St. Bart's RC Church, Norbury
  • Home
    • Latest News
    • Parish Newsletter
    • Parish Boundary
    • Parish Calendar
    • Parish Finances
    • Parish Location
    • Parish Pictures >
      • Corpus Christi 2019
    • Schools
    • Safeguarding
    • Accessibility
    • Become a Catholic
    • In the event of death
    • Privacy Notice
    • Repository
    • Links
  • About
    • Parish Clergy
    • Church History >
      • Previous Clergy
      • St Bartholomew's Gazette
    • St. Bartholomew
    • Parish AGM
    • Parish Pastoral Council >
      • PPC Agenda Minutes
    • Church Hall + Hire
  • Contact
  • Prayers
    • Catholic Prayers >
      • Daily Prayers
      • Prayers to Our Lord
      • Prayers to Our Lady
    • Dedications
    • Divine Mercy Novena
    • Pentecost Novena
    • Thoughts
  • Sacraments
    • Baptism
    • Penance and Reconciliation
    • Eucharist >
      • Eucharistic Preparation
    • Confirmation
    • Matrimony
    • Holy Orders
    • Annointing of the Sick >
      • In the event of death
  • Music & Liturgy
    • Altar Servers
    • Children's Liturgy
    • Family Choir
    • Hymn Choir
    • Plainchant Choir
    • Polyphony Choir >
      • Polyphony Choir Music
    • The Organ
    • Orchestra
  • Parish Groups
  • Search

(Liturgical Year B - 4th Advent & Christmas)

22/12/2017

 
Secularism in our society pervades every aspect of our lives, and seems determined to eradicate Christmas if it possibly can.  We see charities no longer selling Christmas cards with nativity scenes, as well as the replacement of the word “Christmas” itself by phrases such as “the winter festive season”.  People are urged to avoid using religious terms in case they should somehow “upset” others.

​Father Deo, Father Innocent, Deacon Ged and the entire Parish Team hope and pray that you will have a wonderfully holy and happy Christmas and that the New Year will be full of all the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.
 
Once again, amid the bustle of life, the preoccupation of the advertising media with material gain and, it would seem, amid an unending stream of news reports of poverty, crime, and death in various parts of our world, we have journeyed through Advent and are celebrating Christmas. The Crib, centrepiece of this Season, is displayed in our homes and in our Parish church; church and homes are brightly decorated, Christmas trees abound and, somehow, the gloom of winter is shut out.
Picture
The Nativity of Christ painted by the Italian artist Francesco Francia (1447-1517) in c.1490
Once more we pray, at Midnight Mass, the Christmas Night hymn of the Angels, “Glory to God in the Highest…!”. Father wears white (or, indeed, gold-coloured) vestments, Carols are sung, calling us to contemplate the Birth of our Saviour. Our Entrance Antiphon echoes the Father’s Words, ‘…You are my Son; this day have I begotten you…’ (Psalm 2:7). We hear, in the First reading, of  the ‘… great light…’ that has dispelled the darkness of Original Sin (Isaiah 9: 1-7). In the Response to the Psalm we proclaim, ‘Today a Saviour has been born to us…’(Psalm 95: 1-3, 11-13 response Luke 2:11). Saint Paul joyfully cries out that ‘...God’s Grace has been revealed…’. (Titus 2:11-14). In the Gospel we hear of that journey in Faith made by Our Lady and Saint Joseph to Bethlehem and of the subsequent Angelic Proclamation of the ‘…news of great joy…’ of Jesus’ Birth to the humble shepherds (Luke 2:1-14).
 
In our homes presents are exchanged. Our gifts, given with Love, put us in mind of Love Himself and the greatest Christmas Gift ever, Love Incarnate, Jesus, Emmanuel (‘God is with us!’). Our earthly enjoyment of Christmas takes its meaning from the knowledge that this little child, born in a humble stable, grew and restored hope in an Eternity of inconceivable Happiness for those who ‘…endure to the end…’.
 
For some, sadly, the whole point of the Season is passed over. It is therefore, as ever, up to us to be 'counter-cultural', showing, by word and example, the true significance of this celebration, as Saint Peter says, ‘…the hope that is in you…’ (1 Peter 3:15). On that first Christmas night, Jesus, the Word Who "...was made flesh..." at His Conception nine months earlier in the Womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is setting out on His 30 year mission to Save humanity, atoning for Original sin and all sins committed until the end of time and putting us back, with the means to get there, in the Church, on the road to Heaven. How can we not rejoice knowing this!? May we be inspired to spread this "....news of Great Joy..." in the year ahead!

    From St. Bart's

    Thoughts on the traditional teachings, devotions, seasons and matters of the Catholic Church

    Categories

    All
    Advent
    Christmas
    Church Feasts
    Church Teaching
    Eastertide
    God & Jesus
    Lent
    Mary
    Ordinary Time
    Other Religions
    Our Church
    Prayer
    Sacraments
    Saints
    The Mass
    Triduum

    Archives

    November 2019
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017

    RSS Feed

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark
A Registered Incorporated Charity - CIO No. 1173050
Accessibility - St. Bartholomew's does its utmost to accommodate those with additional needs. Whilst the main body of the church is wholly accessible to people with mobility disabilities, the choir gallery is both approached by stairs and the seating is then stepped by design. The church has a wheelchair-accessible toilet, and baby-changing facilities. There is a Loop System (AFIL) in place in the church.
​
​St. Bartholomew's Catholic Church cannot be held responsible for the content of links to external sites. To contact the church and our priests, click here.
For Website-related matters only, click here.
Picture
Website Copyright © St. Bartholomew's Roman Catholic Church and/or the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark 2016 - 2025
  • Home
    • Latest News
    • Parish Newsletter
    • Parish Boundary
    • Parish Calendar
    • Parish Finances
    • Parish Location
    • Parish Pictures >
      • Corpus Christi 2019
    • Schools
    • Safeguarding
    • Accessibility
    • Become a Catholic
    • In the event of death
    • Privacy Notice
    • Repository
    • Links
  • About
    • Parish Clergy
    • Church History >
      • Previous Clergy
      • St Bartholomew's Gazette
    • St. Bartholomew
    • Parish AGM
    • Parish Pastoral Council >
      • PPC Agenda Minutes
    • Church Hall + Hire
  • Contact
  • Prayers
    • Catholic Prayers >
      • Daily Prayers
      • Prayers to Our Lord
      • Prayers to Our Lady
    • Dedications
    • Divine Mercy Novena
    • Pentecost Novena
    • Thoughts
  • Sacraments
    • Baptism
    • Penance and Reconciliation
    • Eucharist >
      • Eucharistic Preparation
    • Confirmation
    • Matrimony
    • Holy Orders
    • Annointing of the Sick >
      • In the event of death
  • Music & Liturgy
    • Altar Servers
    • Children's Liturgy
    • Family Choir
    • Hymn Choir
    • Plainchant Choir
    • Polyphony Choir >
      • Polyphony Choir Music
    • The Organ
    • Orchestra
  • Parish Groups
  • Search