Lament of St. Nicholas by Paul Murano

I posted this other years. I decided to post it every year now, as long as I remember! It's worth some solemn meditation.

Lament of St. Nicholas by Paul Murano
('Twas the Week Before Christmas - in Contemporary America)


‘Twas the week before Christmas and throughout heaven above

the angels and saints were proclaiming God's love

“Nicholas”, called Jesus, “Faithful servant on earth

it's time for children to celebrate my birth

Go on and inspire the parents of these

to all of their hearts I now give you the keys”

Yes Lord! cried Nicolas with the greatest of joys

I love helping out with their clothes and their toys

But most of all Lord what I work for these days

is leading their minds back to you and your ways

So he started his mission, this jolly ol’ soul,

to the homes of God's children, the young and the old

The trees were in place and the candy canes hung

but he stared at the fireplace as carols were sung

Something's wrong! said the saint, as it paused his delight

Less than half of the stockings are hanging this night!

I see cars, DVR's, home computers, and more

but I hear not the laughter that I heard once before!

So he checked his list twice but it just didn't jive

there were many more children that were meant to be alive

Reality of Contraception & Abortion

Dear Lord, cried St. Nicholas with a voice of surprise

Many children are missing! as the tears filled his eyes

Oh Nicholas my servant, I thought that you knew

in many heart$$ green has replaced pink and blue

And Nicholas, said Jesus with a sad solemn voice

in the past 40 years this is what they've called "choice"

Then He took the saint's list and divided it thrice

and revealed the true meaning of naughty and nice:

This first group has children I could never create

my people used barriers and drugs with their mate

The second are the children that had never been born

from the wombs of their mothers they were taken and torn

And the third group are now all the children on earth

they're the ones that did make it through conception and birth

Oh Jesus I'm sorry! ol' St. Nicholas cried

This shouldn't be happening - they forgot why You died!

Help me to show them how to be brave

like the poor Virgin Mary giving birth in a cave!

I Am the hope many don't know, Jesus said

so go forth dear St. Nicholas – my light you must spread

'Twas the week before Christmas and St. Nicholas did pray:

Merry Christmas to all ... and to all a new day!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Photo and color scheme were added by me.


image - http://dontbuytheabortionlie.blogspot.com/2011/02/contraception-is-not-solution.html

The Reality of Abortion & Artificial Contraception

I reprint this poem every Christmas.  It's worth some solemn meditation.

Lament of St. Nicholas by Paul Murano

‘Twas the week before Christmas and throughout heaven above

the angels and saints were proclaiming God's love

“Nicholas”, called Jesus, “Faithful servant on earth

it's time for children to celebrate my birth

Go on and inspire the parents of these

to all of their hearts I now give you the keys”

Yes Lord! cried Nicholas with the greatest of joys

I love helping out with their clothes and their toys

But most of all Lord what I work for these days

is leading their minds back to you and your ways

So he started his mission, this jolly ol’ soul,

to the homes of God's children, the young and the old

The trees were in place and the candy canes hung

but he stared at the fireplace as carols were sung

Something's wrong! said the saint, as it paused his delight

Less than half of the stockings are hanging this night!

I see cars, DVR's, home computers, and more

but I hear not the laughter that I heard once before!

So he checked his list twice but it just didn't jive

there were many more children that were meant to be alive

Reality of Contraception & Abortion

Dear Lord, cried St. Nicholas with a voice of surprise

Many children are missing! as the tears filled his eyes

Oh Nicholas my servant, I thought that you knew

in many heart$$ green has replaced pink and blue

And Nicholas, said Jesus with a sad solemn voice

in the past 40 years this is what they've called "choice"

Then He took the saint's list and divided it thrice

and revealed the true meaning of naughty and nice:

This first group has children I could never create

my people used barriers and drugs with their mate

The second are the children that had never been born

from the wombs of their mothers they were taken and torn

And the third group are now all the children on earth

they're the ones that did make it through conception and birth

Oh Jesus I'm sorry! ol' St. Nicholas cried

This shouldn't be happening - they forgot why You died!

Help me to show them how to be brave

like the poor Virgin Mary giving birth in a cave!

I Am the hope many don't know, Jesus said

so go forth dear St. Nicholas – my light you must spread

'Twas the week before Christmas and St. Nicholas did pray:

Merry Christmas to all ... and to all a new day!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Photo and color scheme added by me.



image - http://dontbuytheabortionlie.blogspot.com/2011/02/contraception-is-not-solution.html
source -  http://bit.ly/2tzefUV 

Reality of Abortion & Artificial Contraception

I reprint this poem every Christmas.  It's worth some solemn meditation.

