Santa Clause

[TimOliv]

How am I hypocritical? I work in African missions. I see the sick and dying. Do you?

To answer your question, yes, I do see the sick and the dying. During my military service I saw many sick and many more already dead. I had the heart wrenching task of adding human bodies to flight manifests to send home for burial. I once had the most unfortunate task of witnessing the death of a 9 year old girl who was killed due to the carelessness of one of my comrades. I have been wounded during this service, receiving a knife wound to my arm. I have seen the sick, the dying, I have been to overseas orphanages where they have absolutely nothing and all I had to offer was my presence and a few pieces of American chocolate.

So let me impart some wisdom to you Mr. African Missions. Sometimes the human mind needs to not focus on the most complex issues of the world and needs to think, instead, about happier things. Things that do not result in life and death. For those things, I come to CAF and I discuss. I am also involved in a thread about who your favorite TV or Movie Priest is. Am I wasting my time? Perhaps I am. I called you a hypocrite because as you tell me I have entirely too much time on my hands to be posting in this thread, you are posting in the same thread admonishing me. That I do not appreciate. Nor do I appreciate strangers telling me ANYTHING about how I need to continue my spiritual journey or where I “should” or “need” to go (i.e. I do not feel called to African Missions, otherwise, I would have joined an order with a more active role in them).

 

[magician]

To answer your question, yes, I do see the sick and the dying. During my military service I saw many sick and many more already dead. I had the heart wrenching task of adding human bodies to flight manifests to send home for burial. I once had the most unfortunate task of witnessing the death of a 9 year old girl who was killed due to the carelessness of one of my comrades. I have been wounded during this service, receiving a knife wound to my arm. I have seen the sick, the dying, I have been to overseas orphanages where they have absolutely nothing and all I had to offer was my presence and a few pieces of American chocolate.

So let me impart some wisdom to you Mr. African Missions. Sometimes the human mind needs to not focus on the most complex issues of the world and needs to think, instead, about happier things. Things that do not result in life and death. For those things, I come to CAF and I discuss. I am also involved in a thread about who your favorite TV or Movie Priest is. Am I wasting my time? Perhaps I am. I called you a hypocrite because as you tell me I have entirely too much time on my hands to be posting in this thread, you are posting in the same thread admonishing me. That I do not appreciate. Nor do I appreciate strangers telling me ANYTHING about how I need to continue my spiritual journey or where I “should” or “need” to go (i.e. I do not feel called to African Missions, otherwise, I would have joined an order with a more active role in them).

It’s somewhat disconcerting that “seminarian” is even interested in Santa Claus vs. St. Nicholas.
If the intent or your post was some sort of relaxation for yourself, I am doubly amused by the topic.
Okay, enough said. To each is his own.
But I do hope that Santa Claus et al is not a significant part of your spiritual journey…

 

[TimOliv]

It’s somewhat disconcerting that “seminarian” is even interested in Santa Claus vs. St. Nicholas.
If the intent or your post was some sort of relaxation for yourself, I am doubly amused by the topic.
Okay, enough said. To each is his own.
But I do hope that Santa Claus et al is not a significant part of your spiritual journey…

Freud said it best, I think. “Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar”

Yesterday I watched the Notre Dame/Penn State game, I don’t think it interfered with my spiritual life too much

Besides…we creamed Penn State!

 

[Julianna]

How am I hypocritical? I work in African missions. I see the sick and dying. Do you?

Wow, I didn’t realize that being a seminarian meant running around in sack cloth and ashes and touting that your are involved with African Missions. Give this man a cookie!

Tim, may disagree, as I admit, I have known him an hour, but…being opiniated as we all are…I will say that by posting on these boards, a newbie to the priesthood can gain some “insight” as to what catholics “out there” are thinking and feeling about their faith, church, family, etc. We hear how bad our faith has become in America, that the Trad Rads, want us to go back to the day, when guilt, fear, the pains of hell would keep the flock in order. Faith begins at home. I would tend to think that a seminarian in America would choose to work with the poor in America, or teach the young people who have lost hope, that there is some left. Only then can American Christians reach out to help others around the world. Change comes from within, and I would like to think that Tim, is looking within his own backyard to find inspiration. The Holy Spirit directs in many paths, but remember, we are on one journey.

