, have lived according to His will. Whereas for the un- The dragon, the sea beast and the land beast form you can see his bones at the Basilica di San Nicola in and we do not know when we will get them back. the devil, the Satan. This is mere eisegesis: eisegesis is faithful it is a day of doom, because they know they de- the opposite of the Trinity, the demonic trinity. The Bari,To Italy. be sure, In fact, his inhistorical 2014, experts existence used is veri�iable,3D interactive and Scripture shows us a consistent pattern of adverse interpreting a text in such a way as to introduce one’s serve severe punishment for not obeying the Lord. number 666 or 616 of the beast refers to whom is de- technology and facial reconstruction to recreate what circumstances testing the faith of holy men and women. own presuppositions, agendas or biases; it is common- bated, but it refers to a person, a human being (13:18). he may have looked like based on his bone structure. It can be hard to fathom how these people held onto ly known as reading into the text. It is not the accepted 2. The Chip as the Mark of the Beast Though over the course of history “666’ was interpreted But the earliest surviving biography of the saint was faith in the face of such dire calamities. But each time Christian way of interpretation. In this article, we shall With the Covid-19. the world is trying to do away to refer to many so-called evil persons (and also to the written nearly 500 years after he died, so it can be hard they persisted in trusting God’s loving providence, despite explore these two false interpretations of both the signs with cash, cards and other access devices that could Pope), we need to keep in mind that the author writ- to separate the myths from the facts. all evidence to the contrary, they were richly rewarded. of the time and the Bible: The End of the World and The spread the virus through interaction and introduce a ing to his audience made sure that they knew to whom Not only did God pour down His grace and peace on What we do know about his life, however, is both in- Chip as the Mark of the beast. chip under the skin of human beings. The fundamen- he is referring. Moreover, we need to ask the question them, but He gave them an honoured place in the story structive and inspiring. He was an extraordinary man, talists have begun to interpret Revelation 13:16-18 as of salvation, either as an ancestor of Christ or a worker whose goodness is still renowned more than 16 centuries 1. The End of the World the text The cruel persecutor of the followers of Christ, for His kingdom. after he died, and whose generosity has become an in- Jesus in the Gospels clearly speaks about the reality cated Christians are also bought into this false theory. as to how this reference �its into the literary context of This recurrent scriptural narrative did not end with of the end of the world. The end is sure to take place. the ful�illment of the prophecy and many good and edu- ternational byword. On his feast day, men can turn to the Apostles, but continues in the lives of holy men and Here we shall explore the meaning of the text and help description. Depending on the spelling in Hebrew his The end will come only when the Gospel of the kingdom the Roman Emperor Nero Caesar, is thought to �it this St. Nicholas for his heavenly intercession and for an ex- women today. Another story about St. Nicholas is a won- the reader understand the veracity. name will make up 666 or 616. Moreover, the number will be preached throughout the whole world’ (Mat- ample of holiness in action. derful example. This one tells of a miracle he worked, as six is less than seven, the perfect number and when it thew 24:14), and we know that still there are places family. The exact details of the story differ in the various told by The St. Nicholas Center: is repeated thrice, it means total incomplete- that have not heard of Jesus and His In Revelation 13, we �ind two beasts being men- YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE PERFECT TO BE A SAINT versions, but the gist is that a destitute family could not In this legend, Nicholas is in his hometown of Myra ness or symbol of wickedness. Gospel. The missionaries go out into One of the stories about St. Nicholas that has survived afford dowries for their three daughters, so St. Nicholas during a famine. A ship was in the port, loaded with The seal or the mark implies allegiance the whole world to proclaim Christ be- through the centuries is the time when he infamously lost threw bags of gold coins in the window or down the wheat for the emperor in Constantinople. Nicholas or belongingness. The servants of God are cause of this. his temper at the Council of Nicaea and