The Catholic Defender: The History of the Mistletoe

Do you have anyone you would like to find under a mistletoe?

I have always wondered where the tradition of the mistletoe had derived from. I have seen it on television during the Christmas season and I was just curious to where this tradition comes from.

This particular custom is one that I have not experienced as I never have walked under the mistletoe.

Though I am so thankful for my wife, I am glad that I do not have to depend on a mistletoe. So, if you happen to go to one of those office parties at work or someplace, you better be careful for those looking to capture you under a mistletoe. You never know these days who might be looking for the opportunity to kiss you!

The following is from theholidayspot.com:

Mistletoe Mistletoe is especially interesting botanically because it is a partial parasite (a "hemiparasite"). As a parasitic plant, it grows on the branches or trunk of a tree and actually sends out roots that penetrate into the tree and take up nutrients. But mistletoe is also capable for growing on its own; like other plants it can produce its own food by photosynthesis. Mistletoe, however, is more commonly found growing as a parasitic plant.

There are two types of mistletoe. The mistletoe that is commonly used as a Christmas decoration (Phoradendron flavescens) is native to North America and grows as a parasite on trees in the west as also in those growing in a line down the east from New Jersey to Florida. The other type of mistletoe, Viscum album, is of European origin.

The European mistletoe is a green shrub with small, yellow flowers and white, sticky berries which are considered poisonous.

It commonly seen on apple but only rarely on oak trees. The rarer oak mistletoe was greatly venerated by the ancient Celts and Germans and used as a ceremonial plant by early Europeans.

The Greeks and earlier peoples thought that it had mystical powers and down through the centuries it became associated with many folklore customs.


The Plant : Mistletoe is especially interesting botanically because it is a partial parasite (a "hemiparasite"). As a parasitic plant, it grows on the branches or trunk of a tree and actually sends out roots that penetrate into the tree and take up nutrients.

But mistletoe is also capable for growing on its own; like other plants it can produce its own food by photosynthesis. Mistletoe, however, is more commonly found growing as a parasitic plant. There are two types of mistletoe. The mistletoe that is commonly used as a Christmas decoration (Phoradendron flavescens) is native to North America and grows as a parasite on trees from New Jersey to Florida.

The other type of mistletoe, Viscum album, is of European origin. The European mistletoe is a green shrub with small, yellow flowers and white, sticky berries which are considered poisonous. It commonly seen on apple but only rarely on oak trees. The rarer oak mistletoe was greatly venerated by the ancient Celts and Germans and used as a ceremonial plant by early Europeans.


The Greeks and earlier peoples thought that it had mystical powers and down through the centuries it became associated with many folklore customs. The Mistletoe Magic : From the earliest times mistletoe has been one of the most magical, mysterious, and sacred plants of European folklore.

It was considered to bestow life and fertility; a protection against poison; and an aphrodisiac. The mistletoe of the sacred oak was especially sacred to the ancient Celtic Druids. On the sixth night of the moon white-robed Druid priests would cut the oak mistletoe with a golden sickle. Two white bulls would be sacrificed amid prayers that the recipients of the mistletoe would prosper.

Later, the ritual of cutting the mistletoe from the oak came to symbolize the emasculation of the old King by his successor. Mistletoe was long regarded as both a sexual symbol and the "soul" of the oak. It was gathered at both mid-summer and winter solstices, and the custom of using mistletoe to decorate houses at Christmas is a survival of the Druid and other pre-Christian traditions.

The Greeks also thought that it had mystical powers and down through the centuries it became associated with many folklore customs. In the Middle Ages and later, branches of mistletoe were hung from ceilings to ward off evil spirits. In Europe they were placed over house and stable doors to prevent the entrance of witches.

It was also believed that the oak mistletoe could extinguish fire. This was associated with an earlier belief that the mistletoe itself could come to the tree during a flash of lightning. The traditions which began with the European mistletoe were transferred to the similar American plant with the process of immigration and settlement. Kissing under the mistletoe : Kissing under the mistletoe is first found associated with the Greek festival of Saturnalia and later with primitive marriage rites.

