The Bulletin of the Catholic Community at the Family Foundation School
Pauca Verba
Number 4 – December 20, 2009
At the start of Advent we talked with enthusiasm about having our own Greccio here at school. We intended to build the outdoor manger and with live animals, celebrate the night-Mass of Christmas outdoors under the stars. Well, that isn’t going to happen as the bad weather has set in early (I had anticipated it wouldn’t arrive until after the New Year.) But Christmas night in our chapel is very beautiful. Candles in every window will welcome us. The flowers and altar, the decorated manger scene with Jesus, Mary and Joseph will all be there. We’ll sing Silent Night and Away in a Manger holding candles. Some of us will bring guitars! And those of us who are staying at school for Christmas will bring to Mass hearts full of emotion: longing for better times, thoughts of our families and home, repentance for our neglect of God in the past and thanks to God for his wonderful mercies. Come to Mass at Christmas night! Bring a friend. Come to contemplate the smile of the Holy Infant and Mary who is so sweet and kind.
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The Christophers is an organization that simply helps people to be kind and good. Even people who have no religion read and listen to their messages. They believe that goodness is just reasonable. They live by the motto, Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.
Light a candle? We light candles in our chapel often. There’s the Advent wreath of four candles in our houses. During Advent we even carry a lighted candle up the hill on Saturday morning – protecting the little flame from the wind. The candle isn’t magical, but it is VERY symbolic. Light a candle! Maybe….
Light a candle means……………tell the truth.
Light a candle means……………come up from the underground.
Light a candle means……………bring out the best in someone.
Light a candle means……………stop hiding – start helping.
Light a candle means……………think bigger thoughts of people.
Light a candle means……………get thank you into your vocabulary.
Light a candle means……………say positive things or nothing.
Light a candle means……………forgive someone’s mistakes.
Light a candle means……………start to listen actively to others.
Light a candle means……………say: What can I do for you? and then do it.
Light a candle means……………tidy up the place, expecting no return.
Light a candle means……………stop procrastinating: Do! Do! Do!
Light a candle means…………… give your mother happy telephone news.
Light a candle means…………… treat your enemy as nicely as you treat the dogs here.
Light a candle means…………… do your kitchen work here with a generous spirit.
Light a candle means…………….find a way to enjoy people without flirting.
Some people might say, I don’t think I can do these things! Well of course – but maybe you’ve never tried. We’ve tried everything under the sun – even life-risking things. Try these! You’ll feel more alive than ever! The whole school will feel warmer and brighter! Just in time for Christmas.
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Years ago, when the student population here was about 70 students, on Christmas morning we spent hours as each person got up in front of everyone and opened his or her gifts while the others watched. It was incredible! It was so personal, so loving, so intimate. No hurry. No frowns. If this isn’t the way gifts are opened in your household here at Christmas, maybe ask if that practice can be restored. Most of the family leaders will remember that time. It made a difference in the way we thought of and treated each other.
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Plans are evolving for the Christmas manger scene in our chapel! This weekend a lovely piece of stationery is left for us on the sanctuary step which we might use to write a letter to the Infant Christ. We can place the letter by the manger scene at Christmas Mass. Perhaps your letter will take the form of a poem or a song, or a litany of adoration and thanks. Let your letter express love for the Divine Infant and his Holy Mother. Let the letter be more than a list of people you want taken care of. There’s more to Christmas than that:
For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3 16,17).
