Comments for Sealed With an X at http://www.thecatholicthing.org , comment 1 to 16 out of 16 comments http://www.thecatholicthing.org Sat, 25 May 2013 04:16:42 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/sealed-with-an-x.html#comment-3519 What a beautiful essay! And what meaningful letters! Gracias. - John McCarthy Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:40:07 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/sealed-with-an-x.html#comment-3518 Advent has become my second most prayerful of the Liturgical Calendar, the first being the Easter Tridium: The commercialism is a forced time of inner silence and aloneness--All One with Mary. I attempt to go on a retreat during Advent. I do penance--to prepare for His coming--I become pregnant and carry Jesus in every cell of my being. "With the divinest Word, the Virgin Made Pregnant, down the road Comes walking, if you'll grant her a room in your abode." St.John of the Cross - Susan Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:38:59 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/sealed-with-an-x.html#comment-3504 I'm "only" 57, but feel the years especially in Advent. As a new Catholic, the Christmas Story means more than ever. Aside from cards (always of the Mother & Child), I participate less and less. I recently read Prof. McInerny's memoir -recommended- which reminded me of how much I have missed. Yet my childhood Anglican Christmases retain their charm and beauty - mostly gone today as well. The professor's advice is apt - I dread a White House's hostile recognition of the Nativity. - Graham Combs Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:39:06 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/sealed-with-an-x.html#comment-3503 We should keep in mind that the observance/importance of Christmas has varied widely throughout church history. So even if we succeed in re-Christianizing the public aspects of the Christmas holiday, it alone would not convey the centrality of our faith. Christians are fundamentally "Easter people." - Pio Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:37:23 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/sealed-with-an-x.html#comment-3501 Thomas, I think Prof. McInerny is referring to the now embarassing propaganda Britain - and also America - began to put out in favor of the USSR and "Uncle Joe Stalin" when they became our allies after beng attacked by Hitler. Waugh satirizes it in the third volume of Sword of Honour. The Cold War obviously came later. - Robert Royal Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:06:14 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/sealed-with-an-x.html#comment-3500 No merry Christmas for the economy this year, nor, maybe, ever: the economy is not coming back. In the new era, as traditional celebrations are hollowed out, secular society will begin to miss what it had and look about to see what went wrong: the goose that lays the golden eggs was served up for dinner. From now on it's rice and beans. - Bob G Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:53:46 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/sealed-with-an-x.html#comment-3497 Bishop Sheen observed that Christmas was once a feast, now it is a festival, to which one can add a grand stretch of two months to regenerate the slumping economy. How many times will we be forced to endure nightly news updates of "ringing cash registers" and "smiling mall Santas", cheerful bell ringers, and warm-and-fuzzy tales of post office letter writers answering a child's plea for a simple toy. Time to cut off the duck's head and for everyone to sing, fa, ra, ra, ra, ra! Happy Holidays! - Joseph Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:07:34 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/sealed-with-an-x.html#comment-3495 Thanks for mentioning this fine, but nearly extinct book. Anyone looking for an adult Catholic novel could do much worse than this winner of the 1963 National Book Award. http://www.amazon.com/Morte-DUrban-Review-Books-Classics/dp/0940322234 - Christian Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:06:32 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/sealed-with-an-x.html#comment-3499 Help me out here, Professor. To which country did Great Britain becomce an obsequious ally? Of course, to the Left GB is a loyal vassal of the USA, but that cannot be what you mean. To Germany? To the USSR? If that is what you mean, please elaborate. The Red influence in GB is be lamented, she stood with the USA thoughout the Cold War. Help me out here. I know I must seem really stupid. - Thomas C. Coleman, Jr. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:30:53 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/sealed-with-an-x.html#comment-3498 Why feel angry when, instead, you can affect change? - Speak about Saint Nicholas with friends and family instead of about Santa - Put up the Nativity in your home and/or place Christmastide hymns - Meditate on the joyful mystery of the birth of Jesus Christ - Invite friends and family to meditate with you, help you with the Nativity, and plan to meet up at Holy Mass on the eight days of Christmas - Nick Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:15:41 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/sealed-with-an-x.html#comment-3496 Thank you for a great and well written piece, Dr. McInerney. You have captured the tone and tenor of the times! I often recall the words of Christ to His disciples as he sent them off two by two: To those who will not convert and be baptized, shake the dust of the place from your sandals and move on. - William H. Phelan Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:06:27 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/sealed-with-an-x.html#comment-3494 I love shopping on Christmas Eve. The mall is almost deserted. The Christmas music echoes. I like the lights, the trees, and even being around things I can’t afford to buy. Because no matter what, for me, there’s that sense of expectation, something is going to happen. Maybe that’s where a certain sadness or anxiety comes from, and it’s not because of the commercialism, but because we’re the few who have an understanding of the wonder to come. - william z Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:39:24 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/sealed-with-an-x.html#comment-3493 Thank you Prof. McInerney! We have found it helpful to bring the church calendar into our home: an Advent wreath and calendar, Advent music (Lutheran/Anglican CDs help here), a Christmas tree that is first lit on Dec. 24 (and is not discarded on Dec. 26!), an observation of St. Stephen and Holy Innocents, Solmenity of Mary and, Epiphany. Non-Christian friends love to take part (this is evangelizing!). Our children think that the frenetic "Xmas" shoppers are the crazy ones who need help. - Bradley Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:53:23 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/sealed-with-an-x.html#comment-3492 Waug\'s novel is a fun read too. Crouchback joins the Royal Halberdiers (created for the novel) nickednamed the Applejacks. The appellaltion comes from French English war wherein they were ambushed by French knights in an apple orchard. Unable to deploy their halberds because of the branches, they counterattcked the French by throwing apples and pulping up the visors on the knights' helmets. - Dennis Bartlett Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:52:42 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/sealed-with-an-x.html#comment-3491 And here it comes again. Happy Holidays, Seasons Greetings, trees, lights and savage shoppers hoping to get their gifts so this will be the " Best Christmas Ever." If you ask what this is all about, most will just say, " Well it's the Holidays." Well, Bah Humbug! These are not my holidays. My holidays are the Fourth of July, Memorial Day and Labor Day. Christmas is my Holy day; the ACLU and political correctness be damned. Sad to say they will try to take this away from me again this year. - Willie Tue, 17 Nov 2009 07:50:35 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/sealed-with-an-x.html#comment-3490 What a wonderful perspective! I have found myself in years past getting caught up in the frustration and anger one feels witnessing the secularization of Christmas. This year I will recall your column and happily go along my merry way appreciating this wonderful holiday for what it truly is. Thanks for "giving" me the freedom to do this. God Bless - Linda Tue, 17 Nov 2009 07:49:08 +0100