Happy Holidays.....or Happy Winterval?

A non Catholic Robin

A few of my non Catholic friends are at pains to send me Christmas email greetings along the above lines.

I am not a paranoid person but I do think that they are out to nail me and my Catholic Faith.

So, by way of return,I usually send something along the following lines and, at the same time, paste in a picture of the most traditional Nativity scene that I can find.......


"........and I wish you and your family a very holy, happy and peaceful feast of the birth of Our Saviour, Jesus Christ, redeemer of the world, God made man, born of the Virgin Mary, bringer of the truth to all men that they might believe and be saved"

That's not over the top is it?

A very holy, happy and peaceful Nativity to you all!

Before the paling of the stars,

Before the winter morn,

Before the earliest cockcrow

Jesus Christ was born:

Born in a stable,

Cradled in a manger,

In the world His Hands had made

Born a Stranger.

Priest and King lay fast asleep

In Jerusalem,

Young and old lay fast asleep

In crowded Bethlehem:

Saint and Angel, Ox and Ass,

Kept a watch together,

Before the Christmas daybreak

In the winter weather.

Jesus on His Mother's breast

In the stable cold,

Spotless Lamb of God was He,

Shepherd of the Fold:

Let us kneel with Mary Maid,

With Joseph bent and hoary,

With Saint and Angel, Ox and Ass,

To hail the King of Glory.

Christina Rossetti