Church of the Madalene

One of my fiancée Beth’s favorite Christmas time traditions is The Peanuts Christmas Special, and her favorite part is the speech that Linus gives after Charlie Brown yells out in exasperation, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about!” What not too many people know is that Linus’s speech is actually a quote from scripture, Luke 2:8-14.

8 And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; 11 for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!”

Linus concludes his speech by stating, “That’s what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown.” Amen.

If you would like to hear this Gospel reading as part of the Mass, You’ll need to go to the midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. Also, ironically enough, Linus is the name of our second Pope; he was Pope from 66 to 78 A.D..