They probably originated from two beliefs. One belief was that it has power to bestow fertility. It was also believed that the dung from which the mistletoe would also possess "life-giving" power.

In Scandinavia, mistletoe was considered a plant of peace, under which enemies could declare a truce or warring spouses kiss and make-up. Later, the eighteenth-century English credited with a certain magical appeal called a kissing ball.

At Christmas time a young lady standing under a ball of mistletoe, brightly trimmed with evergreens, ribbons, and ornaments, cannot refuse to be kissed. Such a kiss could mean deep romance or lasting friendship and goodwill.

If the girl remained unkissed, she cannot expect not to marry the following year. In some parts of England the Christmas mistletoe is burned on the twelfth night lest all the boys and girls who have kissed under it never marry.

Whether we believe it or not, it always makes for fun and frolic at Christmas celebrations. Even if the pagan significance has been long forgotten, the custom of exchanging a kiss under the mistletoe can still be found in many European countries as well as in Canada.

Thus if a couple in love exchanges a kiss under the mistletoe, it is interpreted as a promise to marry, as well as a prediction of happiness and long life. In France, the custom linked to mistletoe was reserved for New Year's Day : "Au gui l'An neuf" (Mistletoe for the New Year).

Today, kisses can be exchanged under the mistletoe any time during the holiday season. The Legend : For its supposedly mystical power mistletoe has long been at the center of many folklore.

One is associated with the Goddess Frigga. The story goes that Mistletoe was the sacred plant of Frigga, goddess of love and the mother of Balder, the god of the summer sun.

Balder had a dream of death which greatly alarmed his mother, for should he die, all life on earth would end. In an attempt to keep this from happening, Frigga went at once to air, fire, water, earth, and every animal and plant seeking a promise that no harm would come to her son.

Balder now could not be hurt by anything on earth or under the earth. But Balder had one enemy, Loki, god of evil and he knew of one plant that Frigga had overlooked in her quest to keep her son safe. It grew neither on the earth nor under the earth, but on apple and oak trees. It was lowly mistletoe. So Loki made an arrow tip of the mistletoe, gave to the blind god of winter, Hoder, who shot it , striking Balder dead.

The sky paled and all things in earth and heaven wept for the sun god. For three days each element tried to bring Balder back to life. He was finally restored by Frigga, the goddess and his mother. It is said the tears she shed for her son turned into the pearly white berries on the mistletoe plant and in her joy Frigga kissed everyone who passed beneath the tree on which it grew.

The story ends with a decree that who should ever stand under the humble mistletoe, no harm should befall them, only a kiss, a token of love.

What could be more natural than to translate the spirit of this old myth into a Christian way of thinking and accept the mistletoe as the emblem of that Love which conquers Death? Its medicinal properties, whether real or imaginary, make it a just emblematic of that Tree of Life, the leaves of which are for the healing of the nations thus paralleling it to the Virgin Birth of Christ.

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The Catholic Defender: History of the Yuletide

I grew up hearing "yuletide" traditions but I never really knew much about how it fit in with Christmas.

It was just somehow associated with Christmas. In looking at some of these ancient traditions we that see some of them had Pagan origins.

That would not be so surprising since people had customs the Church simply used as tools to point to Christ.

We see this from the Church using large Roman architects for basilicas  to the history of customs such as the yuletide.

I've had people tell me that Christians should not participate in these celebrations because God is offended by it. I can't agree with that assessment, Christianity is always adapting to the environment or rather converting it.

The transformation of the heart centralizes why we celebrate any feast. What the Church does in these celebrations I find people doing the very same thing today through Christian Contemporary Music. I think this is great because music reaches where the people are.

