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Christian communities that follow the Julian calendar observe Christmas on January 7th, 13 days after the Gregorian-calendar Christmas. So, to our Christian brothers and sisters who celebrate today – including Ukrainians, Russians, Serbians, Macedonians, Bulgarians, Romanians, Belarusians and others – we wish you a very Merry Christmas!

I had a chance to chat with Fr. Stephen Wojcichowsky, Director of the Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky Institute in Ottawa, a specialized institution to spread knowledge of the Christian East. We talked about the Julian-calendar Christmas.

MR: Why two different dates for Christmas?

Fr. Stephen: There are not two different dates. It’s the same date, Dec. 25th…. Imagine you have two transparent leafs for each calendar. When you superimpose the Julian calendar onto the Gregorian calendar, you see that December 25th on the Julian calendar falls on January 7 of the Gregorian calendar. In fact, all of the dates that are on the Julian calendar are the same as for the Gregorian calendar – it’s just that they are separated by 13 days. When the Gregorian calendar leapt forward in the 16th century, it advanced the calendar by 10 days. The gap between the calendars keeps widening every century or so. Now we are 13 days apart; in 2100 we will be 14 days apart. By then, December 25th on the Julian calendar will fall on January 8th of the Gregorian calendar.

Other faith traditions base their festivals on the lunar calendar (the Islamic tradition) or on a combination of solar and lunar calendars (the Jewish tradition). Muslims celebrate Ramadan at different parts of the year depending on their lunar calculations. The Jewish people celebrate Hanukkah more or less at the same time as Christmas but it doesn’t always fall on the same day in December. The Julian calendar December 25th always falls on January 7th, and then it’ll be fixed on January 8th for another 100 years. Even so the Gregorian calendar is not astronomically accurate anymore.

When I was growing up, the spring equinox was on March 21st, and now it can be on March 20th, because we are able to be more accurate in calculating the Gregorian calendar. So neither calendar is perfect. The Gregorian is the most precise that we have at this point.

MR: Why do some people stick with the Julian calendar?
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Mary Rose Bacani

Although the Canadian Church moved the official celebration of the Epiphany to the first Sunday of January, the Universal Church still celebrates the feast on January 6th. In Rome today, Pope Benedict XVI marked the solemnity with Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica and gave a homily reflecting on the significance of the Magi, or the Three Wise Men, as we sometimes call them.

CNS photo/Catholic Press Photo

Pope Benedict compares the first reading and the Gospel, pointing out that in the first reading the prophet Isaiah has a vision of the day when Kings will kneel before the Messiah while in Matthew’s Gospel when Jesus is born the only people who come to see him are the shepherds and the Magi, three men who were not particularly noteworthy.

How can this be a fulfilment of Isaiah’s vision?

The Holy Father points out that the three Magi were significant for several reasons: first because they not only took notice of the star, but they understood what it meant and set off to find out exactly where Jesus was. The people of Bethlehem certainly saw the star, but few took note of it and even fewer actually stopped to figure out what it meant. Second, these men had plotted their course in advance, they arrived along a carefully planned path and knew exactly how they were going to get home… until they came face to face with the newborn Jesus. In that moment they knew they could not return the way they came, they could not go back to King Herod from whose home they had come. They changed their course and parted ways, each returning to his own homeland separately. Third, with their pilgrimage to find the newborn Christ, in the gifts they offered, and in the unexpected change of their return voyage home, the Magi are the first of many who throughout the ages have done exactly the same: encountered Christ and changed their path.

Perhaps this is where New Year’s resolutions come from. Encountering the newborn Christ on Christmas Eve, if we are humble enough to acknowledge him and his reign in our hearts, we are changed and suddenly can’t continue along the same path we were on but must change course and follow the path He sets out for us.

If you missed the live Salt + Light broadcast of the Epiphany Mass this morning, you can see encore presentations of it today at noon and 8pm ET.

For the full text of Pope Benedict’s homily on the Solemnity of the Epiphany, continue reading.

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Alicia Ambrosio

Today celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God. A week after we have celebrated the birth of our Saviour, we recognize His mother — Theotokos, God-bearer! It’s also an appropriate time to celebrate this feast as we begin the new year. Pope Benedict XVI noted this in his homily on this day four years ago:

At the beginning of a new year, we are invited, as it were, to attend her school, the school of the faithful disciple of the Lord, in order to learn from her to accept in faith and prayer the salvation God desires to pour out upon those who trust in his merciful love.

