“Let’s dance and sing and make good cheer, for Christmas comes but once a year.”

G. MacFarren

Christmas is all about Baby Jesus, whether when still in the womb, the period of which is marked in a special way in Advent, or after his birth.  As a disciple of theology, I understand that the visit of our Blessed Mother to Elizabeth settles every doubt, at least for true Christians, on when life begins, which is at conception.  Mary left to visit Elizabeth immediately after the Angel Gabriel’s message to her for conceiving through the power of the Holy Spirit and giving birth to Jesus (Luke 1: 39- 40).  The Baby Jesus in Mary’s womb was immediately recognized, not yet one week after the Annunciation, when Mary at this earliest time was proclaimed the Mother of God by Elizabeth by the power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:39-43).

Science cannot be separated from true faith.  Science goes to prove faith and nature, or what I may call ‘da sein” not vice- versa.  It should be a pseudo-science which should not prove the start of life at conception.  Reason?  If a fully-developed baby develops from fetus/embryo, then fetus/embryo is life itself, for human life cannot develop from nothing, or ex-nihilo.  As Christians, we aspire to be like Christ as in the words of William Penn, “[T]o be like Christ is to be a Christian.”  If the whole creation was made through Christ and everything is in Christ and for Christ, then whatever we think, or do or say will be in Christ and through Christ such that no one who calls oneself Christian should live outside Christ.  It becomes, therefore, incomprehensible and irreconcilable for one to say, “I am a Christian,” and still not live according to Christ’s will and command of respect for life.  It was Wendell Phillips who articulated that “[C]hristianity is a battle, not a dream.” It is God’s phenomenon not human wishful thinking.  The battle involved is made manifest in working out our salvation with fear and trembling, and being able not to separate what we are as persons from what we are as Christians.  Throughout the whole holy writ, there is nowhere a woman ever aborted for any claimed just cause.  One who decides to go for sex knows its consequences.  Abortion with reckless abandon breeds immorality that also darkens the intellect.  The innocent baby as a result of the act should not be inflicted with a big stick.  We use this period to reflect on the right of all life to exist.  The fetus can become tomorrow’s pope.

Christmas is vitally a period of reflecting on the issue of both the born and unborn.  Jesus should be seen in them.  By this, their safety and the sanctity of life can be guaranteed.  At Christmas, every attention turns to the Baby Jesus and not to ourselves.  To Mary, Baby Jesus was not expected because she did not know how such could come about.  Still, she held her faith, believed the words of the Angel (Luke 1: 26-35), and carried Jesus in her womb and delivered Him in accordance with God’s plan.  Are we not invited at this period to emulate Mary, making sure that every baby in the womb is not deprived of existence and even if a baby dies in a procedure in the case of complications at pregnancy or threat to the mother’s life, it would not have been directly intended, but subjected to the principles of double effect?  Hence, nobody has the right to pronounce a capital punishment on a life.  For God has said, thou shall not kill.”  Christmas brings to the fore the glory of motherhood as seen in Mary, a celebration of new life and babies, born and unborn.

I wish to enjoy this Yuletide with all our favored parishioners here at St. Patrick’s.  Their faith is unequalled, translated in good hearts, generosity, and supportive behavior.  In union with other priests in the rectory, I wish all a happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year, ’10.  Thank you for making St. Patrick’s Parish the pride of all, with thanks also to Msgr. Walden - a great pastor indeed - who loves his flock and fellow priests.  May every child come to Jesus as he invites them.  I dedicate this year’s Christmas to all children. Enjoy your Yuletide!!!!!!!

Dedicated to All Babies, Born and Unborn.
Father Anselm