Lament of St. Nicholas by Paul Murano
('Twas the Week Before Christmas - in Contemporary America)


‘Twas the week before Christmas and throughout heaven above

the angels and saints were proclaiming God's love

“Nicholas”, called Jesus, “Faithful servant on earth

it's time for children to celebrate my birth

Go on and inspire the parents of these

to all of their hearts I now give you the keys”

Yes Lord! cried Nicolas with the greatest of joys

I love helping out with their clothes and their toys

But most of all Lord what I work for these days

is leading their minds back to you and your ways

So he started his mission, this jolly ol’ soul,

to the homes of God's children, the young and the old

The trees were in place and the candy canes hung

but he stared at the fireplace as carols were sung

Something's wrong! said the saint, as it paused his delight

Less than half of the stockings are hanging this night!

I see cars, DVR's, home computers, and more

but I hear not the laughter that I heard once before!

So he checked his list twice but it just didn't jive

there were many more children that were meant to be alive

Reality of Contraception & Abortion

Dear Lord, cried St. Nicholas with a voice of surprise

Many children are missing! as the tears filled his eyes

Oh Nicholas my servant, I thought that you knew

in many heart$$ green has replaced pink and blue

And Nicholas, said Jesus with a sad solemn voice

in the past 40 years this is what they've called "choice"

Then He took the saint's list and divided it thrice

and revealed the true meaning of naughty and nice:

This first group has children I could never create

my people used barriers and drugs with their mate

The second are the children that had never been born

from the wombs of their mothers they were taken and torn

And the third group are now all the children on earth

they're the ones that did make it through conception and birth

Oh Jesus I'm sorry! ol' St. Nicholas cried

This shouldn't be happening - they forgot why You died!

Help me to show them how to be brave

like the poor Virgin Mary giving birth in a cave!

I Am the hope many don't know, Jesus said

so go forth dear St. Nicholas – my light you must spread

'Twas the week before Christmas and St. Nicholas did pray:

Merry Christmas to all ... and to all a new day!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Photo and color scheme were added by me.
This is a reprint from 2013.


image - http://dontbuytheabortionlie.blogspot.com/2011/02/contraception-is-not-solution.html

My Mother Unexpectedly Passed Away Today: Initial Reflections

My mother unexpectedly passed away today.  Please keep her in your prayers.  Yvette Laplante.
I will miss her dearly.  I am still grappling with all the feelings and thoughts that are coming to the surface. 

Our Lady of Sorrows

     "What?  Mom died?  She can't have died.  She was supposed to be here for another ten years, at least.  75 is too young to die."

     "Mom, you can't be gone.  I want to hug you one more time.  I want to tell you I love you... Oh my gosh, did I tell you I love you at Thanksgiving?"

     "I guess that leaves the rest of us, us six children and seven grandchildren.  Well, Mom, I'm not ready to be in charge.  I want you here, with us.  What could God have possibly been thinking?"

I know I'm being a bit selfish, but I can't seem to be anything but selfish right now.  It's too painful.  It hurts too much.  I just want my mother back.

     "Mom, I am so glad you got to retire and enjoy your life in an unstressed manner.  You of all people deserved that.  It was such a grace to see you happy and relaxed.  Thanks for giving that to me, and more importantly, thanks for giving it to yourself."

     "You were supposed to be with us to celebrate Christmas, remember?  We're doing a Yankee Swap."

My mother was a lapsed Catholic.  It is with the virtue of hope that I pray for the salvation of her soul.  I hope you will pray for her too.


"Our Lady of Sorrows, as you wept for your Son Jesus on the Cross, please weep for my mother so that your tears transform her Judgment Day into one of Heaven.  Please be with her as she travels from this world to the next."


In JMJ+,
Kathleen

... I love you, Mom.

 

images - http://puffin.creighton.edu/jesuit/andre/images/t_sorrows.jpg
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_krNaopljEIoh0Ab9hg1DQbnk3jjBbgWh1ZZACpbN4j2u6Zb8b4WU_qlzKbb5m5AyGuTzAbI-Q4jhNMq0xqyoTBCeLFWjwzXodGUhOQM8LC79Qzu6JS8hN_Rngz6pXP33prYSYTpoiB2-/s72-c/moms.jpg

A Christmas Poem About the Reality of Abortion and Artificial Contraception

 I included this poem in my blog two years ago.  It's worth a reprint.  It's also worth some solemn meditation.

 

Lament of St. Nicholas by Paul Murano
('Twas the Week Before Christmas - in Contemporary America)


‘Twas the week before Christmas and throughout heaven above

the angels and saints were proclaiming God's love

“Nicholas”, called Jesus, “Faithful servant on earth

it's time for children to celebrate my birth

Go on and inspire the parents of these

to all of their hearts I now give you the keys”

Yes Lord! cried Nicolas with the greatest of joys

I love helping out with their clothes and their toys

But most of all Lord what I work for these days

is leading their minds back to you and your ways

So he started his mission, this jolly ol’ soul,

to the homes of God's children, the young and the old

The trees were in place and the candy canes hung

but he stared at the fireplace as carols were sung

Something's wrong! said the saint, as it paused his delight

Less than half of the stockings are hanging this night!

I see cars, DVR's, home computers, and more

but I hear not the laughter that I heard once before!