As many make new resolutions, let us include a resolve to imitate our Blessed Mother better: to be more trusting, more faithful, more open to God’s love.

The Church also marks the World Day for Peace. This year, for his message on the day Pope Benedict XVI focused on the environment. His message, titled If You Want to Cultivate Peace, Protect Creation, offers thoughtful reflection on a number of areas that are not necessarily paid attention to when discussing environmental concerns. One of these areas is the idea that moral decay and neglect for the environment go hand in hand:

Humanity needs a profound cultural renewal; it needs to rediscover those values which can serve as the solid basis for building a brighter future for all. Our present crises – be they economic, food-related, environmental or social – are ultimately also moral crises, and all of them are interrelated. They require us to rethink the path which we are travelling together. Specifically, they call for a lifestyle marked by sobriety and solidarity, with new rules and forms of engagement, one which focuses confidently and courageously on strategies that actually work, while decisively rejecting those that have failed. Only in this way can the current crisis become an opportunity for discernment and new strategic planning. (5)

And similar to his encyclical Caritas in Veritate, the Holy Father also emphasizes that the environment cannot be placed about the dignity of the human person. In paragraph 13, the Pontiff writes:

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Matthew Harrison

The term epiphany means “to show,” “to make known” or “to reveal.” The Feast of the Epiphany had its origin in the Eastern Church. In Jerusalem, close to Bethlehem, the feast had a special reference to the Nativity. Today in Eastern Orthodox churches, the emphasis for this feast is on the shining forth and revelation of Jesus Christ as the Messiah and second person of the Holy Trinity at the time of his baptism. Usually called the Feast of the Theophany, it is one of the great feasts of the liturgical year. “Theophany” comes from the Greek for “God shining forth.”

Epiphany in the West

The West took up the Oriental January feast, retaining all its chief characteristics, though attaching overwhelming importance, as time went on, to the visit of the Magi who bring gifts to visit the Christ child, and thus “reveal” Jesus to the world as Lord and King. The Feast is observed as a time of focusing on the mission of the church in reaching others by “showing” Jesus as the Savior of all people. The future rejection of Jesus by Israel and his acceptance by the Gentiles are retrojected into this scene of the Matthew’s narrative.

Matthew’s special details

King Herod reigned from 37 to 4 B.C. The “magi” were a designation of the Persian priestly caste and the word became used of those who were regarded as having more than human knowledge. Matthew’s Magi are astrologers. As for the star in Matthew’s story, it was a common ancient belief that a new star appeared at the time of a ruler’s birth. Matthew also draws upon the Old Testament story of Balaam, who had prophesied that “a star shall advance from Jacob” [Numbers 24:17], though there the star means not an astral phenomenon but the king himself.

The act of worship by the Magi, which corresponded to Simeon’s blessing that the child Jesus would be “a light for revelation to the Gentiles” [Luke 2:32], was one of the first indications that Jesus came for all people, of all nations, of all races, and that the work of God in the world would not be limited to only a few.

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Matthew Harrison

The Christian New Year is celebrated on January 1, one week after the celebration of the birth of Jesus.  January 1 has been given several different names that reveal something of the nature of the feast.  First of all, the Christian New Year is within the Octave of Christmas [i.e. 8 days after the birth of Jesus.]  Before the liturgical renewal of the Second Vatican Council [1962-1965] the Feast of the Circumcision of Jesus or the Naming of Jesus [Holy Name of Jesus] was celebrated on this date to commemorate the Gospel account of Jesus’ circumcision according to the ritual prescriptions of the Mosaic law, thus becoming officially a member of the people of the covenant: “At the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus” [Lk 2:21-24].

Following the liturgical renewal of the Second Vatican Council, January 1 has now been known as the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of the Lord, and it has also been designated as the World Day of Prayer for Peace.

We may often wonder if New Year’s Day has accumulated so many different meanings, that people no longer pay attention to the feast.  Is it also not true that the atmosphere of revelry attached to New Year’s Eve hardly leaves anyone with the energy, desire or willingness to consider New Year’s Day as a religious feast?  Let us consider some of the biblical foundations for the various meanings attached to the Christian New Year.

