WEDNESDAY OF THE FOURTH WEEK OF ADVENT
Feast if St. Peter Canisius (1597), Priest & Doctor of the Church

My Beloved:

There is so much negative news of persecution of Christians around the world and even in countries like the United States that tout freedom of religious expression. Christmas has been under particular attack.

Today, with Christmas only a few days away, let us thank God for those people of courage who will not take such persecution sitting down but rise up to defend Christmas and Christianity. Here are a few examples of how Christians are defending Christmas:

• Last year, a Glenview, Illinois firehouse was told it could not display Christmas decorations. This year they won approval.
  
• Last year, an 8-year-old boy from Plano, Texas was forbidden from giving his friends candy canes in school. This year he could.
  
• Last year, a crèche in Cranston, Rhode Island triggered a lawsuit. This year it is up without controversy.
  
• Christians have organized to protest the exclusion of nativity scenes from the same South Florida malls that allow menorahs.
  
• When a school in New Jersey banned the singing of Christmas songs, local residents staged their own “protest” concert.
  
• When four atheists protested the display of a nativity scene in Milford, Connecticut, 200 pro-crèche supporters greeted them.
  
• Atheists in Reynoldsburg, Ohio lost in their effort to stop the display of a nativity scene.
  
• Residents of a lower East Side housing project in New York City successfully protested a ban on Christmas lights.
  
• When Christmas songs were banned from school buses in a Chicago suburb, parents began their meeting with school officials by singing “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” They won.
  
• Singing “Silent Night” was first banned from a concert in the schools of Egg Harbor, New Jersey. The ruling was then reversed.
  
• Stafford township in New Jersey initially balked on displaying a crèche, but later reversed its decision.
  Residents of Pasco County, Florida revolted when Christmas trees were banned. The decision was reversed.
  
• Taxpayers in Mustang, Oklahoma were so angry at the banning of a nativity play in a school that they killed a school bond bid.
  
• Fairfield, Connecticut allows nativity scenes to be displayed for three days, but only if they are monitored around the clock. Nello Ceccarelli, who is 89, agreed to do just that.

Thank you Lord for inspiring these courageous people to defned the Feast of the Nativity of Your Dear Son, Jesus Christ. Help us all, Lord, to be equally courageous. Amen.

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