Just as these celebrations do. People would be horrified to learn that some of the most beloved hymns like "Amazing Grace" were taken from popular bar songs from that time period. That was what was popular at the time.

Today, when we sing old fashioned hymns today, who recalls much of the secular songs of that time? I think you would have to be a history music major to know much of that culture. As we continue to prepare for the Christmas Season, here is a fine article by Adrianne Loggins "Yuletide History" from www.ehow.com

Yuletide has come to be synonymous with the Christmas season, but it was not always a Christian celebration. The origin of yule began thousands of years before Christianity was founded.

Terminology

1. One linguistic theory is that the word "yule" came from "aboriginal Scandinavians," and meant the winter solstice festival or "a celebration of the cycle of nature and a reaffirmation of the continuation of life," according Candle Grove.

Solstice

2. The winter solstice is the shortest day of the year. It also marks the march toward spring. According to Candle Grove, "many of the ancient traditions surrounding Yuletide are concerned with coping with the darkness and the evils it was thought to harbor, and helping the return of light and warmth."

Christianity

3. Jesus Christ is supposed to have been born Dec. 25, four days after the winter solstice. There is some controversy as to whether this date is accurate because of time discrepancies in the Gospels. Regardless, Christmas Day is celebrated Dec. 25 as the day of Christ's birth. Emperor Constantine, once he adopted Christianity as his religion, was responsible for "co-opting the December [pagan] festivals of Saturn and Mithras for a celebration of Christ's birth."

Decorations

4. "Trees, specifically evergreens, were a common part of pre-Christian solstice celebrations, but in England it wasn't until Victorian times that the idea of having one in the house was revived. It was the Queen's [Victoria] own family who introduced the custom to the country," according to a report in the Telegraph newspaper. The yule log, now a Christmastime pastry, was originally a fresh-cut piece of wood brought into a home to protect against evil and darkness.

Santa Claus

5. According to the Telegraph, Santa Claus and Father Christmas were actually two different individuals. St. Nicholas, or "Sinterklaas," is the patron saint of children and students. In Dutch legend, he was a "bringer of gifts at Christmas." He was portrayed as a chubby, bearded man. Father Christmas was the character of the joyous season. Over time, the two became one, and in the 1930s, Coca-Cola added Santa Claus' signature red suit in an advertisement, and it has stuck ever since.

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*BEST OF DTB #237* The Catholic Defender: Midnight Mass

Pope Telephorus is accredited with establishing the custom of celebrating the Midnight Mass (for Christmas) beginning in 125 A.D.

It is just a few more years (129 A.D.) that he began instituting songs for this Mass about angels.

It is probable that all this is true, but St. Telephorus was not the first formerly to offer Midnight Mass!

Acts 20:7 states, "On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the morrow; and he prolonged his speech until midnight. There were many lights in the upper chamber where we were gathered. And a young man named Eutychus was sitting in the window. He sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer; and being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. But Paul went down and bent over him, and embracing him said, 'Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him. And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed. And they took the lad away alive, and were not a little comforted".

Here is a written record of someone falling asleep during one of St. Paul's sermons.

God was able to show his favor with St. Paul through this as the boy fell out of a third story window.

In this case, St. Paul was going to be leaving so this was a late service.

Midnight Mass is late, but it is ushering in the day of Christmas. This tradition would branch throughout the Christian world as the Church would survive terrible persecutions.

By the 4th century it was becoming universal as December 25th became solidified. Some placed emphasis on January 6 because this is the feast of the Epiphany or "manifestation" and so the Eastern Lung of the Church has this strong tradition.

In Bethlehem, the early Christians would celebrate Midnight Mass carrying torches to the site believed to be where Christ was born.

With Constantine's "Edict of Milan", the people in Jerusalem built the Church of the Nativity over the traditional site of Christ's birth in about 326 A.D. Today, there are a number of other Christmas Masses offered earlier on Saturday, mostly for children, and Mass on Christmas day are celebrated all over the world.