slapped an Arian chimney to help them. His act of generosity is the origin asked for some of the wheat from the ship for people marked with the divine seal on their fore- As for the time of the end of the heretic across the face. It is intriguing to imagine what of the Christmas tradition of �illing stockings in front of heads (7:2-3; 14:1). So, too, the servants of world no one knows, not even the Son, circumstances could have led to this outburst—appar- the �ireplace with gifts. olas promised them that they would not get in trouble the beast are marked with the mark of the who were hungry. At �irst, the sailors refused, but Nich- but the Father only (Matthew 24:36). ently Church councils were a bit more dramatic in 325! It would be pretty unusual to throw gold into some- for sharing. When the ship arrived at its destination, the beas (13:l6). 13:7 speaks of economic sanc- Mark 13; Matthew 24-25 (also Mat- (Although some scholars doubt the story’s historicity, one’s window nowadays, but the principle behind St. sailors discovered that the weight of the load had not tions that were imposed on those who re- thew 10:17-22) and Luke 21 (also many defend it, arguing that bagiographers would not Nicholas’s actions is something each of us can take to changed, even though some wheat had been removed. fused the emperor worship. Furthermore, Luke 17:20-37) speak about the details have invented a story that was so embarrassing and re- heart. Hearing of a family in dire need, he did not wash The amazing thing was that there was enough wheat the Jews wore the phylacteries, (tephillin) of the end of the world. Even a casual his hands of the situation, telling himself, “It’s not my to supply the town for two full years with enough for on their foreheads and left hand based on planting. reading of these chapters will help us Any man who has struggled to control his temper, problem.” Instead, he found a way to help, and tried to the following scripture texts: Exodus 13:9; �lected poorly on the saint.) The story calls to mind Christ’s multiplication of the situate ourselves in proper perspective do so secretly so as not to boast of his good deeds or em- Deuteronomy 6:8; 11:18. But the mark of the with regard to the end of the world. barrass the family at having to accept charity (although beast will be on the right hand, the right op- or felt tempted to �ight with somebody who was really gious orders have their own stories of food and resourc- There will be wars, earthquakes, about St. Nicholas losing his cool. Even saints made mis- legend tells us that eventually the father of the family posite of the way the Word of God was worn getting under his skin, can �ind solidarity in this story esloaves miraculously and �ishes, multiplying and indeed, to many help saintsthose inand need. holy reli- famines and pestilences, terrors and takes and behaved poorly at times! Nobody is perfect, stayed awake to catch the anonymous giver in the act). by the followers of God. Just as St. Nicholas trusted God to provide wheat for great signs from heaven, and persecu- not even “Santa” himself, but with the aid of Christ’s When we hear of someone in need, we can take the tions but Jesus says that it is the begin- grace, we can ask forgiveness and try again. time and effort to think of ways to help. Perhaps you CONCLUSION ning of the birth-pangs (Mark 13:8; could run errands for a sick friend, drop off a meal or It is important that we get to the mind of nothis hungryin the way �lock, we wewanted can turn or expected, to God in but all in the a way trials that of Matthew 24:8; Luke 21:9). The end is WHEN YOU HEAR OF SOMEONE IN NEED, FIND WAYS send a gift card to a meal delivery app, buy a Christ- the author in reading the biblical texts. Yet isour real own and lives, meaningful, con�ident as thatHe assured He will us:provide—maybe ““Come to me, near but it is not the end. The faithful TO HELP mas gift for a child in need, or volunteer to help with the reference is not to an archaic text that all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you will be saved. The imagery of the birth- One of the most famous stories about St. Nicholas is an unpleasant but necessary task (like helping a friend rest” (Matthew 11:28). pangs is biblical and beautiful: it encourages the reader move homes). Going out of your way to help someone in tioned: the beast that comes out of the sea (13:1) and ond century. The Bible has value and meaning to the -Aleteia- to go through pain because it is momentary and tem- the “beast rising out of the land’ (13:11) - the sea beast readers ofhad the value21st century.to the people But how of the to �irst interpret or the itsec- to the time he secretly provided �inancial help to a poor