On the Tenth Day of Christmas... comedy

During my early-to-late teenage years, I spent a lot of time listening to music and comic albums with friends. Back then, it was a great joy to have friends over or go to someone's house, turn off he lights, put the record on the turntable or in the cassette deck, turn it on, then just lay on the floor and listen. I still do that sometimes in my den, though these days by myself.

Woody Allen doing his stand-up act in the early 1960s

We listened to comedy albums by, among others, Steve Martin, Robin Williams, Woody Allen (yes, he did stand-up and was good). On one of Allen's records, he talks about driving into Manhattan to audition for a play. The part for which he was auditioning, which he said was "type casting," was God. During his drive, someone cut him off in traffic. Trying to get into character for his audition, he told them "Be fruitful and multiply," only he didn't use those words.

We also found Bob Newhart comedy albums our dads owned. I remember with particular fondness Monty Python's Contractual Obligation album. I still know the words to all the songs on this album, such as "Finland"- "Altogether, Fin-o-philes!" The contents of these albums would certainly never meet with parental approval. Some of the particularly explicit material that felt so transgressive to my relatively naive young self doesn't appeal much to me these days.

In the heyday of Second City Televsion (a.k.a. SCTV), Doug and Bob McKenzie were a treat. Their The Great White North album is hilarious. Just two hose head brohers from Canada, eh. On this Tenth Day of Christmas, therefore, it seems fitting to have the McKenzie brothers' unique take on the Twelve Days of Christmas as our traditio.

While I am at it, as a bonus, I am including their collaboration with Rush bassist, Geddy Lee. The result of this collaboration is the song "Take Off." As Lee says at the beginning: "You know, ten bucks is ten bucks."

Enjoying an "abundance of peace"

Each year for the past few years, on New Year's night or the day before I have to "get back to it" after the holiday break, I've posted a snippet from The Imitation of Christ. I re-read the Imitation last year and benefitted greatly from it. It's funny, yet understandable, why Nietzsche hated this work so much.

To put it in the most general of terms, The Imitation of Christ, along with The Practice of the Presence of God, are about the importance of cultivating a deeply personal relationship with Christ. As we celebrate the Incarnation of God's Only Begotten Son at Christmastime, it makes sense to point out that the Lord came in the flesh precisely to make such a relationship possible for all.

Rooted as it is in the Eucharist, which is the most intense personal encounter with Christ imaginable, knowing Christ more and more, through life's peaks and valleys, is the anchor of faith.

We may enjoy abundance of peace if we refrain from busying ourselves with the sayings and doings of others, and things which concern not ourselves. How can he abide long time in peace who occupieth himself with other men’s matters, and with things without himself, and meanwhile payeth little or rare heed to the self within? Blessed are the single-hearted, for they shall have abundance of peace (Imitation of Christ, Book I, Chap. XI, 1)

To a very great extent, social media immerses one in what Thomas à Kempis urges us to avoid.

Peace to you as you embark on another year. Remember, God is with you.

Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God

This is the first New Year's Day in several years that I haven't preached. In my homilies over the past few years for this Solemnity, I've encouraged those listening to commit to praying the Rosary everyday during the year. This means between today and 31 December praying 365 Rosaries of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary. I renew that challenge today.

Lest this challenge amount to nothing more than the breath it takes to utter, it's a discipline I practice. I even go so far as to keep count of the number of Rosaries each year. For example, last year (2024), I recited 375. By "Rosary," I mean one complete set of mysteries (i.e. Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, Glorious), that is, 5 decades.

While I do at times pray the Rosary contemplatively (something I am going to strive to do more of this year), I usually pray it while walking. Most days, as I begin my recitation, I offer up several intentions. I pray from big to small, that is, for things in the world, an end to wars and violent conflicts, the safety of innocents caught in the hell that is war, for leaders, for my family, especially my children, for people who are sick, for those who are suffering, and certainly for those who ask me to pray for them for specific intentions.

I also say at least one Memorare each day. Usually, more than one. Besides, according to the Church, devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary is an essential component of diaconal spirituality.

These devotions do not exhaust my prayer life. They do, however, enhance it greatly. Some days, in addition to Morning and Evening Prayer, these may well constitute my prayers. If so, that's just fine.

Photograph by Rev. Keith Littlejohn, Church of Saint Mary's, Goring-by-Sea, U.K.

The Blessed Virgin Mary is not merely Christotokos, she is Theotokos, not merely Christ-bearer, but God-bearer, the Mother of God. While the Son is consubtantial with the Father, He is also consubstantial with His mother and, through her, with us.

We venerate the saints, those men and women, varied as they are, who bear witness to Christ by their lives and now, in the presence of God, intercede for us. Seeking their intercession is an important part of our faith. As Fr. Tonino Lasconi, an Italian parish priest and author of numerous volumes on the renewal of catechesis, noted: "Without the saints, the faith vanishes."

Christians do not worship Mary. Worship, as the first commandment directs, is due to God and God alone. But we do not merely venerate our Blessed Mother either. In a similar way (since I've invoked the Decalogue), the fourth commandment that enjoins us to honor father and mother falls between the first three commandments about loving God and final six about loving our neighbor. You see, parents, even absent ones, occupy a unique place between God and other people. Just so, Mary, our Mother, occupies her own space between God and His saints.

While we do not worship Mary, we do pray to her. By so doing, we honor her in a fitting and unique way. I can think of no better way to start 2025 than assisting at Mass for this Solemnity and, yes, by praying the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

A Happy and Blessed New Year to you. Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and all God's Saints, may you have a healthy and prosperous 2025.