Time Full of Eternity

A Sign for the Humble

"The brightness of the sun is no sign, but an eclipse is. 

He said that on the last day, His coming would be heralded 

by 'signs in the sun,' perhaps an extinction of light. 

At Bethlehem the Divine Son went into an eclipse, 

so that only the humble of spirit might recognize Him."

Bishop Fulton J. Sheen

Painting: Howard Russell Butler, in US public domain due to age PD-US

In Wordless Infancy

'He was created of a mother whom He created. 

He was carried by hands that he formed. 

He cried in the manger in wordless infancy. 

He, the Word, without Whom all human eloquence is mute.'

St. Augustine

Painting: Marianne Stokes

In This Night That Stills Everything

'In this night of reconciliation, let none be angry or gloomy.  

In this night that stills everything, let nothing threaten or disturb.  

This night belongs to the sweet One; let nothing bitter or harsh be in it...

In this day of gladness, let us not spread sadness.'

St. Ephraem the Syrian

A BLESSED CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOURS


Painting: Bartolomé Esteban Murillo

To Illumine the Earth

'Today the darkness begins to grow shorter and the 

light to lengthen, as the hours of night become fewer... 

Realize that the true Light is now here and, 

through the rays of the gospel, is illumining the whole earth.'

St. Gregory of Nyssa

To Spiritual Love

'I think the chief reason why the unseen God willed

to appear in the flesh and mix with men

was that He might draw to Himself the love of those

who were not able to love except in a carnal manner.

And so: He could lead them on to spiritual love.'

St. Bernard of Clairvaux 

Painting: Cortona,Virgin and Child with Saints

The Gift of Bread

'The little town of Bethlehem is taken from two Hebrew words 
which mean 'House of Bread.'

He Who called Himself 
'the living Bread descended from Heaven' 

was born in the 'House of Bread' 
and was laid in the place of food, the manger.'

Bishop Fulton J. Sheen

Painting: Duccio di Buoninsegna

Our Seasonal Expectations

'Christmas is fast approaching. And now that Christ has 

aroused our seasonal expectations, He will soon fulfill them all!'

St. Augustine

Painting: Henry Mosler, Christmas Morning, 1916

The Message of the Christmas Tree

"The traditional Christmas tree is a very ancient custom which exalts the value of life, as in winter the evergreen becomes a sign of undying life. In general the tree is decorated and Christmas gifts are placed under it. The symbol is also eloquent from a typically Christian point of view: it reminds us of the 'tree of life' (Genesis 2:9), representation of Christ, God's supreme gift to humanity. The message of the Christmas tree, therefore, is that life is 'ever green' if one gives: not so much material things, but of oneself: in friendship and sincere affection, and fraternal help and forgiveness, in shared time and reciprocal listening."

Pope St. John Paul II




Illustration by unknown artist, in US public domain due to age

And That Was The Incarnation

Painting: Giovanni Battista Tiepolo

An Open Door

There is No Time of Life

Painting: Albert Anker

An Awakening

Painting used: John William Waterhouse, St. Cecilia

While You Still Have Time...

In God Alone

N Shuman photo

Every Thing

A Sainthood From Trifles

'The holiness of saints does not

depend on anything sensational, 

but on little things

which seem but trifles 

in the eyes of the world.'

Pope St. John XXIII

Painting: Zhuravlev