My Mother would take me to Midnight Mass when I was young and so this was instilled in me very early as a family tradition.

I took my family to Midnight Mass all their growing up years as well. What a great blessing it was celebrating Midnight Mass in Saudi Arabia.

I look back at that time remembering the candles, the Humvee's, the desert uniforms, the outdoors under the bright stars touching the hearts with Christmas.

Over the years many traditions and customs developed in the many Countries around the world that reflect the ushering in the Christmas story.

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The Catholic Defender: A Christmas Poem

Editors note- Last year I posted this story in honor of a young girl who died just before Christmas.  I want to repost this in honor of all our children who are suffering today.

The following is a poem shared by deepertruth's Margie on the deepertruth Christmas show, 23 December, 2011:

(As taken from "Angelfire")This poem was written by a 13 year old boy who died of a brain tumor that he had battled for four years. He died on December 14, 1997. He gave this to his mom before he died. His name was Ben.

My First Christmas in Heaven
I see the countless
Christmas trees
around the world below
With tiny lights, like Heaven's stars,
reflecting on the snow

The sight is so spectacular,
please wipe away the tear
For I am spending Christmas with
Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs
that people hold so dear
But the sounds of music can't compare
with the Christmas choir up here.

I have no words to tell you,
the joy their voices bring,
For it is beyond description,
to hear the angels sing.

I know how much you miss me,
I see the pain inside your heart.
But I am not so far away,
We really aren't apart.

So be happy for me, dear ones,
You know I hold you dear.
And be glad I'm spending Christmas
with Jesus Christ this year.

I sent you each a special gift,
from my heavenly home above.
I sent you each a memory
of my undying love.

After all, love is a gift more precious
than pure gold.
was always most important
the stories Jesus told.

Please love and keep each other,
my Father said to do.
I can't count the blessing or love
has for each of you.

So have a Merry Christmas and
Wipe away that tear
Remember, I am spending Christmas with
Jesus Christ this year

Along with Ben, I want to remember Sarah (a 15 year old girl) who recently passed just before Christmas 2011. "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us... (Hebrews 12:1). Merry Christmas from the deepertruth Family!

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The Catholic Defender: The 12 Days of Christmas

As we move closer to Christmas, this year is very important to me as I reflect the past few years.

Three out of the last four Christmas seasons I was deployed in Iraq. It's tough being deployed away from home for a year or more, but it becomes very difficult especially during the major holidays.

The Catholic Church instituted the 12 Days of Christmas in 567 through the Council of Tours.

Ever since then nations have developed their traditions and being deployed we miss the family traditions.

We do well to try and keep alive our traditions among us in a foreign land. I would use the song, "The 12 Days of Christmas" to inspire interest in the Season. For most Americans, Christmas is over after Christmas day.

We have lost the understanding of the season of Christmas for the most part. I found this out simply through the song, "The 12 Days of Christmas".

In fact, most thought that the 12 days of Christmas began before Christmas, that Christmas day ended the season.

The actual 12th day is January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany (the manifestation) with the wise men finding the Christ Child after about an 18 month journey following a star.

On December 23, 2006 from Iraq, I wrote on Defenders of the Catholic Faith:

Today, I was able to sing Christmas carols with Philippine women who work in our laundry department. It was kind of cool. These people are here to make money to send home. It is to such as these that Father began to go to for Holy Communion. These people have a strong faith and love the Church. Christmas must be a thing of the heart. That's where it plants itself to do good. God be with you all and Merry Christmas. I will be going to Midnight Mass here, I hope many of you can go!!!

I was trying to get in the Christmas spirit and inspire others to do the same. On Christmas day, 25 December, I was reminding DCF of the 12 days of Christmas.

Each day I would ask the Catholic Board (DCF) and Soldiers I served with what the song said for each day as the days passed by. Friends would ask me about the next day and I would make them wait!

