Christmas Day
Public Domain
On this day the Church focuses especially on the newborn Child, God become human, who embodies for us all the hope and peace we seek. We need no other special saint today to lead us to Christ in the manger, although his mother Mary and Joseph, caring for his foster-Son, help round out the scene.
But if we were to select a patron for today, perhaps it might be appropriate for us to imagine an anonymous shepherd, summoned to the birthplace by a wondrous and even disturbing vision in the night, a summons from an angelic choir, promising peace and goodwill. A shepherd willing to seek out something that might just be too unbelievable to chase after, and yet compelling enough to leave behind the flocks in the field and search for a mystery.
On the day of the Lords birth, lets let an unnamed, un-celebrity at the edge of the crowd model for us the way to discover Christ in our own heartssomewhere between skepticism and wonder, between mystery and faith. And, like Mary and the shepherds, let us treasure that discovery in our hearts.
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Sts. John Jones and John Wall (c. 1530-1598; 1620-1679)
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Blessed Adolph Kolping (1813-1865)
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Blessed Emmanuel Ruiz and Companions (1804-1860)
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Our Lady of Mount Carmel
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Blessed Junipero Serra (1713-1784)
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St. Oliver Plunkett (1629-1681)
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St. Adalbert of Prague (956-97)
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St. Agnes (d. 258?)
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Assumption of Mary
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Servant of God Francis Garces and Companions (c. 1781)