Denver Catholic

31 DENVER CATHOLIC | DECEMBER 2020 FROM THE STAFF AT CATHOLIC FUNERAL & CEMETERY SERVICES, MAY GOD BRING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY PEACE THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON. (720) 506-5150 | cfcscolorado.org Your resource for Funeral, Cremation and Cemetery Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery St. Simeon Catholic Cemetery Archdiocese of Denver Mortuary FROM THE STAFF AT CATHOLIC FUNERAL & CEMETERY SERVICES, MAY GOD BRING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY PEACE THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON. (720) 506-5150 | cfcscolorado.org Your resource for Funeral, Cremation and Cemetery Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery St. Simeon Catholic Cemetery Archdiocese of Denver Mortuary FROM THE STAFF AT CATHOLIC FUNERAL & CEMETERY SERVICES, MAY GOD BRING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY PEACE THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON. FROM THE STAFF AT CATHOLIC FUNERAL & CEMETERY SERVICES, MAY GOD BRING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY PEACE THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON. (720) 506-5150 | cfcscolorado.org Your resource for Funeral, Cremation and Cemetery Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery St. Simeon Catholic Cemetery Archdiocese of Denver Mortuary Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery St. Simeon Catholic Cemetery Archdiocese of Denver Mortuary at Mt. Olivet Archdiocese of Denver Mortuary at Caldwell-Kirk To buy now, scan t he QR code or visit www.WanderlightGame.com! Wanderlight™ is a groundbreaking Catholic video game that invites kids to venture out in their role as "the Pilgrim." They complete exciting quests, discover the faith, and learn to walk in the light of Christ. PLAYERS LEARN: • Catholic Prayers & Practices • The Sacraments • Discipleship An Adventure-Driven, An Adventure-Driven, Faith-Filled, Faith-Filled, Catholic Video Game! Catholic Video Game! L AY I N G J E S U S I N T H E M A N G E R A practice that can help the family keep Christ at the center of the Christmas celebration is placing Jesus in the manger after midnight or after attending midnight Mass. Various customs have developed around this tradition in different countries, but it mainly consists in singing carols to greet baby Jesus and lay him in the manger, which had been empty until that point. In some Hispanic countries, it's also common to "rock" baby Jesus to sleep while signing Christmas carols. The statue of the child Jesus is either passed from person to person to be rocked and kissed or one person holds the fig- urine while everyone else steps forward to kiss him good night. After baby Jesus is placed in the manger, families can use the moment to say a thanksgiving prayer together. T H E P O I N S E T TI A This beautiful red and green plant has become a pop- ular symbol of the Christmas season and it has a deeply Christian meaning. It is native to Mexico and Central America, and in some Spanish-speaking countries it is known as "Flor de Nochebuena," which means the "Holy Night Flower." Its English name was given in honor of Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett, who brought the plant to America in 1829. Its connection to Christmas is tied to the shape of its red leaves, which resembles a star. There is also an old Mexican tale that speaks of its origin. It tells the story of a poor child who decided to go visit Jesus in a church on Christmas Eve. But when he arrived, he was very sad and dared not go in because he had nothing to gift baby Jesus. Instead, he kneeled outside, and, in tears, told God he had a great desire to gift him something, but that he would not go in with empty hands. As he stood back up, he saw a beautiful red flower bloom in front of him. He knew it was an answer to his prayers, so he happily went inside the church and placed it at the foot of the manger as his gift for Jesus. This story can be a reminder of the strong love for Christ we are called to have, and the desire for Jesus that we would like to instill in our children. R E M E M B E R I N G T H O S E I N N E E D Christ came to us in our poverty. As St. Paul says, "Christ came into the world to save sinners. And I am the foremost of sinners" (1 Tim 1:15). Thus, remembering people in need is a practice that can help children under- stand the true meaning of Christmas and God's gift to us, who in one way or another are poor. A way of doing this this is practicing a work of mercy as a family: clothe the naked, visit (or call) the sick, com- fort the afflicted, etc. This can include giving Christmas presents to other families in need through our parish or personally. Although making personal contact may be dif- ficult during the pandemic, sometimes a call or a letter can make all the difference in the world for someone.

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