So he checked his list twice but it just didn't jive

there were many more children that were meant to be alive

Reality of Contraception & Abortion

Dear Lord, cried St. Nicholas with a voice of surprise

Many children are missing! as the tears filled his eyes

Oh Nicholas my servant, I thought that you knew

in many heart$$ green has replaced pink and blue

And Nicholas, said Jesus with a sad solemn voice

in the past 40 years this is what they've called "choice"

Then He took the saint's list and divided it thrice

and revealed the true meaning of naughty and nice:

This first group has children I could never create

my people used barriers and drugs with their mate

The second are the children that had never been born

from the wombs of their mothers they were taken and torn

And the third group are now all the children on earth

they're the ones that did make it through conception and birth

Oh Jesus I'm sorry! ol' St. Nicholas cried

This shouldn't be happening - they forgot why You died!

Help me to show them how to be brave

like the poor Virgin Mary giving birth in a cave!

I Am the hope many don't know, Jesus said

so go forth dear St. Nicholas – my light you must spread

'Twas the week before Christmas and St. Nicholas did pray:

Merry Christmas to all ... and to all a new day!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Photo and color scheme were added by me.


image - http://dontbuytheabortionlie.blogspot.com/2011/02/contraception-is-not-solution.html

Killing Off Baby Jesus

This is a reprint of an article I wrote in 2010.  I can't wait for the day when I can reprint it and say the tide has turned for the better.  Today is not that day.


Copyright (c) 2010 originally published in The Valley Patriot, reprinted with permission.

That is what Christmas is about these days. Killing off and eliminating Baby Jesus from the Christmas season.  It’s infanticide, of sorts.

For example, Happy Holidays, Happy Hanukah and Season’s Greetings are okay, but Merry Christmas is out. Holiday Gathering and Tree Lighting Day are okay, but Christmas Party is not. Santa Claus and his reindeer and elves are in all the stores and homes, but St. Nicholas has long been forgotten.

The extended gift buying in December, and now November, has become the norm.  The shift occurred during World War II, when many Americans were stationed overseas in the military. People here bought their gifts early in December to insure that the packages would arrive in time for Christmas. Merchants enjoyed the extra revenue that year, that they expanded advertising and sales of Christmas merchandise earlier into December on an ongoing basis. Commercialization is now rampant.

Christmas carols are often diluted or replaced with secular songs. (Heaven forbid we say the name of Jesus in public.)  Prayers are nowhere to be found in family celebrations, and employees are told to take down their pictures of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, because they might offend someone.

This de-Christianization of Christmas has greater problems. Other things get killed off with Baby Jesus. For instance, Advent is gone. It is the pre-Christmas preparation for the coming of Jesus, and it has been replaced with the extended gift buying season mentioned above. February 2 is another example. It has traditionally been a marking of the Presentation of Baby Jesus in the Temple. It is 40 days after Christmas, because in Hebrew tradition, the 40th day after birth is considered the  last stage of birth when the mother brings the child to Temple. This Feast Day has been replaced with Groundhog Day.

All is not lost, though. There are ways we can reverse the trend. We can speak up about the dangers of removing Nativity scenes, and point out the benefits of keeping them. Instead of remaining silent, we can dare to say Merry Christmas to others.  We can also bring St. Nicholas back into Christmas celebrations, and curb extensive gift buying, replacing it with Advent and its wonderful practices for reflection and preparation.

We can do something new, like learn the genealogy of Jesus. His lineage is recorded in two places in the Bible, Matthew 1:1–17 and Luke 3:23–38.  One account is from Joseph’s side, and the other is from Mary’s side.  Both accounts are rich with interesting characters that can be weaved into the Christmas story. The origin of the date of Christmas, December 25, is another topic that can be researched. For many years, people thought it was arbitrarily chosen in an attempt to override a pagan holiday, but it was not. Recent research by Thomas J. Talley testifies to that.

Taking any of these steps can gradually bring Baby Jesus back to life, and lead to a revitalization of Christianity, something we terribly need. Ben Stein, a speech writer for Presidents Nixon and Ford, could see this back in 2005. At that time, he provided some insightful commentary about what I call the infanticide of Baby Jesus.

He said, “I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don’t feel threatened. I don’t feel discriminated against. That’s what they are: Christmas trees. It doesn’t bother me a bit when people say, ‘Merry Christmas’ to me. I don’t think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn’t bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a crèche, it’s just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.”

Along those lines, Merry Christmas to all! ;-)

Kathleen Laplante is a member of the Catholic Church. She can be reached at klaplante2@yahoo.com

Copyright (c) 2010 originally published in The Valley Patriot, reprinted with permission.


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image - http://www.evangelchristianschool.org/holiday.php

A Little Christmas in March

I enjoy this song, even in the middle of March.  I hope you do too.

 

A Hallelujah Christmas

http://www.youtube.com/embed/1E-9Z8sFyRs

 

image - http://lockportalliance.blogspot.com/2010_12_01_archive.html