Posted December 7th, 2011 | Dinner Discussion, Grace Before Meals, Holiday, Prayers

You’re Welcome!

We teach children about being polite, and remind them to always say “please” and “thank you.” It’s also important to teach them to say, “you’re welcome.” However, “you’re welcome” can mean more than one thing. We can say it as a response to someone’s gratitude. But if the person doesn’t say “thank you,” and we feel he or she should be grateful, we may say “you’re welcome” to make the point that he or she should have better manners, or to remind that person to be more grateful.

(Learning how to pray grace before meals at a young age.)

Today, we need to tell the world to be more grateful for Christians. Please don’t think I’m rude. I just need to set the record straight. The world’s economy needs to thank Christians for Christmas! And for all other Christian holidays for that – matter – at least on a socio-economic level.

The success department stores enjoy on big Black Friday sales. Economic increases for online retailers on Cyber Monday. The extra perks nonprofits earn with their annual food and toy drives. The days off that students and employees of academic institutions enjoy. The busy travel days that rake in business for airlines. The Christmas cheer and generosity the less fortunate receive. And even the government and the White House’s opportunities to show off tasteful holiday decorations.

(Quite the tree to display, but notice they can't even top it with a star.)

(Quite the tree to display, but notice they can’t even top it with a star.)

In that spirit, and on behalf of Christians everywhere, I have something to say to the world: “YOU’RE WELCOME!”

Christians who sincerely celebrate Christian holidays keep the world moving and turning in significant ways. Without the extra spending people do on Christian holidays, our economy would suffer even more than it has in these past few years. But instead of being thanked, Christians get made fun of, and our love for Jesus is constantly challenged and even downright mocked in public sectors! Some people in the government want to remove crosses or religious symbols from the public, and manger scenes – or any remotely religious imagery – can no longer be displayed with confidence.

(Tattoo: Not ashamed to show his faith, but not exactly what I was talking about.)

Let’s admit, there is unfairness to those Christians who really want to celebrate the true meaning of the season and symbols!

Just consider New Years. Champagne sales go up. Thank you Dom Peringon – a French monk who “invented” that bubbly drink!

(Sedes Sapientiae Statue – Seat of Wisdom and some celebratory bubbly!)

In spring months, retailers sell pretty Easter dresses, holiday foods such as lamb and ham, food coloring for egg dying, candies and chocolates, and much more. Thank you Jesus for rising from the dead!

(Cute little cousin finding eggs – stuffed with some religious symbol.)

The same can be said for SAINT Valentine’s Day and All Hallow’s Eve! Chocolate, fresh cut roses, jewelry, and candy sales all benefit, because of this Christian Saint and the solemn Christian commemoration of the beloved dead! Thank you, Christians, for being serious about love and the afterlife.

No doubt, Christian holidays bring a great boost to the economy. The gift-giving – inspired by Saint Nicholas (an early Christian Saint) and of course, God’s generosity in giving to us His only begotten Son – encourages families and shoppers to show their love by generously purchasing gifts for each other. While it doesn’t require high-dollar spending, the buying of Christmas gifts is one way of symbolizing religious fervor and spiritual generosity. So, what should the business owners and sales associates who benefit from this season say to Christians?

(This guy, praying at the Grotto of Lourdes at Mount St. Mary's University, knows what to say!)

(This guy, praying at the Grotto of Lourdes at Mount St. Mary’s University, knows what to say!)

Parents ought to use this time to teach children about how “gift giving” can be done well or done poorly. Society’s approach to these Christian holidays can be confusing. The meaning of the season is lost through commercial and materialistic desires. However, that doesn’t mean families ought to give up on the joy of gift giving. We just need to make sure we understand what we’re doing and in whose name we do all of this buying: Jesus Christ! We also need to use this time to teach children to be more grateful. If not, they could grow up with the tendency to become jealous and complain about what they don’t have, similar to spoiled brats in the malls and even those occupying some of our cities’ streets and parks.

(Grandkids and their gratitude to grandma!)

But between now and the time the rest of the secular world understands the spiritual meaning of these Christian holidays (i.e., economic and spiritual boosters), I’ll just have to be a “spiritual father” and remind the world of their lack of manners, and challenge the disrespect they often show to Christians in their lack of gratitude.

So, once again, to the world that benefits (but may never acknowledge) the positive impact of Christian holidays, especially the upcoming Christmas season: YOU’RE WELCOME!

(From the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, Emmitsburg, Maryland.)

