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Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen on the meaning of Christmas
Fulton J. Sheen

Posted on 12/24/2013 6:37:54 AM PST by NKP_Vet

Jesus Christ is God in the form of man. The eternal appears in time. The Eternal Word, by Whom all things in the world were made, is now rejected by the world He made: “There was no room in the inn.” The Bird Who built the nest of the universe is hatched therein: He Who made His mother, is born of His Mother. All the nations of the earth are made of one blood, and now the Son of God partakes and assumes that blood as the new Head of Humanity. At Bethlehem, heaven and earth meet: God and Man look each other in the face. A Mother for the first time in the universe, as she holds the babe in her arms, now looks “down” to heaven. Because nothing greater than this will ever happen in the world, the peace of the world is conditioned upon that great act being repeated, in a reduced measure, in each of us. As God took upon Himself a human nature through the free consent of a woman, so too He asks us, through our free consent to give Him our nature, as Mary gave Him one. Then Christ begins to rule our mind: then we put on the mind of Christ, the love of Christ, the Spirit of Christ. Not many are willing to do this. “He came unto His own and His own received Him not.” That is why there are Christmas cards with sleighs and fat men. But there will always be some who will see and understand the meaning, and to all who received Him “He gave them the power to become the sons of God.” We cannot have the word Christmas without Christ: so neither can we be Merry on the inside without Him." Archbishop Fulton Sheen 1962 (Bishop Sheen Writes)


TOPICS: History; Moral Issues; Religion & Culture; Theology
KEYWORDS: catholic
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My whole family grew up listening to Bishop Sheen. My mother would never miss a program. And none of us were Catholic. What a great inspiration speaker he was. God bless the memory of this great man of God.
1 posted on 12/24/2013 6:37:54 AM PST by NKP_Vet
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To: NKP_Vet

Those who have not ever seen Bishop Sheen’s programs should take the time to view at least one. The man was indeed a gift to all.


2 posted on 12/24/2013 6:46:38 AM PST by Da Coyote
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To: Da Coyote

Yes, he was a wonderful enlightened speaker of the Word. We watched every program as I grew up.


3 posted on 12/24/2013 7:16:21 AM PST by Mouton (The insurrection laws perpetuate what we have for a government now.)
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To: NKP_Vet

I would have loved to see Bishop Sheen go head to head in a debate with Barry the philospher, especially on the subject of abortion. He would have wiped the floor with that inane boob.


4 posted on 12/24/2013 7:27:28 AM PST by Mouton (The insurrection laws perpetuate what we have for a government now.)
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To: NKP_Vet

Audio links

http://www.americancatholictruthsociety.com/articles/sheen.htm


5 posted on 12/24/2013 7:35:16 AM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: NKP_Vet

When I was living and working in NYC, at that time, I always went to hear him. Also in Miami, when he was touring. There was one moment I will never forget. I was looking at him intently, hanging on every word, and it seemed as tho he looked right back at me— into my eyes— As he was speaking. It lasted for a few moments-— not just a glance. I’m sure he did that to everyone as he spoke, but when he did it to me, I was deeply taken by it. Really a great man.


6 posted on 12/24/2013 7:56:19 AM PST by Exit148
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To: NKP_Vet; Da Coyote
<[>

As she holds the babe in her arms,
she now looks “down” to heaven.

Love that quote from Fulton Sheen.

7 posted on 12/24/2013 7:57:53 AM PST by Mrs. Don-o (When the heart is pure, it can't help loving, because it has found the source of love, which is God.)
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To: Mrs. Don-o
As she holds the babe in her arms, she now looks “down” to heaven.

Love that quote from Fulton Sheen.

Why??? It is so wrong...

8 posted on 12/24/2013 9:17:30 AM PST by Iscool
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To: Iscool
Well you've surprrised me and made me a little sad, Iscool. So little joy, and so close to Christmas!


9 posted on 12/24/2013 9:36:25 AM PST by Mrs. Don-o (When the heart is pure, it can't help loving, because it has found the source of love, which is God.)
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To: Mrs. Don-o; Iscool

I actually didn’t get the quote. Thanks for the picture.

Duh.


10 posted on 12/24/2013 9:58:05 AM PST by piusv
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To: piusv; Iscool; don-o
Well! Maybe this one will make everybody happy. Joseph holds the Holy Child, while Mary reads her Bible!

(From a 15th century Book of Hours.)

God bless us, every one!

11 posted on 12/24/2013 10:06:33 AM PST by Mrs. Don-o (When the heart is pure, it can't help loving, because it has found the source of love, which is God.)
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To: Iscool; Mrs. Don-o

She is looking at Christ, the second person of the Trinity in her arms who will eventually die for our sins and ascend to heaven.....don’t you get it?

The question should be: “Did Mary have any inkling of this whole picture at that moment?”

Probably not, but at the Presentation of The Baby Jesus in the temple, Simeon tells her that a sword will pierce her heart. Only eight days later!


12 posted on 12/24/2013 10:06:45 AM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: NKP_Vet
A Savior Has Been Born !


13 posted on 12/24/2013 10:08:23 AM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: piusv; Iscool; Salvation

"As she holds the babe in her arms,
she now looks “down” to heaven."

14 posted on 12/24/2013 10:31:43 AM PST by Mrs. Don-o ("All the way to heaven is heaven, because Christ said, 'I am the Way.'" - St. Catherine of Siena)
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To: piusv; Iscool; Salvation

"As she holds the babe in her arms,
she now looks “down” to heaven."

15 posted on 12/24/2013 10:33:38 AM PST by Mrs. Don-o ("In Him we live, and move, and have our being.. for we are also His children." Acts 17:28)
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To: piusv; Iscool; Salvation

"As she holds the babe in her arms,
she now looks “down” to heaven."

16 posted on 12/24/2013 10:35:52 AM PST by Mrs. Don-o ("More honorable than the Cherubim, and more glorious, beyond compare, than the Seraphim....")
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To: Mrs. Don-o

17 posted on 12/24/2013 11:22:48 AM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Salvation

http://cnsnews.com/mrctv-blog/craig-bannister/christmas-song-soothe-your-soul

Beautiful. Merry Christmas.


18 posted on 12/24/2013 11:39:11 AM PST by NKP_Vet ("Rather than love, than money, than fame, then give truth" ~ Henry David Thoreau)
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To: Salvation
She is looking at Christ, the second person of the Trinity in her arms who will eventually die for our sins and ascend to heaven.....don’t you get it?

No, I didn't...But now I do...It was just a weird way for Mr. Sheen to address the situation especially since you guys call Mary the mother of God and rarely make reference to the adult 'risen' Christ...

19 posted on 12/24/2013 12:15:03 PM PST by Iscool
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To: NKP_Vet

That’s the way it should have been written instead of with the useless lyrics it how has...


20 posted on 12/24/2013 12:20:41 PM PST by Iscool
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