AMAZON

Monday, December 24, 2007

Christmas Eve Blessings


The Jingle Cats - White Christmas - The funniest home videos are here

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;
“There is no peace on earth,” I said;
“For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men.”

~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1864—written during the American Civil War)


May peace and plenty be the first to lift the latch on your door, and happiness be guided to your home by the candle of Christmas.


The world needs tolerance;
A lot more trust.
And kindness scattered,
Like Angel Dust.
 
We need quiet moments;
A lot more peace.
That wars may end
And hatreds cease.
 
We need caring friends;
Some hope, some mirth.
And a glimmer to guide us
Here on this earth.
 
We need joyful hearts;
Cures for disease.
And gentle reminders
To say "thank you" and "please".
 
We need to protect
The frog and the dove.
For the smallest of creatures
Were created through love.
 
We need to remember
Stray kittens; green trees.
For we are no greater
Or lesser than these.
 
How to begin
The changes we must?
By scattering kindesses,
Like Angel Dust.
~ Author Unknown



Grace comes unexpectedly

In barns on bitter nights,
Ultimately ordinary
Lest we claim our rights.
Invisible to those who see,
A veil to those who know,
No miracle or mystery
Descends to us below;
Just immanence immaculate
Awake within our sleep,
Salient as a centipede
Out strolling on a heap,
Not strange enough to keep.

~ author unknow


In the old country, it was common to give the animals a special treat on Christmas Eve. It was widely believed that all animals could talk on this special night. Today some families continue that tradition. They go for a walk in the garden, in the park or in the field or forest and bring along small goodies for the animals on this very special occasion.

Alex's Christmas Post: click HERE

[This post will grow throughout Christmas Eve]

24 comments:

  1. Oh, I WISH Molly could talk if only for this one night! Imagine the wonderful conversation we'd have.

    I'm sure Alex would have a thing or two to mention. Or, in fact, you'd probably never know he could talk as, being a cat, he might just have nothing to say.

    I hope this Christmas brings you health and happiness for you and all your loved ones.

    God bless!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Maybe animals do talk to us and we just don't know how to listen. :-)

    Beautiful post. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  3. A very happy Christmas to you and Alex, Nick. Hope the day is wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I am not sure where the old country is.. but we did this growing up. Up until my parents divorced we would make 'decorations' out of seeds and fruit, and hang them on a pine tree in the bush. We would say thanks to the earth for granting us food and invite the animals to a winter feast.

    Now i know from research that this is more a pagan thing. But My parents were Catholic, so i figure it was just something my dad maybe did when he was a kid or saw it somewhere and decided to do with my brother and I.

    I have done this since with various friends and family, and seems to me that no matter the religion, evenryone who is present realised that we are all of one earth, and should respect it. Very good memories i have from this.

    Maerry Christmas to you and Alex Nick. :D

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hope you and Alex have a very nice holiday!

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a wonderful post, Nick. I hope that you and Alex have a truly beautiful Christmas.

    ReplyDelete
  7. ((((((((Saintly)))))))))) HAPPY CRIMBO to you and Alex..... fanks for making me smile and for being the wonderful dear man that you are...... be safe, be well, and enjoy......

    Mel XXX

    ReplyDelete
  8. Merry Christmas, Nick and Alex!! May all your wishes for the new year come true and may peace and prosperity be a constant visitor!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Nick, Merry Christmas, and I wish you and Alex good health and much happiness in the comming year.
    Hugs.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wishing you peace and love this Christmas, Nick. Give Alex a hug from Buddy.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Peaceful, joyful,love-filled holidays to you, dear Santa.

    Lovely tale from WWI, btw. Enjoyed that immensely.

    Wendy

    ReplyDelete
  12. Merry Christmas, Alex and Nick.

    ReplyDelete
  13. That cat video was really cute. Nick, you and Angus have a good holiday.

    ReplyDelete
  14. u & alex hav a fun xmas

    ReplyDelete
  15. Christmas blessings to you and Alex, too.

    ReplyDelete
  16. MERRY CHRISTMAS, Reverend Nick.

    ReplyDelete
  17. How silently, how silently,
    The wondrous gift is giv'n!
    So God imparts to human hearts
    The blessings of His Heav'n.
    No ear may hear His coming,
    But in this world of sin,
    Where meek souls will receive Him still,
    The dear Christ enters in.
    - Phillips Brooks

    MERRY CHRISTMAS

    ReplyDelete
  18. Very nicely done, Rev Saint. May Alex, you human family, and you have a blessed Christmas.

    I know that you favor Celtic liturgies, so below I’m sharing the Celtic inspired benediction that we used responsively in tonight’s Christmas Eve Service.

    May the frangrance of His peace
    Soar through your heart like the dove released:
    Hide in His wings, oh weary, distant soul,
    He’ll guide your spirit home.

    And may His love poured from on high
    Flow to the depths of your deepest sigh;
    Oh come and drink from the only living stream
    And on His shoulder lean.

    And may the hope that will not deceive
    Through every pain bring eternal ease;
    There is no night that can steal the promises
    His coming brings to us.

    So may His joy rush over you;
    Delight in the path He has called you to;
    May all your steps walk in Heaven’s endless light
    Beyond this Christmas night.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thank you again Nick...you always say the right things at the right moment. You give me peace when I am despairing of it. For this I thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

    I also love the celtic blessing above...the celts, they knew a thing or two about the language of peace, love and harmony.

    ReplyDelete
  20. A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and Alex!

    ReplyDelete