Let Us Pray:

Father, may Christians who celebrate and prepare for the coming of Your Son be patient with those whose faith is weak. May our sincere Christian joy in these Holy days be that which helps inspire true faith in other people. May the world see a deeper meaning for the coming Christmas season, and may those who benefit because of the Christmas cheer be thankful to You for sending us Jesus, whose birthday we all joyfully anticipate to celebrate. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

(Some of the children of the faculty and seminarians making Christmas cookies. Yummy!)

How are you preparing for Christmas? Do you get excited about shopping for Christmas gifts? What was your favorite Christmas gift that you bought or received? Are there any other reasons for which the world needs to thank Christians?

Your comments help motivate us, give us new ideas and reminds us that our message is making some impact of good for the world. Post your comments or questions below.

Posted in Dinner Discussion, Grace Before Meals, Holiday, Prayers | 15 Comments

15 Responses to “Dinner Discussion: You’re Welcome!”

WONDERFUL !!!! Thanks Father.
Posted by Vivian Trinidad on December 7th, 2011 at 7:00 pm.
Dear Fr. Leo,
What a marvelous post! I never thought about the influence the Christian Holy Days have on the world economy. It’s so true! And, the world should be thanking us, not trying to marginalize our faith.
Thank you for your thoughts which have made this a merrier Advent and soon to be Christmas for me!
May God bless you always!
Martha Orlando
Posted by Martha Orlando on December 7th, 2011 at 7:38 pm.
An extremely beautiful reminder to all of us and a unique and correct perspective. If I may, I would like to close this Sunday’s service with your prayer.
Posted by danny orlando on December 7th, 2011 at 7:56 pm.
Awesome Padre!
To prepare last year I had my kids research the orign of Christmas tree. This year I think they will write a bout Advent. I grew up Catholic and I’d like for them to understand where I’m comming from.
Posted by Cynda on December 7th, 2011 at 8:43 pm.
This is an excellent piece – I was saying this to my son, my husband and anyone who would listen. In 2000 years of tradtions, we still have not lost the central meaning: God came to earth through the Virgin by the power of the Holy Spirit. God bless you and God bless us, every one.Amen
Posted by katey on December 7th, 2011 at 9:12 pm.
Fr. Leo
Love the post, it would be nice if we could get some people in the government to acknowledge this.
We try to have our shopping done before Thanksgiving so that we don’t have to deal with the sometimes not too pleasant people in the stores. This also allows us to celebrate Advent and do things to prepare for Jesus’ birth. We bake goodies to give to people, the kids go through their toys to give away to some, my husband and I go through our clothes to see what could be used by someone less fortunate, we help with the giving tree at Church and try to add in extra prayer time individually and as a family.
We hold off on all Christmas decorations until the week before, and the outside manger and the tree and all outside decorations go up on Christmas Eve. That way we can leave them up to Epiphany (or longer). It is a great family time! Hope you have a Blessed Advent!
Cecelia & Chris & family
Posted by Cecelia Reynolds on December 7th, 2011 at 9:19 pm.
Jesus is the reason for the season. In our area hunting is a big deal and brings in lots of money ,so the locals decorate for Christmas right after Thanksgiving, when hunting season begins, to make the visitors feel more in the holiday spirit. The hunters also donate some of their harvest to the local food bank. My Grandparents were from Poland and we always left our tree and decorations up until “little Christmas” when the Three Wisemen arrived at the manger. We also send Oplatke, a wafer similar to the communion host , to loved ones who are not able to be with us to share at the Christmas dinner.
Posted by Jesus is the reason for the on December 8th, 2011 at 1:14 am.
Thank YOU for pointing out his very factual information Fr. Leo! I always enjoy reading your beautiful and poignant “Grace Before Meals” messages! You are a very talented writer and orator and you use your gifts perfectly to share with everyone and Our Lord! God bless you all throughout the year!
Posted by Lori Swidler on December 8th, 2011 at 4:38 am.
Bravo Father! Well said.

God bless,

Susan P
Posted by Fr. Leo on December 8th, 2011 at 10:19 am.
I am a new subscriber. Thank you Fr. Leo for this article on Christmas.

