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Posted by Moderator on 1/13/2004, 7:33 pm Liz, misconceptions about the Catholic Faith are quite common. For instance, Mass is not a "celebration of the dead", it is a celebration of the Holy Eucharist instituted by Jesus Himself at the Last Supper. It can be celebrated on behalf of either the living or the dead. The Church celebrates the Mass almost every day of the year, including the Feast of Christ's Nativity on 25 December. That is why that day is called Christ's Mass: that is, the Mass on the feast of Christ's birth. It's not a "celebration of death" at all! Did you know that 29 September, the feast of Holy Michael the Archangel, is traditionally called Michaelmas, meaning "Michael's Mass"? Now, angels don't die, so Michaelmas certainly does not celebrate a "death" of the immortal Archangel Michael! The notion that Christmas is somehow a "celebration of the dead" is similarly absurd. As for Jeremiah 10, it describes someone decorating an idol carved from a tree trunk, not a Christmas tree. Christmas trees originated in Germany during the Middle Ages; they didn't exist in the Mideast during the time of the Prophet Jeremiah. Medieval religious plays used a "Paradise tree" as a prop; it was an evergreen with apples hanging from it, symbolizing the Garden of Eden. People eventually began setting up Paradise trees in their homes on 24 December, which was considered the feast of Adam and Eve. Eventually the tree became more associated with Christmas, since that was the very next day. The apple ornaments were soon joined by cookie ornaments - symbolizing the sweetness of Christ - and by candles tied to the branches to signify Jesus the Light of the World. Goldtone decorations came along much, MUCH later; German peasants couldn't possibly have afforded actual gold decorations, and there were obviously no gold-painted glass balls or tinsel back then. So Jeremiah couldn't possibly have been describing a Christmas tree decked with gold, since the Christmas tree's original ornaments were much more humble! No, the Christmas tree is a Christian invention, not pagan. I urge you to learn about the Catholic Faith from reliable, reputable sources. This article is a good place to start learning more about the history of Christmas: Calculating Christmas Link: Calculating Christmas
Message modified by board administrator 1/13/2004, 9:52 pm
+J.M.J+
Nor does the Christmas tree represent anything "pornographic". Certain dirty-minded people like to read sex into everything - but that doesn't make it true! Some even foolishly claim that the Cross of Christ is a pagan "phallic symbol", which is nonsense.
http://www.touchstonemag.com/docs/issues/16.10docs/16-10pg12.html
Another excellent general resource is Catholic Answers (http://www.catholic.com) God be with you.
In Jesu et Maria,
Mystic Rose
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