*"HE WAS LAID IN THE MANGER OF OUR LIVES...HE IS KEPT IN THE CRIB OF OUR HEARTS"

"Away in a manger.."

Having just returned from 8.30pm Carols and 9.00 pm Holy Mass for the Vigil of Christmas Day, I want to comment on , or rather introduce to you the idea developed by our young and holy Polish Curate Father Mariusz Adamczyk SDS in his Homily.

Father Mariusz spoke of the overwhelming importance of Christ's Birth, emphasising that we do not celebrate a myth or fable but that the "Great God of Might"had really become a little baby . And that ordinary reality, a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger of all things, was THE SIGN THE ANGELS gave that identified the Saviour! And that is how it is to-day,  that Jesus Christ is laid in the manger of OUR lives , and it is for us to embrace  Him in the Crib of our hearts. And we are to see Him in one another, in those we meet and pass, and in doing so in a fitting way, we can remake this tired world.

And the opponents of "imported "clergy will tell you "they don't understand our culture"!!! Father Mariusz , God Bless you! You understand us very well, and respond ideally.

Truly Christmas is about Christ "by highest Heav'n adored". In celebrating Our Divine Lord's birth, we have, over these two thousand years of the Catholic Church's life, also been moved to celebrate the families the Lord has given us. In that vein I want to share with you a couple of photos now some years old, so that you will know how lucky I have been and am:

If you can't see the joy on my face ..you are dead!
Taken about 1976..whatever happened to white Polo Necks?


But someone is missing! The cause of my joy is not only our marvellous children, but my beautiful Wife Robyn -the photographatrix(Its my word and I'm sticking with it!)

The heart of the joy and love we enjoy..with our children a few years later.

Life isn't led like a TV commercial with ever glowing smiles , but it has its regular moments when the Love brought into the world on that First Christmas IS reflected in our daily being, and we thank God for that and with Him " in the Crib of our hearts" we work through the highs and lows of our lives. And, we thank Him for  the Children He has so wonderfully given us ,each one of them.

Happy Christmas once again to all our readers, now and in future years.