Fatima M
Posted by Fr. Leo on December 8th, 2011 at 10:20 am.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I have been thinking this for a while. I guess it is time I started saying it (lovingly, of course). I am a Rel Ed teacher, and I was reamed out by the parent of a fifth grader because I talked about St Nicholas. She warned me not to ever suggest that “Santa Claus” isn’t exactly how portrayed by corporate America. I was feeling badly about this for a while. Today a friend of mine said she feels the most important part of Christmas is attending Mass. This evening, I read your post — my Christmas(Holy)Spirit is back!
Have a wondrous, blessed and joyous Christmas.
Posted by Joy Aiello on December 8th, 2011 at 9:30 pm.
I have mixed feelings about your post. I agree to some degree, but can you blame some people in America for having an issue with Christian? Maybe the public sector is challenging and mocking our love for Jesus because many of us (especially the most visible to the public sector) suck about actually living a life that is showing His love. And did you refer to the people in the occupy movement as being jealous and complaining about what they don’t have? Really? I think you just made Dorothy Day roll over in her grave! I’m not part of the occupy movement, but I understand the outrage and I do see the injustice some of them are talking about. Are people jealous and complaining when they are speaking out about the services for the elderly, children and homeless being cut while the greedy capitalist crooks on Wall Street are not being held accountable?
Posted by Kelley on December 10th, 2011 at 1:41 am.
Dear Fr. Leo;

I want to say thank you to all Christians and especially to you Fr. Leo. Your enthusiasm, attitude and wonderful spirit gives me such joy.. with all the sadness and dispair that here in the US and other countries are experiencing … just the thought of you makes me smile.. for a few short moments I forget what is going on all around me… I saw you at the PA Gourmet show in York, PA and I must say … it would be so wonderful to have more gracious human beings as yourself in this world. I truely believe you are full of the Holy Spirit …. God Bless You and all of your friends and family… I wish you all the best in everthing you do……
Posted by Debra A Oyler on December 11th, 2011 at 6:52 am.
Love, love, love this article, Fr. Thank you.

This advent has been less busy, which seems to be a trend in my life, with each year slowing down a bit. Possibly this is due partly to my age(middle-aged), and thankfully our extended families are not exchanging gifts anymore and my nuclear family have also cut back. This leaves more time to focus on the aspects of the advent season which call us to prepare for this holy beautiful day that is approaching. I have been going to daily Mass twice a week, am attending a 3 session class at our church on the Wisdom books and reading Interior Castles.
I also am helping out a refugee family from our church with some needs this Christmas.
I do love decorating my house as I always have and now with grandchildren it is so fun again, to be able to see the decorations through their eyes is a delight.
I am so thankful for my Dear Lord and Savior, for the saints and angels, for priests and clergy to guide us, and for the faith that my parents passed on to me.
God Bless you this Christmas, Fr. Leo.
Posted by Marge on December 11th, 2011 at 9:03 pm.
Contempt for Christians is alive and well here in Sydney, Australia. A state run school has taken the word Christmas out of the song, “we wish you a merry Christmas” and replaced it with “we wish you a merry holiday.” Even though many people in Australia are not what you would call religious, some of the parents of the children at this school are very upset by this outrage. Another school banned Santa and that upset the parents of that school also. (Of course Santa is not really religious, but anything remotely connected with Christmas bugs some people.)
Not all state schools carry on in this way. It seems to come under the individual schools whims i.e. what the school principal wants. Some state run schools are very accommodating with Christmas Carols etc.

There is a sort of mixed business regarding this in Australia. A few miles from here, there is a public hospital run by the State Government which has a chapel which has the Blessed Sacrament reserved! They also have a room for the Muslims to pray in. It is next to the Blessed Sacrament chapel.

Another state run agency sends our family a Christmas card each year. Last year it was religious. This year it is a bit more secular, but they are at least trying, and we don’t have to suffer too much of this keeping God out of the public square business, although many developments in Australian politics are becoming alarmingly anti-Christian.

The shopping centres also have large nativity displays, as well as the reindeers, Santa etc. There has also arisen in recent years a number of big shops which open for a couple of months each year, which essentially sell everything Christmas i.e. Nativity sets, decorations, trees, lighting, displays, big rubber Santas etc. You name it, they sell it.

I went into one of these recently as a matter of curiosity. It is nice to see Christmas items, but I found this type of shop to be far too secular in its approach to Christmas, and as such a bit hard to stomach, although I am sure that people whose approach to Christmas is about decorating their house with fabulous lighting displaying would love this type of shop. There is a growing trend for house lighting Christmas displays in Australia, but the associated religious side is not growing with it.

In some cases the display involves a religious element, but mostly it is a secular display, i.e. Santa, trees etc.
Posted by Mary Ann on December 13th, 2011 at 8:37 pm.

Blogs We Like