No room in the inn

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him up in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7

From Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary, 1859 edition: Ver. 7. In a manger within a stable, or place where beasts were sheltered. And it is the common opinion that an ox and an ass were there at that time. See Baronius, Tillemont, &c. (Witham) --- O wonderful mystery! O astonishing condescension of a God-man! From his birth he takes upon himself poverty. Had such been his pleasure, Christ might, at his birth, have shaken the heavens by his power, and terrified all nature by his majesty. But these were not the attendants of his coming; for he came not to destroy, but to save; not to display riches, but to teach us a contempt of human grandeur. He therefore condescended not only to become man, but even the vilest of men. (Metaphrastes)

With so many clergymen, prelates, and even men dressed in white seemingly telling the Holy Family that there is no room in the inns of their hearts, consecrated hearts even! that should be so beautiful, welcoming, and splendid, I am going to offer them the little manger of my heart. Of course, there will still be an ass involved, who is often as bullheaded as an ox and stubborn as a donkey when it comes to sin. But maybe that's the way we can resist the spirit of our times this Christmas: we can offer the Child Jesus, His Blessed Mother, and the pure St. Joseph, thousands of little stables and mangers, since it seems that there is no longer any room in the cathedrals, palaces, and gardens of the hierarchy. 

Happy Advent 12-19 edition

Today's Lesson:

Lesson from the letter of St Paul the Apostle to the Philippians (Phil 4:4-7)

Brethren: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Let your moderation be known to all men. The Lord is near. Have no anxiety, but in every prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your petitions be made known to God. And may the peace of God which surpasses all understanding guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

Tonight's antiphon at Vespers:

O Root of Jesse, which standest for an ensign of the people, at whom the kings shall shut their mouths, to whom the Gentiles shall seek; come to deliver us, make no tarrying! 

Thanks to Divinum Officium

Not a journalist, not an anything insider, not even really a blogger.

I jumped on the blog train a while back, but this train is slugging along like the little-engine-that-could halfway up the big hill - slow. Since I "started" this blog, some really great Catholic bloggers have either popped up or hit their stride. These good people and their sites are listed to the side →→→ check them out! They are doing the hard and heavy lifting and are really professionals. Some have given up other careers to do the important and necessary work of reporting on Catholic news, challenging evil in a public forum, and filling the great void of teaching good, basic, Catholic instruction. I think donating to those who have given up other careers is a nice charitable act - so please consider doing so. I'm going to try to do the same.

I'm toying with ideas as to what areas or how this blog can add to the Catholic blog-o-sphere mix - so we will see. I'm not a journalist, not a writer per se, I don't have any contacts in Rome, but maybe there is a place to enter the fray.

Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered - Let those who hate Him flee before His Holy Face!