electronic Catholics

1. More saintly goodness from Holy Cards For Your Inspiration:

“The Devil tempts that he may ruin and destroy;

God tests that He may crown.”

- St. Ambrose

2. Todd M. Aglialoro gives us four tips on what makes a good hymn good (and vice versa):

1. Good hymns focus on God; bad hymns focus on the self.

2. Good hymns use words and themes from Scripture or Tradition; bad hymns use words and themes from 1960s psychobabble.

3. Good hymns treat transcendent concepts; bad hymns treat immanent concepts.

4. Good hymns employ sacred diction; bad hymns employ vulgar diction.

3. From Adam's Ale:

If you are heavily involved with your parish you know that Christmas begins in September. Masses are planned, the choir is already practicing its music, people want to know about decorations so the appropriate items might be ordered, so forth and so on.

Of course stores are already well into preparing for the holy day (or the season greeting day) and although they do not go all out in earnest until after Thanksgiving they have already had all the signs of the impending spending spree decorating their buildings and advertisements.

Through all of this the church scrupulously avoids any sign of celebrating Christmas. Why? Because it is not Christmas! It’s advent. Christmas begins on December 25th, not ends! Yet on December 27th (giving a day for people to make returns or buy a present they forgot) the store decorations are down and the music is changed and St. Valentine’s Day decorations are put out.

Now so your parish, not so! For we are finally singing “Joy to the World” and “Hark Harold the Angel Sings” and will continue to do so for the next few weeks.

4. So, it turns out that the pope is human:

Pope Benedict XVI will celebrate Mass on Christmas Eve beginning at 10 pm rather than at midnight, the Vatican has announced. The scheduling change, which was made several weeks ago, was explained as a way “to tire the Pope a bit less.”

What does the "mainstream media" say?

Fears for Pope’s health as Christmas Midnight Mass to be held early (Times)

Worries over Pope’s health as Xmas Midnight Mass is brought forward (Herald Sun)