porary. Moreover, Jesus warns us that we should not be and the land beast. The dragon mentioned in chapter our context is the process of hermeneutics. The Book deceived by the false teachers and false prophets. They 12 is the Satan. In 12:18 we see the defeated dragon of Revelation gave courage and helped the Christians of will appear to come in His name and mislead people. ‘By standing on the seashore. In 13:1 the beast comes out that time to persevere in faith and endurance. It does The oldest Sinhala carol your endurance you will gain your lives’ (Luke 21:19). of the sea, that is to say that this beast is dragon’s in- not refer to the realities of the 21st century. We need to know the correct biblical understanding strument in his warfare against the ‘seed of the woman’ sical compositions began to appear in their proper form for the misinterpretation of the fundamentalists with (12:17). Satan cannot destroy the Church and therefore these symbolic characters is against the process of due greatly to the pioneering efforts of the missionaries study of Sinhala, acquainted himself with the manners, regard to the signs of the times as the end of the world. it attacks the members of the Church, the faithful of God hermeneutics.Hence baseless The Book and of unfounded Revelation identi�icationis valid for us to- of ary – Jacome Gonsalves – who applied himself to the who rendered an inestimable service to the develop- customs, words and modes of expression of the com- (12:13-17). ment of a Christian musical tradition in Sri Lanka. mon man. Fr. Gonsalves was also a musician who ap- mentalists appear in Deuteronomy 28. This chapter It is the dragon that gives power to this beast from but in understanding the message. There is no refer- preciated oriental music and the value of folk songs in The �irst mention of the ‘signs of times’ of the funda- speaks of the blessings the people of God will receive the sea (13:2). In Jewish thought sea is the abode of evil. enceday not to 5Gin theor chip identi�ication under the ofskin the in symbolic these texts. characters in Sinhala in 1723 with melodies in Western notation. Sri Lanka. for their obedience (28:1-14) and curses for their dis- The beast coming from the sea is evil as well. The de- The message is clear: in all ages persecution of AccordingPerhaps to the the �irst introduction such effort was of thea hymnal hymnal produced it was obedience (28:15-68). What we note here is that there scription of this beast resonates with Daniel 7, where Christians will remain a reality. Evil will appear in new is no reference to the end of the world. and was used by Sinhalese communities especially in Fr. Gonsalves, collection of religious songs – the and modern forms but evil will not last. The believer written in 1730 and is based on oriental melodies of Another text that needs our attention is 2 Samuel Kotte,printed Negombo “for the andedi�ication Kalutara. of Sinhalese music lovers” Mangala Gitaya – or chants for festive occasions was Roman Empire that persecutes the followers of Christ. who is faithful to Christ and His teaching will surely be the Carnatic variety. It set the pattern for the establish- various kingdoms rule. This oppressive �igure is the Later in the early 18th Century South Indian models 24:12ff. where famine, war and pestilence are men- The seven heads and ten horns refer to the rulers of the rewarded. The struggle between good and evil will go ment of Sinhala Catholic musical tradition. like the nadagam provided the basis for dramatic pro- tioned as punishment for the pride of David, from which Roman Empire. The seven heads can also refer to the on till the second coming of Christ. The evil would seem by Quintus Fernando Mangala Gitaya consisted of songs composed on di- he was given the freedom to choose. Once again, there seven hills on which Rome was situated. The peoples to be victorious but will never be victorious. It is only hristmas began with a song-the heavenly song of verse religious themes of which 16 are on the Nativity. provide the mood and the spirit of the season. It is re- is no reference to the end of the world. Furthermore, of the world worshipped the beast and the dragon that a mirage, an optical illusion only. For sure, good will the angels to the shepherds, singing glory to the Perhaps the song that gained much popularity is the cordedductions that which even helped the Catholics to re�lect of popular Vanni in feelings 1706 gaveand God promised not to destroy every living creature from gave power to it (13:3-4). It refers to the emperor cult, new born king. Ever since songs have become an C expression to their faith in the dramatic performances the face of the earth again because of man, after the del- which