My Brothers,
I hope you had an enjoyable Thanksgiving, and were able to spend time with loved ones. Lots of memories from this time of year, with people who are present and people who are no longer with us.
As we move into the Christmas season, I encourage you to take time away from the hustle and bustle of Christmas, and ponder on “the reason for the season.” I don’t need to tell you how commercialized this holiday has become, with many no longer even acknowledging the religious aspects of Christmas. I think that we as strong Catholic men need to push back against the secular culture and treatment of Christmas. This doesn’t mean start yelling at shoppers, or something like that. Rather, resurrect or even invent new traditions for Christmas that celebrate our religion.
As a child, I remember setting my shoes out on St. Nicholas Day (December 6th), and finding candy in them the next morning. I also remember filling the cradle of the Christ Child with straws during Advent, earned by doing a good deed, to give him a soft bed. Some years my mother would walk past, see how few good deeds had been done and mutter that baby Jesus would have a hard, hard bed that year! What memories I have from growing up, and I hope that my children have powerful, happy memories of our family’s traditions.
My thanks to you all for everything you have done in the first half of the fraternal year. It has been a tough slog as we move past the pandemic and try to resurrect Councils and get them active again. Please know that we see and admire your hard work! I think we all deserve a break and some rest, then we can hit it hard again to start off the second half of the year.
I want to end with a line from one of my favorite Christmas songs, “Promises to Keep” by the Tran Siberian Orchestra. Attending the TSO concert as a family is one of our traditions to start the Christmas season.
“And the dream is still alive
From that first December morning
And it always will survive
As long as we can see
That the dreams we find in life
Are the dreams we tend to seek
And Christmas has its promises to keep”
Blessings to you and all whom you love, and may the Good Lord continue to Bless and Keep the Knights of Columbus.
Vivat Jesus!