 

[magician]

Freud said it best, I think. “Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar”

Yesterday I watched the Notre Dame/Penn State game, I don’t think it interfered with my spiritual life too much

Besides…we creamed Penn State!

Ha! Good one. Yes, there’s a time to let loose.
I apologize to the author of the thread if I was too blunt.
A hard heart needs softening once in a while as well.
Regards,
M

 

[TimOliv]

Ha! Good one. Yes, there’s a time to let loose.
I apologize to the author of the thread if I was too blunt.
A hard heart needs softening once in a while as well.
Regards,
M

No hard feelings. We’re all on the same side. Even if from time to time we disagree on the small stuff.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

Ha! Good one. Yes, there’s a time to let loose.
I apologize to the author of the thread if I was too blunt.
A hard heart needs softening once in a while as well.
Regards,
M

Now you’ve upset my colleague from PA. Her brother, the monsignor, and her parents were all hoping Penn State would win.

 

[TimOliv]

Now you’ve upset my colleague from PA. Her brother, the monsignor, and her parents were all hoping Penn State would win.

I too am from Pennsylvania. But we still creamed Penn State

 

[T1Catholic]

I skipped a bunch of threads as I have to hurry but here’s my thoughts. I have always told my children that Santa is a fairy tale based on the real story of Saint Nick. But I don’t think I did a good job because they believe that there is a Santa and that he comes out once a year for Christmas - they are very young yet. So when I’m asked how Santa flies with the reindeer I tell them that God allows Santa to do so. When I’m asked how does Santa get all the presents in the house when we have an alarm system, I tell them that mommy and daddy buy the presents to help Santa out because he has so much too do. I always try to bring the conversation back to St. Nick who I tell them was a real person. Of course I do my best to get them to focus on Jesus’ birth as well. I just don’t feel right about going all out and letting them believe Santa is real so I slide in my little reality checks as much as I can without really confusing them. Am I doing the right thing, who knows!

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

I skipped a bunch of threads as I have to hurry but here’s my thoughts. I have always told my children that Santa is a fairy tale based on the real story of Saint Nick. But I don’t think I did a good job because they believe that there is a Santa and that he comes out once a year for Christmas - they are very young yet. So when I’m asked how Santa flies with the reindeer I tell them that God allows Santa to do so. When I’m asked how does Santa get all the presents in the house when we have an alarm system, I tell them that mommy and daddy buy the presents to help Santa out because he has so much too do. I always try to bring the conversation back to St. Nick who I tell them was a real person. Of course I do my best to get them to focus on Jesus’ birth as well. I just don’t feel right about going all out and letting them believe Santa is real so I slide in my little reality checks as much as I can without really confusing them. Am I doing the right thing, who knows!

Here’s the thing:

1.) You are doing what you think is right, to do right by your kids. That is what you’re supposed to do.
2.) You are not telling anybody else how to raise their kids. You are not out there trying to ban Santa the way the Womens Christian Temperence Union tried to ban booze, with an ax. You seem to realize that different family, different customs, still Catholic.

 

[Bulldog]

Santa does exist (St. Nick!) its just how you apply the POV and graces from the Christmas season, [which does not end on Christmas day!! ]. We have at our family’s house: “Twas the Night before Christmas” [which battered taped up from decades of use, we never like the newer “backup” one], and a big cloth book giving a simple history of how Santa came about from St. Nick to the different versions of “Father Christmas”, from the immigration of families from various countries which transformed to the melting pot US version of santa claus.

Santa is not bad its how you understand him and history behind him and apply from him the reference[pointing to] to the gentleness of the Christ Child to others [add your fav. virtue here]. Jesus is the reason for the season.

 

[rj04]

Some say that Santa Claus is innocent childhood fun, others say it detracts from the true meaning of Christmas. Thoughts?

