Merry Christmas To You All!

 

A Christmas decoration piece in a Home Sense store in Scarborough, Toronto

Photo by Jerome D'Costa

Merry Christmas to You All!

Photo (Santa Claus' sleigh and other paraphernalia
on a lawn on Huntingwood Drive, Scarborough, Toronto)
© Jerome D'Costa (Nov. 2019)

Merry Christmas To You All!

Photo (Christmas lights in Toronto: Dec. 27, 2017) © Jerome D'Costa

A Christmas Poem: Christ Chose This Planet for Love's Transcendence

Merry Christmas!

Artwork by Andrea Mary D'Costa

Christ Chose This Planet for Love’s Transcendence

By Adrian D’Costa

Ave Maria and Salve Regina.
Our Lady conceived the Word.
I am Who am.
To the much feared, it means
to give them courage.
To the losers, it gives them
their strength back.
And to those who are afraid to
venerate, it gives them the humility.

I am alone by the window
on Christmas Eve
for a different kind of meaning.
I am pondering and contemplating
about a love that transcends all.
An unconditional love, bestowed
By God the Father
through God the Son
and God the Holy Spirit.

Can you fathom the depth and breadth

of that kind of love?
I wonder, and I wonder.
My thought strikes the Polaris star,
reminds me of the star that
guided the three Wise Men to Christ.

Yes. That must be the answer.
His innocent face is the answer

To all the hate of this world.
I demean myself on this day,
so that he gets elevated.
I put down the light of my life
so he can brighten up the sky without measure.

The firmament joyously dances
and makes a mark of the panoramic picture
of the Holy Family on this universe.
That’s the image you have to believe in.
That, two thousand years ago,
Christ chose this planet
to make His own.
He did not come as a King or Emperor
but was born in a manger as a humble person.
He showed us that only with humility
can we make this world
fill up with human love. 

The Quotation of the Week (December 23 - 29, 2018)

A quotation of Benjamin Franklin on 'Christmas,'
compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Photo (A statue of Mary with child Jesus 

near St. Lawrence the Martyr Church 

in Scarborough, Toronto: Dec. 14, 2014) © Jerome D'Costa

The Quotation of the Week (September 9 - 15, 2018)

A quotation of Matthew Perry on 'finding the right door,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Artwork ("Christmas": June, 2018) by Andrea Mary D'Costa

The Quotation of the Week (28January - 3 February, 2018)

A quotation of Althea Gibson on 'one's accomplishment,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Photo (Christmas trees in the Hudson's Bay Store at the Scarborough Town Centre Mall, Toronto: December 26, 2016) © Jerome D'Costa

Pope Francis Berates the Roman Curia In His Pre-Christmas Address

Pope Francis addresses members of the Roman Curia on Dec. 21, 2017

Photo courtesy: Vatican News

Like some other years in the recent past, Pope Francis addressed the Roman Curia (Vatican's bureaucratic officials under him) and greeted them. At the same time, he did not lose the opportunity to publicly remind them of their failings as well as their resistance to his reforms. 

Pope Francis, in his address, rebuked the ''traitors'' among the Curia members and also "unbalanced and debased mindset of plots and small cliques." He also mentioned that some Vatican bureaucratic officials "when they are quietly sidelined, wrongfully declare themselves martyrs of the system" rather than acknowledging their own failures.

For more details, please read the following:

• Pope to Roman Curia: Be faithful to the Petrine Office (Dec. 21, 2017)
• Pope Francis: Reform of the Roman Curia is harmed by the conspiracies of minority (Dec. 21, 2017)
• Pope to Curia: 'Betrayers of trust' are frustrating Vatican reform (Dec. 21, 2017)
• Curia exists for service, not for glory, pope says (Dec. 21, 2017)
• Pope Francis says reforming Vatican as hard as cleaning Sphinx with toothbrush (Dec. 21, 2017)
• Pope condemns 'cancer' of cliques in Christmas message to staff (Dec. 21, 2017)
• Pope rips 'traitors' in Christmas message to Roman Curia (Dec. 21, 2017)
• Pope upbraids Vatican bureaucracy: Serve the world, not 'degraded logic of small cliques' (Dec. 21, 2017)
• Pope's Christmas greetings to Roman Curia: building bridges with the outside world (Dec. 21, 2017)
• Pope Francis Calls Curia to Adopt External View (Dec. 21, 2017)
• Pope to Curia: 'Betrayers of trust' are frustrating Vatican reform (Dec. 21, 2017)
• Pope's ferocity with Roman Curia straight out of Jesuit playbook (Dec. 22, 2017)
• Christmas Greetings of Pope Francis to Roman Curia (Dec. 21, 2017) [Youtube video]
• Christmas Greetings to the Roman Curia: Address of His Holiness Pope Francis (Dec. 21, 2017) [Full Text]