is, worshipping the emperor as god, which the when and how the Christians will be persecuted and integral feature of the Christmas season. foú∫ Wmkafkah - i;=ks in the nature of puppet shows which were already fa- uge in the time of Noah (Gen 8:20ff). Christians refused to accept. The beast is allowed to ex- thebe victorious. world will Therefore,come to an our end, concern but how is to not be to faithful �ind out to Christmas was a fertile ground for Sinhala carol- miliar to the people of the country. Shepherd’sfoú∫ Wmkafkah Song – - Tfyda To conclude this section, though one can say that at ercise its authority, certainly by God, only for forty-two Christ, and persevere in faith in the face of persecution. lers too. Early in the 16th Century Sinhala carols found Perhaps the greatest contribution towards the de- which depicts the midnight scene of Nativity very viv- their origin in the traditions of Dutch, Latin and English the time of the Old Testament there was no concept of months (13:5), which is half of seven years that refer to The whole of the Book of Revelation points to the truth velopment of a Sinhala Catholic musical tradition came the end of the world, one should not forget that the fun- hymns, canticles and chants which were used more for from a Konkani Brahamin priest from India who gave makes us feel in the company of Shepherds watching a temporary period. And the people of God are invited that bearing witness to Christ, the slain yet living Lamb damentalists speak of the end of the world in terms of religious instruction. up a brilliant University career to work among the poor tinyidly. BabeIt takes in aour Manger. minds back to the �irst Christmas and of God will be rewarding. the Old Testament. Jesus being a Jew, referred to these It was really in the 17th century that hymns and mu- Catholic villagers of Sri Lanka. This dedicated mission- period that will surely come to an end (13:10). Courtesy: Among Ourselves Kandy Diocese Bulletin Cont on pg 13 to endure and remain in faith in this dif�icult but a short

.... and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, ... (Luke 2: 9-10) And.... “Do this not will be be afraid; a sign for for behold, you: you I proclaimwill �ind an to youinfant good wrapped news of in great swaddling joy that clothes will be and for lying all the in apeople. manger.” (Luke (Luke 2:10) 2:12) 12 Messenger Christmas Issue December 20, 2020

e Arising of Christmasgin Mary. The Bible says back in the lost rhythmi- By Miran Perera dwelt among us'. that God loved the world cal birthing pattern of n a small suburb in the angel appeared to them wordThe was story made of the�lesh nativ- and that He sent His only Son Motherhood in Mary. town of Bethlehem and the glory of the Lord not to condemn but to re- The festival of Christ- to enlightenment. Iin the state of Israel shone around, and they Christmas is where a com- deem the world. The Gos- mas or the arising of that As the sacred Jewish a unique event happened became afraid. But the monity or maiden that �irst of arising Nazareth of pels reveal that the Word text the 'Tora' explains, over twenty centuries ago angel said to them, 'Fear who accepted and amaz- the Child of Bethlehem in it is evident that people which shook the world. not for behold I bring ing and awesome message with the Birth of Christ whom�irst Christmas we see focuses the mys- on in the Old Testament you good tidings of great from Gabriel. According to andof God came was to pitch made His �lesh tent tery of the Incarnation of were waiting for a Mes- hour the Saviour and Re- joy which shall be to all the Jewish tradition there amongst us an that His God. God has become a siah until the arising of In those days at a �ine deemer of the world Jesus people, for unto you is are twin ways in which a name is Emmanuel mean- human being in Jesus of Christmas. It had been Christ was born starting born this day in the city wedding is sealed. They ing God with us. Nazareth. The emphasis a long time exactly 42 of David a saviour who is are called 'Erusin' and St. Paul a prominent on the humanity of Jesus generations. The chosen the world got to know Christ the Lord lying in a 'Nissuin.' Erusin means early missionary of Chris- Christ in becoming more race was anticipating the the �irst Christmas which thereafter as the Noel. A manger. When the angels tianity teaches that Jesus and more relevant and Redeemer, but still God holy couple in the gene- departed the shepherds "The Bible says Christ emptied Himself of challenging now, in an kept up to His promise by alogy of king David of Is- said to one another; 'Let His divinity, became man age and culture where the sending His own Son to rael named as Joseph and us go to