What makes this song special to me is the idea that there could be hidden messages in the song for Catholics.

The Church was suffering persecution in England and it is believed William Shakespeare wrote the song in code. The following is a version of what people believed about the song:

The 'partridge in a pear tree'
means there is only one God and is also symbolic of Jesus (see Luke 13:34). I have also heard that the first verse was depicting baby Jesus in the manger.

The 'two turtle doves'
are the Old and New Testaments. Though according to Zondervan's Twelve Days of Christmas the story behind a favorite Christmas song this is the 2 turtle doves sacrificed that Joseph and Mary brought when they presented Jesus at the Temple.

The 'three French hens'
are the three Persons of the holy Trinity or the three virtues: faith, hope, and love, though according to Ace Collins' book "Stories of the Best Loved Christmas Songs", they represent the expensive gifts of the Wise Men: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

The 'four calling birds'
are the Evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; or their Gospels. Which makes sense because they are "calling" out the story.

'Five gold rings'
are the first five books of the Bible, or the Pentateuch.

'Six geese a-laying'
refer to the six days of the Creation.

'Seven swans a-swimming'
are the seven sacraments and the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.

'Eight maids a-milking'
are the eight Beatitudes.

'Nine ladies dancing'
are the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit.

'Ten lords a-leaping'
are the Ten Commandments.

'Eleven pipers piping'
are the eleven faithful Apostles.

'Twelve drummers drumming'
are the twelve doctrines in the Apostles' Creed.

This interpretation is usually taught with a story, that British Catholics, suffering persecution in the 16th century, wrote the song with these hidden meanings. The song would have served as a pedagogical tool.

This particular version was taken from Wikipedia.org but there are several very close to it. Some dispute the whole idea, but as this story goes. I used the popular historical belief that the song was indeed coded for the faithful Catholics suffering persecution.

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The Catholic Defender: Jerry Laine Rose, An American Hero

On Monday, 16 December, 2013 it was announced that Retired SGT Jerry Laine Rose had passed away in his sleep.

SGT Rose was one of my Soldiers serving with the 2-5 Cav, 1st Cav Div.  and this news was a terrible shock to all of his family and friends.

SGT Rose was well liked by his teams as he served as a Senior Line Medic and he worked with the Forward Aid Station in Iraq.

He was responsible for many things supporting the Battalion and Company Elements preparing them for deployment and while being deployed.   During our talks he was always respectful and never had a bad thing to say about anyone.  I am proud to have served with SGT Rose, he was a true American Hero.

SGT Rose is picture standing on the far left, he might have been short in stature, but he had the heart of a lion. 

He had that "Can Do" spirit, he was fully able and competent.  He never froze in the heat of battle when the dead and wounded came in.

He took care of his Soldiers and at the end of the day, that is what matters most.

Many of our readers might not understand what it is to be deployed for 12-15 months at a time.  The sacrifices Soldiers and their families undergo for the sake of freedom around the world.  Every Soldier that we were able to help save from battle injuries, there would be a family waiting at home for their loved one.

SGT Rose retired from the Military serving four years with the United States Air Force and then 16 years in the United States Army.  I am honored to have served with about 5 years with him.

I remember we had a fun debate on the Harry Potter books and movies, he really liked that series and he never wavered in his support for them.  He had strong integrity and commitment to accomplishing the mission.

Occasionally I would find SGT Rose on his Facebook page and I would sometimes see how he was doing, he always looked forward to doing the things he loved.  He would care for his animals and he seemed satisfied with his retired life from the service.  He will be truly missed by all who knew him.


 The Combat Medic Prayer

Oh, Lord I ask for the divine strength to meet the demands of my profession. Help me to be the finest medic, both technically and tactically. If I am called to the battlefield, give me the courage to conserve our fighting forces by providing medical care to all who are in need. If I am called to a mission of peace, give me the strength to lead by caring for those who need my assistance. Finally, Lord, help me to take care of my own spiritual, physical and emotional needs. Teach me to trust in your presence and never-failing love. Amen.