Feast of the Circumcision and Naming of Jesus

In antiquity and in the Scriptures, it is a common belief that the name given to a person is not just a label but part of the personality of the one who bears it.  The name carries will and power.  Jesus of Nazareth was born in Bethlehem to Jewish parents [Matthew 1-2; Luke 1-2].  At his conception, it was told by an angel that his name would be “Jesus”.  The Hebrew and Aramaic name “Yeshua” [Jesus] is a late form of the Hebrew “Yehoshua” or Joshua.  It was a very common name in New Testament times.  The meaning of the name is “The Lord is salvation” and it is alluded to in Matthew 1:21 and Luke 2:21.

In antiquity and in the Scriptures, it is a common belief that the name is not just a label but part of the personality of the one who bears it. The name carries will and power.  The name conjures up the person; there is a desire to know the name and even a reluctance to give it in the Scriptures.  “Yeshua” refers to the Savior and was one of the Christian ways of naming and identifying Jesus. The Greek christos translates the Hebrew mashiah, “anointed one”; by this name Christians confessed their belief that Jesus was the Messiah. In the New Testament, the name, person and work of God are inseparably linked to those of Jesus Christ.  True disciples of Jesus are to pray in his name [John 14:13-14].  In John 2:23 believing in the name of Jesus is believing in him as the Christ, the Son of God [3:18].  The name of Jesus has power only where there is faith and obedience [Mark 9:38-39]. Believing in the holy name of Jesus leads to confession of the name [Hebrews 13:15].  Calling on this name is salvation.

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of the Lord

The second person who is celebrated and honored on the Christian New Year is the mother of Jesus. This young woman of Jewish descent took upon herself the full responsibility of the word yes to a mysterious visitor at the Annunciation.  By her response, she broke out of the cultural and religious boundaries of her time, manifesting great courage and faith.  She literally brought heaven down to earth.  Mary of Nazareth lived the memory of events and their meaning- always showing the ability to interpret the whole thread of her life through repeatedly calling to mind words and events.

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Father Thomas Rosica

As this year draws to a close, and 2010 begins, Salt + Light Television is pleased to bring to you two Papal events.

On New Year’s Eve, at St. Peter’s in Rome, Pope Benedict XVI will celebrate Vespers in thanksgiving for the year gone by. You can watch this live, without English translation, Thursday, December 31st at 12pm ET/9am PT.

January 1st of each year marks new beginnings for many of us, but for the Church it is a day that we honour our Blessed Mother — in fact, in Canada, like in many countries, it’s a Holy Day of Obligation. It is also a day that the Church recognizes as the World Day for Peace. Having given thanksgiving for 2009 at First Vespers the night before, Pope Benedict will open the new year with Holy Mass on the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God. You can watch that on Salt + Light Television at Friday January 1st , at 10am ET/7am PT, with English translation.

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Photo: Children bring up gifts during Mass marking feast of Mary, Mother of God, January 1st 2008. CNS photo/Giampiero Sposito, Reuters.

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Matthew Harrison

It seems that every year we have the same discussion around this time: what is the real meaning of Christmas? and let’s keep Christ in Christmas. There are even campaigns to boycott department stores that refuse to acknowledge the “reason for the season.” It’s so easy to jump onto that band wagon.

To add to this, “Christmas” starts right after U.S. Thanksgiving. In Canada, some stores already have Christmas merchandise and decorations after Halloween. On my street we’ve had houses with lights for a month already; some of my neighbours have had their tree up since the end of November. I am of the belief that the lights should be lit on Christmas Eve, and then we celebrate Christmas during the Christmas season, not during the Advent season.

There are at least two radio stations that claim to be Toronto’s Official Christmas station. For a month now they’ve been playing Christmas music exclusively. In previous years I could not stand this. Nothing spoils your Advent as having to listen to Wham’s Last Christmas every day starting on December 3rd!

But while driving home the other night I realised something quite profound: at no other time of the year will radio stations play Christian music. What I mean here is that Christmas music is Christian music. I don’t mean Mariah Carey singing All I Want For Christmas is You. I mean the Barenaked Ladies and Sarah MacLachlan singing God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. I mean David Bowie and Bing Crosby singing Little Drummer Boy-Peace on Earth. Regardless of the intent, these lyrics are helping us focus on the reason for the season and proclaiming Jesus Christ.

