St. Joseph of the Lakes

I received a note from someone who had an “enlightenment” and wished to pass this realization on to the rest of the parish. In many ways this is a very good suggestion, but in a singular way it is also a clarion call that the world as we know it is passing. (And that is not a bad thing in all reality).  From the year 321 until recently Christianity was considered the dominate religion of the Western world. This dominance began to flutter in the late 1800’s and certainly continued to decline in cultural influence through the 1900’s. Our Church Fathers recognized this diminishment in the 1930’s and 40’s and they began encouraging the Pope to hold an ecumenical council that would address the Church in the modern world. Even as we entered the 2000’s Pope Benedict was attempting to remind the European culture that the Christian Church was a foundational influence for its very existence. His attempt fell on deaf ears as Western culture became increasingly “secularized”.  Now our Church Fathers (including Pope Francis) speak clearly that we are in a post-Christian age. It is this recognition that is part of the driving force of Archbishop Hebda’s pastoral letter calling us to be an evangelizing church (and that is the encouraging part of the loss of influence).

This loss of cultural influence has impacted most of us in little and great ways. One of the most common that we have encountered has been the very clear shift from wishing people a “Merry Christmas” to “Happy Holidays”.  Many life-long Christians have rebelled at this cultural shift. I have heard more than once that we need to keep Christ in Christmas. These have been to some degree the dying gasps of a culture that no longer has profound cultural influence. 

The “enlightened” suggestion passed on reads:

When someone says, “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas”, remember, they’re not doing it because of political correctness. They do it out of respect. Because from the 20^th of November to January 24^th there are at least 14 different religious holidays. So, when someone says Happy Holidays to you, thank them. Because they don’t know what you believe in.  It’s called respect. Not a war on Christmas.

As I say, this is actually a good suggestion in the multi-cultured environment that we live in. At the same time, among those who still place Christianity as the center of their cultural influences, the wishing of Merry Christmas is very appropriate, both to other Christians and to non-Christians alike. We want to share what we value with others in the world, and for the Christian the birth of Christ is perhaps one of the dearest realities we have to share. At the same time, don’t get mad at others who do not share in the same cultural influence.  Accept their greeting with the goodness that is intended by the person wishing it.