Previous Christmas Addresses of Pope Francis 

to the Roman Curia:

2013: 

• Pope to Curia: An end to the role of 'inspector and inquisitor' (Dec. 21, 2013)
• Pope Francis gives Christmas message to Vatican Staff, priests (Dec. 21, 2013)
• Be professional, shun gossip, Pope tells Vatican administrators (Dec. 21, 2013)
• [Video] Pope Francis to Curia: professionalism, service, holiness (Dec. 22, 2013)
• Presentation of the Christmas Greetings to the Roman Curia: Address of Pope Francis (Dec. 21, 2013) [Full Text] [The pope emphasized on the professionalism and service of the Curia members]

2014:

• Pope Francis: the fifteen 'diseases of the Curia' (Dec. 22, 2014)
• Pope Francis makes scathing critique of Vatican officials in Curia speech (Dec. 22, 2014)
• Pope issues scathing critique of Vatican bureaucracy in pre-Christmas meeting (Dec. 22, 2014)
• Pope Francis: Christmas greetings to Curia (Dec. 22, 2014)
• Pope Francis' 15 'new commandments' for Vatican staff (Dec. 22, 2014)
• Francis Uses Christmas Speech to Criticize Vatican Bureaucracy (Dec. 22, 2014)
• [Video] Christmas Greetings of Pope Francis to the Roman Curia (Dec. 22, 2014)
• Presentation of the Christmas Greetings to the Roman Curia: Address of His Holiness Pope Francis (Dec. 22, 2014) [Full Text]

2015:

• In Christmas address, Pope Francis asks Roman Curia to cultivate 24 'needed virtues' (Dec. 21, 2015)
• Pope Francis' Own Listicle of "Needed Virtues" (Dec. 22, 2015)
• Pope outlines 'needed virtues' to Roman Curia (Dec. 22, 2015)
• [Video] Christmas Greetings of Pope Francis to Roman Curia (Dec. 21, 2015)
• [Video] Pope Francis includes '12 medicines' with his Christmas greetingds to the Roman Curia (Dec. 21, 2015)
• Presentation of the Christmas Greetings to the Roman Curia: Address of His Holiness Pope Francis (Dec. 21, 2015) [Full Text]

2016:

• Pope Lays Out Guiding Principles of Roman Curia Reform (Dec. 22, 2016)
• Pope Francis lays out 12 guiding principles for reform of the Roman Curia (Dec. 22, 2016)
• Pope lays out 12-step programme to reform the Roman Curia (Dec. 22, 2016)
• Pope Francis calls for 'Unconditioned Obedience' to Achieve Curial Reform (Dec. 22, 2016)
• Pope Francis surprises Vatican officials with frank talk of Roman Curia reform (Dec. 22, 2016)
• Pope Francis' speech to the Roman Curia (Dec. 22, 2016)
• Francis denounces resistance to Vatican reform in Christmas speech to curia (Dec. 22, 2016)
• [Video] Christmas Greetings of Pope Francis to Roman Curia (Dec. 22, 2016)
• Presentation of the Christmas Greetings to the Roman Curia: Address of His Holiness Pope Francis (Dec. 22, 2016) [Full Text]

Related Items:

• Clericalism And Its Corroding Effects in the Catholic Church (Sept. 19, 2018)
• Pope Francis Asks Priests and Bishops To Be 'Smelly Shepherds,' Not 'Wolves' (Oct. 1, 2018)
• Vatican Scandals and Reforms of Pope Francis (Dec. 31, 2016)

(Updated on Oct. 4, 2018)

Merry Christmas To You All!

Photo (An enchanting Christmas lighting of a household in Scarborough, Toronto: Dec. 15, 2017) © Jerome D'Costa

A Catholic Priest-Turned-Layperson's Reflection on Christmas

Dr. James Kottoor

Dr. James Kottoor, former editor of The New Leader -- a Catholic newspaper in India -- and present editor-in-chief in the Church Citizens' Voice (CCV) web portal that gives voice to the Kerala Catholic Church Reformation Movement, provides a critical reflection on Christmas. He emphasizes on one's self-emptying and being humbler among others. 

This new write-up of Dr. James Kottoor, can be read at:  What's Christmas? It's Self-Emptying, Highest Becoming the Lowest! (the cattle class!) (Dec. 20, 2017)

One of his earlier reflection on Christmas was: Dr. James Kottoor on Christmas (Dec. 8, 2013)

To read his long array of write-ups on different subjects, please click on: Dr. James Kottoor

To have a look at his colourful life, you may read: Dr. James Kottoor

The Quotation of the Week (December 17 - 23, 2017)

A quotation of Queen Elizabeth II on 'Christmas,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Photo (A play of clouds in the sky over Scarborough, Toronto: Nov. 27, 2017) © Jerome D'Costa

Merry Christmas to You All!