I haven’t read any of the other replies, so I might be repeating thoughts.

We are not “doing” Santa for several reasons:

Catholic Culture has a terrific article on the origins of Santa:catholicculture.org/lit/activities/view.cfm?id=210
According to the article, Santa is much more Thor than St. Nick.

1. my husband and I were raised in secular, cafeteria-Catholic homes and we want our children to know the real meanings behind holidays. Growing up Christmas was about Santa and gifts - yah, and that occassional midnight Mass…
2. my husband is part Italian, so we’re milking St. Lucia’s day during Advent and St. Lucia will bring gifts to the children.
3. We celebrate St. Nick’s feast day and the kids get shoes filled with candies by St. Nick.
4. In avoiding the secularization/commercialization of Christmas, we are transferring gift-giving within our nuclear family to Epiphany (but we’ll open gifts with relatives when we see them since all of them are Christmas day gift openers). That way we preserve the tradition of the Magi arriving on Epiphany with their gifts and we’re able to celebrate 12 days of Christmas.

Growing up for us, it was Christmas day, then it was all over. We don’t want the “magic” to disappear in one day.

There is still much left to a child’s imagination with St. Lucia, St. Nick and the Magi “visiting” - similar to Santa’s sleigh full of gifts on Christmas Eve.

Santa isn’t necessarily “harmful” to children, but I remember, as a child, the focus wasn’t on the birth of Christ, but on Santa’s presents in the morning. We just think it’s better to bypass a pagan icon and stick to Catholic icons in order to understand what the feast days in the liturgical year mean.

 

[Uncle_David]

Hi Tim!
First off, best of luck with your studies!!!

Now then, Santa Claus! Love him! It’s funny but most young kids have an imaginary friend at some point in their life. My son (when he was 3) would spend loads of time playing with Anakin Skywalker. What’s wrong with an imaginary gift giver (Santa, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy aka the Molinator )

Junior is eleven now and has come to accept that Santa is more than a person, he’s the spirit of giving or Saint Nicholas (the patron saint of children). Fortunately, he has not spoiled the fun for his twin sisters!!!

God Bless!

 

[jmcrae]

1. my husband is part Italian, so we’re milking St. Lucia’s day during Advent and St. Lucia will bring gifts to the children.

She will?

Keep in mind that St. Lucia isn’t a fictional character - she’s a real person. She might have an opinion about this idea. I have no idea how one would find out what that opinion would be, though.

I’d feel a lot safer taking Santa Claus’s name in vain, because he’s fictional, and he’s not likely to sue, or bring down curses on my head, or anything like that.

 

[Hastrman]

Personally, I think he’s fine, ditto Father Christmas, etc., long as you remember what the holiday’s really about. I blame Dickens for the “Christmas Special” approach.

Speaking of, anybody ever see the Invader ZIM Christmas special (The Most Horrible Christmas Ever?) There’s a line in that about how, essentially, people wait in joyful hope for the Second Coming of Santa Clause. It’s a satire of how Christmas specials aren’t allowed to mention Jesus. Seriously, when Jhonen Vasquez can criticize you for irreligion, you need to go take a hard look at your life.

It also features the best Christmas carol ever, sung by ZIM’s evil lawn gnome androids (disguised as elves):
Bow down, bow down,
Bow down to the power of Santa
Or be crushed, be CRUSHED,
By
His jolly boots of doom!

 

[rj04]

She will?

Keep in mind that St. Lucia isn’t a fictional character - she’s a real person. She might have an opinion about this idea. I have no idea how one would find out what that opinion would be, though.

I’d feel a lot safer taking Santa Claus’s name in vain, because he’s fictional, and he’s not likely to sue, or bring down curses on my head, or anything like that.

Well… there are traditions in Italy (naturally they vary by location) of St. Lucia bringing gifts during the night - not something we fabricated: italiansrus.com/articles/santalucia.htm

Same with St. Nick and the shoes full of candy… it’s a tradition and he’s real, too.