(I started this entry Christmas Eve, got interrupted, and am only now getting back to it Christmas night. Such is the pace of Christmas!)
Merry Christmas everyone!
I know that Easter is our most important feast day, but there’s something special about Christmas that scratches a non-liturgical itch. Maybe it’s the fact that everyone—whether practicing Christian or not—seems to acknowledge that they should be better people to others at Christmastime. Maybe it’s that nearly everyone has the day off and the towns and streets are so quiet while homes are aglow with lights illuminating the family gatherings within. Certainly a part of it is the gathering with my own family and all the kids and conversation and food and joy. It seems like so much important family business gets done at holidays like Christmas in informal conversations of two and three or more.
Whatever it is, I love Christmas, and I hope you have had a wonderful and merry and blessed Christmas.
You may notice that postings will be erratic and decreased over the next several weeks. Like last year, we are heading south to Austin, Texas, to spend some time with Melanie’s family and so any posting will depend on spare moments here and there. If you were around last year you noticed I kept up my usual torrid pace of posting, but this year we’ll have Bella to watch over and other duties I’m sure so we’ll have to play it by ear.
So in case I don’t get to say it later, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
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Merry Christmas, Melanie and Dom. Have a good and a safe trip!
Where did you see “Bella”? I just went to a pre-screening with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal in New York City, Saturday, and saw it there. It is a powerful and moving film, subtle but strong in it’s affirmation of the beauty of forgiveness, and life-giving love.
I encourage all those who want to know how to engage this Culture of Death, to go and see how it’s done. The producer spoke to us before and after the film, and told us he wanted to make a film that the Virgin Mary could see without being offended, in fact, a Catholic will see many familiar images in the film: a pregnant lady in a flowered dress named Nina(Our Lady of Guadalupe wore a flowered dress, and St. Juan Diego called her ‘nina’) a foster father named Jose(Joseph in English) you will love this film’s latent Catholicism! It should be released in April, I will have the details on my blog, as I volunteered to help publicize it.
It is already a Toronto Film Festival “People’s Choice Award” winner, so it’s off to a good start. This award was given to the likes of “Life is Beautiful” and “The Princess Bride” who went on to win Oscars.
Heh! In this case, Bella is my daughter Isabella, but I’m aware of the movie you mention. Too funny.
OOOpps!Sorry about the blunder! I have a daughter Isabella also!
We call her Bella too, but I didn’t take her in to see the movie, cause I saw the trailer and thought it was too mature for her (she’s 9 and very sensitive). She was very upset with me, so I promised to take her to the Franciscan Underground next month when they’ll have Irish Music.
About the movie, I think it wouldn’t have disturbed her too much, as it’s emotional but not graphic like “The Passion”.