Image design by Jerome D'Costa

The Quotation of the Week (December 25 - 31, 2016)

A quotation of Bertie Charles Forbes on 'Christmas,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Photo (Christmas lighting and decorations inside the Fairview Mall, Toronto: Nov. 18, 2016) © Jerome D'Costa

Merry Christmas to You All!

Mary and Joseph with baby Jesus in the manger

Artwork by Mary D'Costa (Dec. 24, 2015)

The Quotation of the Week (December 20 - 26, 2015)

A quotation of Pope Francis on 'Christmas,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Photo (Christmas decorations outside a house in Scarborough, Toronto: Nov. 25, 2015) © Jerome D'Costa

The Quotation of the Week (December 28, 2014 - January 3, 2015)

A quotation of Herbert Bayard Swope on 'failure,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Photo (A Christmas lighting in Toronto, Canada: Dec. 15, 2013) © Jerome D'Costa

Merry Christmas to You All!

Today is the Christmas. Christians all over the world observe their Saviour Jesus Christ’s birthday with solemnity and festivity. 

Christ’s birth reminds them of the love of God for mankind. Jesus Christ, the second person of the Blessed Trinity, took the human form and came to this world to save mankind by expiating for their sins through his suffering, death and resurrection.

On this auspicious day, we wish you all a Merry Christmas!

To know more on Christmas, you may visit the following:

• Christmas
• Catholic Traditions for Advent and Christmas
•  Bangladesh Canada and Beyond: CHRISTMAS

A banner in front of St. Lawrence the Martyr Church, Toronto, urges people to "keep Christ in Christmas"

A giant Christmas crib in front of the same church mentioned above

Christmas lighting in front of a house

Christmas trees on sale in a gift store

A man dressed as Santa Claus gives a chance for a fee here to children to pose with him for photographs in a shopping mall

Sample of a postcard that millions of children write to the Santa Claus every year

A shop display of women's dresses during this Christmas season

A Santa Claus balloon on a car sales shop

Small potted Christmas trees on sale in a store

A lighted Christmas tree, on the left, in the commercial district of Toronto

A man dressed as a Santa Claus greets customers in a shopping mall

Christmas lighting in front of another house

Photos (Toronto: December, 2014) © Jerome D'Costa

Pope Francis Scolds Vatican Curia Officials in Unprecedented Harsh Language

Pope Francis giving Christmas message to the Vatican Curia officials on Dec. 23

 Photo courtesy: National Post

This year it will be a bitter-sour Christmas for many Vatican Curia (administrative departments) officials whose behavior was condemned by Pope Francis in his pre-Christmas audience on December 23.

The Curia officials were cardinals, bishops and priests who work for the Vatican. Most of them are Italian, few others are from foreign countries. 

In his speech to the officials, he spoke of ‘15 ailments’ affecting the Curia. These ailments were mentioned in strong words, never hear before publicly in the history of the Catholic Church. The Pope would never use such words if the real situation in the Curia were not in its worst condition. There must have been a deep chasm between what the officials speak, teach and portray in public and how they behave.

Some of the words used in the speech to the cardinals, bishops and priests were: lust for power; spiritual Alzheimer’s; existential schizophrenia; social exhibitionism; orchestra that plays out of tune; sower of discord; rivalry and vainglory; excessive busyness; mental and spiritual petrification; greed; egoism; thinking oneself as immortal, immune and indispensable; need for acting responsibly; excessive planning and functionalism; bad coordination; divinizing directors; sickness of close circles; sickness of accumulating; indifference to others; mournful face; lords of the manor; slave to passions, caprices and manias; possessing a heart of stone and a stiff neck; scandal; double life; hidden and often immoral private life; need for paying a visit to the cemeteries; terrorism of gossip.

To learn more on the Pope’s speech to the Curia officials, please visit the following:

•  Vatican Radio: Pope Francis -- Christmas Greetings to Curia
• Catholic News Agency (CNA): 'You are not lords of the manor': Pope Francis' tough words to Curia
• National Catholic Register: Pope Francis' Fatal 15
• Crux: Francis' 15 'Ailments of the Curia'
• Pope launches scathing attack on Vatican plagued by ills
• National Catholic Reporter: Francis gives Roman Curia officials coal for Christmas
• ZenitOrg: Pope's Address to the Roman Curia

Pope Francis giving his Christmas message to all Vatican employees on Dec. 22

Photo courtesy: National Post

Shortly before noon on Dec. 22, Pope Francis met with employees of the Holy See and of Vatican City State, with their families, for the exchange of Christmas greetings, reports Zenit news agency. Details of his audience are as follows:

• ZenitOrg: Pope Francis' Address to Vatican Employees
• ZenitOrg: Pope Gives 9 Tips to Vatican Employees
• Vatican Radio: Pope Francis to Vatican employees -- Christmas a time to heal