Pope laments Christmas consumerism, glitter
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In his homily, Benedict lamented that Christmas has become an increasingly commercial celebration that obscures the simplicity of the message of Christ's birth.
"Let us ask the Lord to help us see through the superficial glitter of this season, and to discover behind it the child in the stable in Bethlehem, so as to find true joy and true light," he said.
It was the second time in as many days that Benedict has pointed to the need to rediscover faith to confront the problems facing the world today. In his end-of-year meeting with Vatican officials on Thursday, Benedict said Europe's financial crisis was largely "based on the ethical crisis looming over the Old Continent."
http://news.yahoo.com/pope-laments-christmas-consumerism-glitter-215615750.html
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TBF
(36,182 posts)When capitalism is worshiped worldwide this is what we have. He's right that it needs to change, but it's going to take more than prayer to do it.
southernyankeebelle
(11,304 posts)and expensive outfits with all the glitters shining around the church. I have lost all respect for the church and I don't give to them any longer. Not one dime. Let them cash in some of that glitter and do some good with it.
xfundy
(5,105 posts)But I don't really keep up with fashion among the pedophile-enabling set.
southernyankeebelle
(11,304 posts)
Sedona
(3,870 posts)
Fearless
(18,458 posts)
Angry Dragon
(36,693 posts)and not just today
caseymoz
(5,763 posts). . . without demonstrating a lifetime of hypocrisy. Or if you do, they'll get rid of you pretty fast (see John Paul I).
Angry Dragon
(36,693 posts)AverageJoe90
(10,745 posts)caseymoz
(5,763 posts)His death wasn't sudden, either. His papacy lasted several years, and the way it looks, he was conservative.
Not the total hardliner Pius XII was.
66 dmhlt
(1,941 posts)Since there's a gazillion photos of Ben reveling and rolling in glitter, and given the season, I believe this photo of Bush's papal thoughts may put a smile on your face:
Tsiyu
(18,186 posts)Seriously, if Gawd hates glitter, why did he make the Vatican
That pic of * just makes me
and such perfect timing! A 
Christmas 
for you!
Abin Sur
(771 posts)To each their own.
Swede Atlanta
(3,596 posts)I agree that, for those that believe in Christ, he was a humble man that eschewed wealth and property. But for the pope, lavished in his extravagance to talk about the commercialism, i.e. materialism, of Christmas is like the pot calling the kettle black. He needs to don sackcloth, sleep in unheated quarters and eat only what the farm of the Vatican can provide. Travel needs to be by way of donkey or ox and not motorized vehicles and any air travel needs to be in economy in a crowded cabin with hundreds of screaming Catholic babies.
Give me a break Bennie...you are so hypocritical.
jaysunb
(11,856 posts)--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ephesians 4:28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.
existentialist
(2,190 posts)for once I agree with the Pope, but then
I read all the other comments about the Pope's hypocrisy, and I had to agree with them too.
Still, the world would be a better place with less glitter.
Trillo
(9,154 posts)translation?
wordpix
(18,652 posts)cookies and my cards say, "Have a sweet holiday"
cantbeserious
(13,039 posts)eom
ChadwickHenryWard
(862 posts)There's a lovely irony about that.
cbrer
(1,831 posts)I'm sure he drove home the need to save for tithing. I guess it's more important to sit on enough wealth that could put a dent in world poverty.
Or is it the need to maintain a defense fund for priests who are f*cking little boys?
Actually I much prefer Easter. The spring equinox is preferable to the winter solstice if for no other reason, than to envision rabbits shitting colored eggs...
Oh wait, nevermind, it's religious...
MisterP
(23,730 posts)
Fridays Child
(23,998 posts)If he was really interested in guiding the faithful--and that is his job, right?--shouldn't he have issued an official consumer scolding a little earlier than the on last shopping day before Christmas?
JNelson6563
(28,151 posts)Leading by example and all.
Politicub
(12,327 posts)Blech.
Peace Patriot
(24,010 posts)It was meant as a joke from the merry elf of Christmas Past!
Don't take it seriously. The Roman Catholic Hierarchy has always been a bunch of goofballs.
Did you see the story about "The Mysterious Spaceball" found in Africa?
