The Humanity of the Unborn

The following scripture passage is the gospel reading from the Catholic Mass for Sunday, December 20, 2009. I particularly like this scripture because it clearly shows the humanity of unborn children. It also causes me to contemplate how pro-life Mary was. May you be filled with a profound love for the unborn and all life this Christmas season.

"Mary set out and went as quickly as she could to a town in the hill country of Judah. She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She gave a loud cry and said, ‘Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord? For the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy. Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.’"

Luke 1:39-44

Celebrate the Birth of Every Child This Christmas

The following text is the introduction to Evangelium Vitae (Gospel of Life), the papal encyclical of Pope John Paul II. I wanted to share it with you because it is particularly relevant this Christmas season. Not only are we celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, but those of us who are pro-life are fighting to protect the rights of those yet to be born.

"The Gospel of life is at the heart of Jesus' message. Lovingly received day after day by the Church, it is to be preached with dauntless fidelity as "good news" to the people of every age and culture.

At the dawn of salvation, it is the Birth of a Child which is proclaimed as joyful news: "I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord" (Lk 2:10-11). The source of this "great joy" is the Birth of the Saviour; but Christmas also reveals the full meaning of every human birth, and the joy which accompanies the Birth of the Messiah is thus seen to be the foundation and fulfilment of joy at every child born into the world (cf. Jn 16:21).

When he presents the heart of his redemptive mission, Jesus says: "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly" (Jn 10:10). In truth, he is referring to that "new" and "eternal" life which consists in communion with the Father, to which every person is freely called in the Son by the power of the Sanctifying Spirit. It is precisely in this "life" that all the aspects and stages of human life achieve their full significance."

To read the Evangelium Vitae encyclical in its entirety, go here.

Beautiful Holiday Song Featuring Yo Yo Ma and Chris Botti

A beautiful song from Yo Yo Ma's latest holiday album called "Songs of Joy and Peace":



If you have difficulty viewing the video, click here.

Peace and blessings to you and your family this holiday season!

My Favorite Christmas Carol - Star Carol

This is a YouTube video of one of my most favorite Christmas carols of all time, Star Carol. What makes this particular version of Star Carol so incredibly special to me is that it is the very same recording I listened to on my parent's record player (remember those?) when I was a child. This recording was done by an artist named Anna Maria Alberghetti on a Goodyear Christmas album. In this recording you can hear the same pops and clicks that I remember hearing when I used to listen to LP records. The noise is caused by the diamond needle coming in contact with dust on the record. Kids that have never listened to music on LP records have no idea how good CD's really are! A special thanks to my sister Linda for giving me the link to this video. I tried to find it a week or two ago, but couldn't. I hope you enjoy the beauty and tenderness of this wonderful carol.



If you have trouble launching the video, click here.