Bethlehem and that God loved and made Himself obedi- clash of civilization, open us. Such a start was very Mary went up to Bethle- let us see the word that the world that ent unto death for which violation of human digni- important for the readers hem to be enrolled in ac- has come to pass' which He sent His cause God has exalted and ty, gross denial of human of those times who had to cordance to the Jewish the Lord had made known given Him a name before rights and violence of all be convinced that He who custom. Then Mary was to us. Quickly they left the only Son not to which the whole universe kinds forged even in the is talked of was a genuine with child as announced condemn but must bend the knee in very name of religion are descendant of king David to her by the archangel where Joseph and Mary adoration and worship. causing the shaking of the �ield and found the place to redeem the Gabriel which as said was was with the infant lying Jesus Christ commands all foundations of humanity people. The story of the the very �lesh of the Israel conceived by the Holy world" history. Jesus taught the their society and history. life of Jesus is told in a col- Spirit and will be the Son ing they adored the infant love of poverty by being Jesus' birth teaches God's lection of books called the in the manger. Genu�lect- of God to be named Jesus. Jesus and then returned betrothal or engagement. born in a cattle shed and love for mankind in send- New Testament. Although This decree by Cae- Therefore the future wrapped in swaddling ing His only begotten Son, little is said of His infant sar Augustus Emperor in ing and praising God. groom has authority over clothes and being laid in a 'that whosoever believes back to the �lock glorify- years. The Hebrew 'Tora' Rome required everyone His Eminence Malcolm the future bride. The part- manger. in Him should not perish came to be called the Old to enroll in a census, the Cardinal Ranjith has cho- ners live separately with- He came as a poor but have everlasting life. Testament by Christians. message which reached sen the motto - 'The word out any relationship. After helpless baby for our sal- (John 3:16) Together the old and New the inhabitants among one year the second step vation. Jesus is the King of The arising of Christ- the hills of Galilee. Tired need to wonder the deep 'Nissuin' occurs. Nissuin kings teaching all by His mas spreads out a clarion testaments are called the was made �lesh.' We all and exhausted weary meaning of these words means marriage. After the humble birth not to seek call to everyone of us to Christian Bible where the and homeless Joseph and for the belief in the true wedding ceremony the for honours, riches and follow the new Eve and arising of Christmas is re- Mary travelled the entire Incarnation of the Son of couple begin their lives pleasures in this pass- new Adam, cherish and vealed in vivid detail. Its distance up to the city of God is the distinctive sign together in accordance to ing world but to strive protect the humanity-the words are sacred to more David seeking a resting of Christian faith. There the Jewish customs. for everlasting riches motherhood in us and be than 2 Billion people to- place for the night. Upon was always reverence Mary Our Blessed "which neither moth nor the trail blazer like many day. Most of what we know many enquiries they paid to the Incarnation Mother conceived Jesus rust could corrupt and of our contemporary holy about the life of Jesus is found no room for them- who for us men and for between Erusin and Nis- where thieves do not men and women in giving taken from the New Tes- selves as the inns were our salvation came down suin. For that she could break through nor steal life to all. What we need is tament. Rome had gained over crowded. Finally in a from heaven and became have been stoned as an for where your treasure that as brothers and sisters control of Judea in 37 BC. crude building where ani- incarnate of the virgin adulteress. Joseph wanted is their will your heart be equal in everything united Writers of Jesus' time tell mals were housed they at Mary and was made man. to let her go by dissolving also." (Matthew 6:19-21). in Christ, to act justly, love us that the people of Judea last found refuge and here We must remember that the betrothal. But Mary tenderly and walk humbly the Redeemer of the world the Eucharist is the con- had taken a risk to accept humble handmaid of the with the Lord who shared disliked the Roman rule. was born. The Blessed tinuation of the incarna- the inevitable which re- LordIn (Luke Mary 1:38) we �ind a nur- a our humanity so that the Jews and Christians Virgin Mary wrapped the sulted in our Lord's nativ- turing caring woman Incarnation of God into believed that Moses was divine Infant in swaddling calvary. Even in the prayer ity. However after Joseph (John 2:4-5) a courageous our humanity becomes tion and the sacri�ice at clothes and laid Jesus in of the Angels whereby we realised the situation woman (John 19:26) an meaningful to everyone. books of the Old Testa- the author of the �irst �ive the manger. witness our faith to the from the vision of an an- intelligent and dedicated With the nativity or the ment. The creation of the praise and glory of the gel he made Mary his law- woman for she pondered arising of Christmas the world, the creation of man herds were watching their blessed Trinity we used to ful wife to save her from them in her heart (Luke worlds historical peri- and woman in the para- sheepIn athat nearby night �ield when shep- the the fate of being stoned. 2:19). Being a caring and ods are divided into two dise, the garden of Eden, Mary after the birth of the humble woman who felt epochs corresponding to genu�lect saying; 'And the the clash between Cain Saviour continued to keep the need to be at the ser- the great event resulting and Able, Noah, Abraham, her virginity and vice of those who needed in the fading away of the Exodus, and so on are de- that is why we her assistance (Luke 1:39) world eras Manu and the picted in detail in the Old call her the (John 2:4-5) and thus be- other conservative era. b l e s s e d came the new Mother of The era before the nativi- Testament. The nativity of Vir- the new creation won by ty was called before Christ the arising of Christmas her Son at the cross (John BC. The ear after nativ- separated the Holy Bible 19:27) and also becoming ity was called AD (Anno into two sections. The New a co-redemptrix of the Domini). It is obvious the salvation of mankind. two Christian eras before of Jesus from the birth. Ev- Testament signi�ies the life Thus the lost human- Christ (BC) and after idently the nativity or the ity is f o u n d Christ (AD) are adopted arising of Christmas was by almost all the nations mainly responsible for the of the world. Obviously division of the Holy Bible the miraculous divine na- the much revered Chris- tivity the birth of the Sav- tian Scripture. iour of the mankind has transformed society from the darkness of ignorance

For today in the city of David a saviour has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. (Luke 2:11) December 20, 2020 Messenger Christmas Issue 13

Contd. from Pg. 10 The oldest ... Let’s light up The song depicts the great choir of angels singing out the silver stars to the accompaniment of music in praise of the new born king. the star rxpq wdxPqjre fkl t;s - mxp;=rah kdo lr;s fkdxÑ fkdju lshñka ;=;s - mqxÑ foú∫ l=ure j†;s by Jeannette Cabraal The anxious shepherds who were keeping watch nd so! It is Christmas time once again bring- to adore the Babe bringing gifts with them. ing with it that “something in the air” feeling, overf.dmÙka their �locks iy heardtfvr this f.d,a, heavenly - ì

Contd. from Pg. 6 Let us grow in our concern for our neighbour, in our ly, that the mother of this Child is also truly our mother. A Face that ... understanding and forgiveness. Our prayers for them From her we learn to contemplate Him. In her face, we could be the words the Lord gave to Moses to bless the see His Face.” “the primary reason for evangelizing is the love of Jesus people of Israel with: “The Lord bless you and keep “The contemplation of Christ has an incompa- which we have received” (Evangelii Gaudium, 264). you: The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be rable model in Mary. In a unique way the face of the Our contemplation of the face of Christ helps us to gracious to you: The Lord lift up his countenance upon Son belongs to Mary. It was in her womb that Christ possess Him so as to share Him with all our friends and you and give you peace” (Numbers 6: 24-26). was formed, receiving from her a human resemblance “As we enter into the cave at Bethlehem this Christ- family relations. We can give only what we already have. which points to an even greater spiritual closeness. No mas,” says Fr. Donncha, “we may well be struck by the During this pandemic, some people might complain one has ever devoted himself to the contemplation of young mother who accompanies her Child. There is the face of Christ as faithfully as Mary” (St John Paul II, that they have little income and have nothing to give to something ineffably sublime about her, and at the same others. Well, let us take the cue from a Christmas carol time utterly natural and attractive. We feel entirely at Rosarium Virginis Mariae, 10). that goes, “Why don’t you give love on Christmas day?” home in her company and realize, as it were instinctive-