God was trying to strike Vatican City but, due to elderly dementia, hit Namibia.
http://science.slashdot.org/story/11/12/25/002245/nasa-to-investigate-mysterious-space-ball?utm_source=rss1.0mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed
kickysnana
(3,908 posts)I mention it because two stories in the last two weeks about elderly nuns being put into public housing because they cannot maintain their buildings to code with donations and for some reason women do not see the appeal into giving their all and not being able to do good works without huge paperwork and dogma issues (and with no bodily security even though the Vatican is rich.)
skepticscott
(13,029 posts)Why don't you spend the next few weeks writing a condemnation of the elevation of "superficial glitter" over the "true" meaning of Xmas by Catholics? Then deliver it as the official position of the Catholic Church. Then spend the rest of the year putting as much energy and money into fighting the commercialization of Christmas as you do fighting the right of women to get an abortion, or to have access to safe birth control, or the right of gays and lesbians to marry.
alfredo
(60,280 posts)
hedgehog
(36,286 posts)That's why in recent weeks, English speaking Catholics who have heard these words for 40 some years ;
When supper was ended, he took the cup. Again he gave you thanks and praise, gave the cup to his disciples, and said:
Take this, all of you, and drink from it: this is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlastingcovenant. It will be shed for you and for all so that sins may be forgiven. Do this in memory of me.
now hear this:
In a similar way, when supper was ended, he took the /chalice,and giving you thanks he said the blessing, and gave the chalice to his disciples, saying:
Take this, all of you, and drink from it: for this is the chalice of my Blood, the Blood of the new and eternal covenant; which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of me.
It's one of many recent changes to the language of the Mass, most of them seemingly designed, as my daughters says, to make the laity understand that we should grovel in Church. the fingernails on the chalk board effect is bad enough, but each parish had to shell out thousands of dollars for new missals, music and congregational hymnals.
hedgehog
(36,286 posts)the first reading at Midnight Mass:
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom
a light has shone.
You have brought them abundant joy
and great rejoicing,
as they rejoice before you as at the harvest,
as people make merry when dividing spoils.
For the yoke that burdened them,
the pole on their shoulder,
and the rod of their taskmaster
you have smashed, as on the day of Midian.
For every boot that tramped in battle,
every cloak rolled in blood,
will be burned as fuel for flames.
For a child is born to us, a son is given us;
upon his shoulder dominion rests.
They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero,
Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.
His dominion is vast
and forever peaceful,
from David's throne, and over his kingdom,
which he confirms and sustains
by judgment and justice,
both now and forever.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this!
I had the privilege of giving this reading last night, and I almost choked up about halfway through it! Talk about words like that as if they mean something and you might shake up the status quo! Far better to mutter some trite warnings against consumerism!
tabasco
(22,974 posts)Peter1x9
(311 posts)Typical hypocritical Catholic.
Marrah_G
(28,581 posts)Holy hypocrisy Pope Prada............
Shoe Horn
(302 posts)"Saturnalia was an ancient Roman festival in honor of the deity Saturn originally held December 17 and later expanded with unofficial festivities through December 23. The holiday was celebrated with a sacrifice at the Temple of Saturn in the Roman Forum and a public banquet, followed by private gift-giving, continual partying, and a carnival atmosphere that overturned Roman social norms: gambling was permitted, and masters provided table service for their slaves.[1] The poet Catullus called it "the best of days."[2]
In Roman mythology, Saturn was an agricultural deity who reigned over the world in the Golden Age, when humans enjoyed the spontaneous bounty of the earth without labor in a state of social egalitarianism. The revelries of Saturnalia were supposed to reflect the conditions of the lost mythical age, not all of them desirable. The Greek equivalent was the Kronia.[3]
Although probably the best-known Roman holiday, Saturnalia as a whole is not described from beginning to end in any single ancient source. Modern understanding of the festival is pieced together from several accounts dealing with various aspects.[4] The Saturnalia was the dramatic setting of the multivolume work of that name by Macrobius, a Latin writer from late antiquity who is the major source for the holiday. In one of the interpretations in Macrobius's work, Saturnalia is a festival of light leading to the winter solstice, with the abundant presence of candles symbolizing the quest for knowledge and truth.[5] The renewal of light and the coming of the new year was celebrated in the later Roman Empire at the Dies Natalis of Sol Invictus, the "Birthday of the Unconquerable Sun," on December 25.[6]
The popularity of Saturnalia continued into the 3rd and 4th centuries AD, and as the Roman Empire came under Christian rule, some of its customs may have influenced the seasonal celebrations surrounding Christmas and the New Year.[7]"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturnalia