Pilgrim progress- a disciple on a journey!

In our dining room here in New York, as part of the Christmas decorations, there is a statue of Joseph leading a donkey upon which sits a heavily pregnant Mary. It is the statue which often is associated with a tradition called Las Posadas. Las Posadas is celebrated in Mexico from December 16th until Christmas. Las Posadas literally means “the inns” and is based around a reenactment of Mary and Joseph trying to find lodging at numerous inns and being turned away. As the candlelit procession with Joseph leading Mary on her donkey winds through the streets, the Pilgrims knock on the doors of various houses. They sing the first stanza of the song, and the people behind the closed door reply with the second and so on, back and forth. The pilgrims are turned away several times before they reach the night's chosen house. Here, the householders realize who is really knocking. The final choruses are sung, the door swings wide, and the pilgrims are allowed inside. The words are as follow...

Today the Roman Catholic Church honours Saint Joseph the Hymnographer ! I already hear you say, who!? He was a monk of the ninth century. He is one of the greatest liturgical poets and hymnographers of the Eastern Orthodox Church. He is also known for his confession of the Orthodox Faith in opposition to Iconoclasm and is often called "the sweet-voiced nightingale of the Church". His feast day is celebrated on April 3 among the Eastern Christians. He reportedly possessed the "gift of discernment" because of which Photius appointed him the spiritual father and confessor for priests, recommending him as, "A man of God, an angel in the flesh and father of fathers." He died peacefully in great old age on the eve of Holy and Great Thursday in either 883 or 886 AD.  Joseph composed numerous canons and hymns for many saints, and is credited with approximately 1,000 works. His hymns are still sung, not only by Eastern Christians, but by Western Christians as ...

With my siblings and my Mum! Give me one family which doesn’t have its problems...not even the Holy Family! The highlight of my Christmas this year (after Jesus being born...obviously!) was seeing my family gathered together in my Mam’s house on Christmas day. They even sang for me! I saw my nephew Isaac for the first time (apart from seeing him in photos). It’s amazing how social communications can make the world seem so small and those far away are made near. Having a close family requires a dose of humility, a lot of patience, and a lot of unconditional love.  Maybe the good news is that nobody’s family is perfect. With my own brothers and sisters, we have our differences because we are different! That said, I know each one of us would go to the end of the world for the other...as they say, "we have each other's back!. Similiarly I see the same in my extended family, people are there for each other in the darkest and saddest moments, for the life-changing and humbling ...