Shouldn’t we all be singing the Magnificat?

There are two seasons within the year when the whole of Christendom turns with particular fervor as one family to God. Our tradition is rich in both. The first is Christmas, which celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, whom Christians believe is the Son of the Living God, come to redeem mankind from the sin of its first parents. The second is Easter, which proclaims the Lord’s death and professes his resurrection, precisely to complete his divine mission on earth.

Yesterday (25 December) was Christmas. Churches filled to overflowing, and Christian homes shone with special piety, joy and hope as humanity relived the birth of the Christ Child. The celebration will continue through the octave (eight days) of Christmas, and will not end until the Baptism of our Lord following the octave of the Epiphany. It is a special time for loving, self-giving and forgiving; to remember that we are, indeed, “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people set apart.”