I think he's upset that he never got the Elmo doll he secretly asked for. The Pope should lighten up considering the Vatican hordes most of the worlds GOLD!
Posted on 12/11/2005 5:42:33 AM PST by lunarbicep
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict warned on Sunday against rampant materialism which he said was polluting the spirit of Christmas.
"In today's consumer society, this time of the year unfortunately suffers from a sort of commercial 'pollution' that threatens to alter its real spirit," the Pope told a large crowd gathered in St. Peter's Square to hear his weekly Angelus blessing.
He said Christmas should be marked with sober celebrations and urged Christians to display a nativity crib in their houses as "a simple but effective way of showing their faith and conveying it to their children".
Last year, under Pope John Paul, the Vatican launched a high-profile campaign to urge Roman Catholic Italy not to compromise the spirit of Christmas through excess or dilute its message out of fear of offending a growing Muslim population.
I suspect Santa is not gonna be coming to HIS house this year!
Reminds me of the Jewish guy who goes down to his toy store every Christmas morning, looks at the empty shelves and the overflowing cash draw, and sings three verses of "What a friend we have in Jesus"...
Well, at least he's keeping us updated with what's going on in the world. I never would have thought that materialism was something we've been having a problem with.
You learn something new every day, I guess.
BTW, can the Catholic Church vote to change the Pope's name? His Holiness, Obvious I would fit him better.
>>BTW, can the Catholic Church vote to change the Pope's name? His Holiness, Obvious I would fit him better.<<
DUH! He is pointing something out to those who look past it and forget the reason for the season. He is the head of a major Christian religion afterall. Like no Protestant preacher ever stated this.
Honestly, because you knew that it was all around you I would have put you into the catagory of smart people that he wasn't talking to, but Hmmmmmmmmm, now I don't know.
I think he's upset that he never got the Elmo doll he secretly asked for. The Pope should lighten up considering the Vatican hordes most of the worlds GOLD!
....the Vatican hordes most of the worlds GOLD!
..... Given to them by Kings trying to BUY their way to salvation. Talk about materialism ruining the spirit.
Capitalism/trade/materialism in whatever form is the life blood of human civilization. Going against it is like going against humanity as a whole.
Ha! I fooled you! I only project the aire of stupidity in order to veil my vast intellect which spreads beyond the... the... The River Wild, to the vast desert betwixt my ears.
Oh, heck. Never mind, I'm stupid. I just thought the Pope Obvious I joke was funny. I was proud to have thought of it.
It was funny, it's still funny, I am proud.
Vatican City, December 11 - Pope Benedict XVI warned on Sunday that materialism was stifling the true spirit of Christmas.
Addressing thousands of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square for his weekly Angelus blessing, the pope said that "in a consumer society, Christmas unfortunately suffers a sort of commercial contamination which risks modifying its authentic spirit." The 78-year-old pope said a genuine Christmas spirit was marked by "sobriety and a joy which is interior not exterior." He also underscored the importance of cribs at Christmas, saying that creating Nativity scenes in the home was a "simple but effective way of representing the faith in order to transmit it to one's children." "The Nativity scene can help us understand the real secret of Christmas because it communicates the humbleness and charitable goodness of Christ," the German-born pope said.
The Vatican has already set up its traditional Nativity scene in front of St Peter's Basilica.
The crib has been a regular Christmas fixture since 1982, when the custom of building a four-metre-high house with lifesize figures in it was started by John Paul II.
Along with the giant fir tree which is always placed near it in the square, the crib has become a trademark of Roman Christmases and families often make special trips to see it.
I wonder if they will close down the Vatican gift shop? :)
"creating Nativity scenes in the home was a "simple but effective way of representing the faith in order to transmit it to one's children." "The Nativity scene can help us understand the real secret of Christmas because it communicates the humbleness and charitable goodness of Christ," the German-born pope said."
Good idea. It is the Popes job to remind us that Christmas is more than a new tv or I pod.
Why, in your story, is the store owner Jewish?
Couldn't have just as well been a Christian?
Ouch...
Maybe he should complain to the Pope who established that the well known Roman, pagan holiday of December 25 should be celebrated as Yeshua's birthdate.
See, Jews don't believe Jesus is the Messiah and...oh, never mind. I hope somebody got a laugh out of it.
I got a laugh out of it. Some folks need to take their cue from Michael Jackson and lighten up a bit.
Fascinating! Have you heard about the tunnels that run underground from the convents to the rectories? I also heard that the nuns bury the babies resulting from these clandestine meetings in the basement!
Last night I bought an $80 Christmas tree from a Catholic church tree store.
I don't disagree with the Pope on this, sometimes the commercialization gets a little over the top. But I don't think the religious among us ever lose sight of the purpose of the holy days, while the non religious don't care about it that much anyway.
But I will say that the general air of festivity and goodwill around Christmas seems to have a nice effect on everyone. Maybe because we are all thinking less of ourselves and more of others for a change, trying to make our loved ones and friends happy, even if that is only from buying the right special gift for them, or making a special Christmas donation to a charity or a family in need that we might know.
Also, while the commercialization of Christmas can be obnoxious, it's still worth noting that the same pursuit of self interest which causes the commercialization makes possible the amenities and wonders of civilization that the world enjoys today.
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