Veritas - From the APRIM

Veritas – From the APRIM

What does Christmas mean to you?

My wife recently told me about a woman who announced on the internet that she is not participating in Christmas anymore. She said her family does, but none of them are religious, so she felt it hypocritical to celebrate it. I had mixed thoughts and feelings about this. I recognised some integrity in this. However, I also recognised a degree of virtue-signalling too; why announce it over the internet? (Virtue-signalling has become the hallmark of our times; people and organisations showing how ‘moral’ they are through methods such as social-media campaigns and announcements, bumper-stickers, protest participation, token friends from minority groups, the cancel-culture, etc.). Most of all, her choice made me sad. This woman, either through integrity or virtue-signalling, has made the choice for Christmas to mean nothing to her.

For just about everyone in Australia (except those who don’t participate for religious reasons) it has meant a time of giving. To quote the line from the prayer of St Francis: “it is in giving we receive”, so everyone is a winner when a gift is given. This is true for any time of the year, but the collective aspect of gift-giving en masse makes Christmas mean something that is unifying. Through the gift-giving and unifying realities, Christmas enables life to be lived to the full. This woman is missing out – she is not a winner in this context.

There is also the predominance of bright and cheerful decorations (except in the council precincts run by virtue-signallers that don’t want to offend.) These decorations bring a sense of joy. They build excitement in children. At least this woman still gets to see this!

Christmas also means spending time with family. It brings people together across distances, across generations and through marriages. The fundamental insoluble human connections created through bloodlines and marriage enable unbreakable filial love and all the security it provides. This love and security are foundational for living life to the full. When families gather, the cross-generational factor is heart-warming – the presence of children and all their innocent excitement, wonder and awe breathes life into everyone. Like gift-giving, we see that the gathering of extended families enable life to be lived to the full. This woman is depriving herself of this experience.

Of course, families can also harbour the extremities of hurt. Christmas can be a time that draws a focus on this hurt. I think this is because the hurt is sometimes sustained through stubbornness and indifference. The spirit of the Christmas season is charitable, hence it includes forgiveness and inclusion. People know this to be the case but can be overwhelmed by the challenge to forgive and include, and they can be stubborn. However, every Christmas presents a new opportunity to rethink forgiveness and inclusion, and with the grace of God, perhaps the realisation that the act of forgiving (i.e. giving) can be rewarded with the receiving that complements it. I wonder if this woman will ever face this reality again? Will some fractured family relationship remain that way forever?

For Christians, Christmas means celebrating the birth of Christ; the divine migration of God to be fully human amongst those made in His image. Jesus came so that we may have life and have it abundantly. This is our salvation. This is the truth of the meaning of Christmas – celebrating the birth of Christ through which our salvation became possible. The gift-giving and family-gathering are wonderful representations of what it is to live life to the full. But they are representations – not the complete thing. Christ is the completion. He is the reason. He is the meaning. He is the way, the truth and the life.

As can be the case when someone makes an announcement like this woman, others follow suit. This is the trend toward the anti-life. Please pray for her and anyone else making this choice. I encourage you to participate in thoughtful gift-giving and in spending time with your families. But most of all, I urge you to keep Christ in Christmas so you can completely celebrate living life to the full.

May the timeless meaning of Christmas fill your heart and home with joy.

Have a blessed and holy Christmas and a safe holiday season.

Thank you and Vinnies Christmas Hampers

2019 has been a wonderful year in terms of the generosity of our Dominican community. Here is the breakdown of our outreach efforts:

Throughout 2019 – Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans (ACRATH) - $417
Term 1 – Caritas (Project compassion) - $3333
Term 2 – Can Drive (Vinnies Winter Appeal) – 4334 cans
Term 3 – Catholic Charities - $3114
Term 4 – Vinnies Christmas Hampers for families in need – 20 families supported (see photos).

I am overwhelmed by the generosity of the Blackfriars community. Thank you for your incredible support throughout 2019. This is a stunning display of the Dominican Pillar of Service.

Jesus said “what you do for the least of my people, that you do unto me”. Your reward awaits you in heaven.

Mr Matthew Crisanti

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL: RELIGIOUS IDENTITY & MISSION