Rewind: Christ-mass

Originally posted Saturday, December 21, 2013

In this secular world, Christians decry the fact that non-Christians have taken Christ out of Christmas.  But that was bound to happen after non-Catholic Christians took the Mass out of Christmas.  Christ-mas is Christes Masse.  Or the Mass of Christ.

Wiki says:Christmas (Old English: Crīstesmæsse, meaning "Christ's Mass") is an annual commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ[6][7] and a widely observed cultural holiday, celebrated generally on December 25[3][4][5] by billions of people around the world.[2][8] A feast central to the Christian liturgical year, it closes the Advent season and initiates the twelve days of Christmastide, which ends after the twelfth night.[9] Christmas is a civil holiday in many of the world's nations,[10][11][12] is celebrated by an increasing number of non-Christians,[1][13][14] and is an integral part of the Christmas and holiday season.

Historically, every Christian holiday has been celebrated in the context of the Mass.  That is why we have the ancient celebrations of Michaelmas (the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel), Lammas (the festival of the wheat harvest), Candlemas ( Purification of the Blessed Virgin, Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple.), and Hallowmas (All Saints Tridium).

First, non-Catholics took the Mass out of Christmas.  Sure, they celebrate Christ, but they don't worship Him the way that God wants Him to be worshipped.  In the Mass.

Hebrews 10:25-31
King James Version (KJV)
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,  27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.  28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 

29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 

30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.  31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

That, is a description of the Mass and the anger which God feels when people neglect the Mass.

First they took the Mass out of Christmas.  And now they have taken Christ out of Christmas.  It was bound to happen.

Today, the Catholic Church continues to celebrate Christmas in the fullest sense of the word.  The Catholic Church celebrates Christ in the Mass.