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Pedro Guevara-Mann

In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

“This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. (Luke 2.1-16)

From all of us at Salt + Light Television, we pray that your hearts may sing glory to the Infant of King this Christmas!

To help celebrate the 12 days of Christmas, you may want to revisit Pope Benedict XVI’s homilies from past Midnight Mass: 2008, 2007, 2006, and 2005. If you didn’t have a chance to see Pope Benedict’s homily during our live coverage of Christmas Mass from St. Peter’s on Christmas Eve, check the Vatican Information Service or Zenit during the Christmas season for text and summary.

Have a holy and happy Christmas!

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Matthew Harrison

In the afterglow of Christmas, the Church celebrates the feast of the Holy Family. This weekend we are invited to reflect on the gift and mystery of life and the blessing of family life in particular. Today’s Gospel story [Luke 2:41-52] relates an incident from Jesus’ youth that is unique in the New Testament. Luke’s Infancy Gospel, however scarce in details concerning the first part of Jesus’ life, mentions that “his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover” [2:41], an indication of their piety, their fidelity to the law and to the tradition of Israel. “When he [Jesus] was twelve years old, they went up according to custom” [2:42]. “When they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, without his parents knowing it” [2:43]. After searching for three days “they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions” [2:46].

Jesus’ mysterious words to his parents seem to subdue their joy at finding him: “How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” [2:49]. This phrase can also be translated, “I must be immersed in my Father’s work.” In either translation, Jesus refers to God as his Father. His divine sonship, and his obedience to his heavenly Father’s will, take precedence over his ties to his family.

Apart from this event, the whole period of the infancy and youth of Jesus is passed over in silence in the Gospel. It is the period of his “hidden life,” summarized by Luke in two simple statements: Jesus “went down with them [Mary and Joseph] and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them” [Lk 2:51]; and “He progressed steadily in wisdom and age and grace before God and men” [Lk 2:52]. With this episode, the infancy narrative ends just as it began, in the setting of the Jerusalem temple.

Jesus knew the reality of family life

We learn from the Gospels that Jesus lived in his own family, in the house of Joseph, who took the place of a father in regard to Mary’s son by assisting and protecting him and gradually training him in his own trade of carpenter. The people of the town of Nazareth regarded him as “the carpenter’s son” [Mt 13:55]. When he began to teach, his fellow citizens asked with surprise: “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary?” [Mk 6:3]. Besides his mother they mentioned also his “brothers” and his “sisters,” who lived at Nazareth. It was they who, as the evangelist Mark mentions, sought to dissuade Jesus from his activity of teaching [Mk 3:21]. Evidently they did not find in him anything to justify the beginning of a new activity. They thought that Jesus was just like any other Israelite, and should remain such.

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Father Thomas Rosica

Oscar Romero, the Archbishop of El Salvador who was assassinated in 1980 and was an incredible witness to human rights, had a heart that was always drawn to the poor and neglected.

On December 24th, 1978, three years before he was killed, he writes:

This is the Christian’s joy: I know that I am a thought in God, no matter how insignificant I may be – the most abandoned of beings, one no one thinks of. Today, when we think of Christmas gifts, how many outcasts no one thinks of! Think to yourselves, you that are outcasts, you that feel you are nothing in history: “I know that I am a thought in God.”

Would that my voice might reach the imprisoned like a ray of light, of Christmas hope – and might it say also to you, the sick, the elderly in the home for the aged, the hospital patients, you that live in shacks and shantytowns, you coffee harvesters trying to garner your only wage for the whole year, you that are tortured: God’s eternal purpose has thought of all of you. He loves you, and, like Mary, incarnates that thought in his womb.

No one can celebrate a genuine Christmas without being truly poor. The self-sufficient, the proud, those who, because they have everything, look down on others, those who have no need even of God – for them there will be no Christmas. Only the poor, the hungry, those who need someone to come on their behalf, will have that someone. That someone is God, Emmanuel, God-with-us. Without poverty of spirit there can be no abundance of God.

This Christmas season, take the time to remind yourself over and over again, why you need God.

This is one of nine reflections that are accompanied by music for the S+L Radio show program’s Saturday, December 26th edition. This regular weekly program airs Saturdays at 10 pm ET/7 pm ET on the Catholic Channel, Sirius Satellite Radio 159 and XM Radio 117. For podcasts, or for more information on S+L Radio, visit HERE.

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Mary Rose Bacani