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The Catholic Defender: The A&E Boycott

As of this time I am beginning my personal boycott against A&E until  "Duck Dynasty" star Phil Robertson is returned to the show.

He is being targeted because of his Christian beliefs which teaches that the practice of homosexuality is a sin.

The Magazine GQ's Drew Magary interviewed Phil Robertson and asked him about homosexuality.

Because he responded from a Christian perspective which he implied homosexuality was sinful in the same sense as "Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men. Don’t be deceived. Neither the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers -- they won’t inherit the kingdom of God. Don’t deceive yourself. It’s not right.”

I myself have refereed homosexual behavior as sin no less or no more than adultery, fornication, or any other sexual deviancy.  This is what the liberal media does, they ask questions hoping to stump those who are known as Christians and twist their words.  We have seen recently the same situation with the Pope Francis interviews. 

A&E made this statement:  "We are extremely disappointed to have read Phil Robertson's comments in GQ, which are based on his own personal beliefs and are not reflected in the series 'Duck Dynasty.' His personal views in no way reflect those of A&E Networks, who have always been strong supporters and champions of the LGBT community. The networks has placed Phil under hiatus from filming indefinitely."

(Why would GQ Magazine's interviewer (Drew Magary) ask Mr. Robertson about Homosexuality in the first place? A&E didn't need to respond here as the question and answer had nothing to do with "Duck Dynasty or A&E? Would A&E respond in the same way if the interview were being conducted by a Christian source? Is A&E basically saying that Phil Robertson could not speak publicly WHEN ASKED by any source?)

This is an issue of religious freedom and the right of free speech.! Pure and simple.  The Gay and Lesbian Task Force is really the intolerant ones. 

What A&E found so offensive was that Phil Robertson remarked that "homosexual offenders" would not "inherit the Kingdom of God."  He also states, "But hey, sin: It's not logical, my man," He repeats, "It's just not logical."

1 Timothy 1:8-11 states, "We know that the law is good, provided that one uses it as law, with the understanding that the law is meant not for a righteous person but for the lawless and unruly, the godless and the sinful, the unholy and profane, those who kill their fathers or mothers, murderers, the unchaste, sodomites (homosexuals), kidnappers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is opposed to sound teaching, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted".

What Phil Robertson was defending was the teaching of the Church.

Galatians 5:21 St. Paul states, "I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God".

Phil Robertson stated, “Everything is blurred on what’s right and what’s wrong.  That is the tactic of the progressive left.  Isaiah 5:20 states, "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!"

With the current oppression of Christian beliefs by the liberal media, we are seeing a systematic breakdown of society.

The Gay Agenda attacks people of faith calling opposition to homosexual acts as hate speech.

Bernard Whitman, an analysis for Fox News, appeared on "The Kelly File" and defends a man's right to love another man, (he claimed to be Jewish and Gay)? That is an oxymoron, that is incomparable.  He called Phil Robertson's comments as hate speech because he implies homosexuality as sin.

It is getting more and more frustrating that the Christian voice is getting silenced and the left-far progressives are coming out with all authority of the State to lash out against Christians.  I have personally seen first hand progressives attacking Christians in the College classroom.  We are seeing the dismantle-ling of the Military who are now persecuting Christians who regard homosexuality as sinful.

The Bible and Church teaching is being silenced from being aired in the press and national television.

If the Media is so offended because of statements made in an interview, especially on homosexuality,  then don't ask them about that issue! The real issue is that the progressives are out to attack people of faith.  That is the bottom line.

Notice in this report by CNN, how they give the Gay Agenda telling Christians they have to get in line to accept Gay sex. Is the Country changing? Are we that far gone? Heaven help us if that would be true. Does only 44% of Americans oppose homosexual behavior? I do not believe that the United States of America is that left of center. This is the goal of public school educators for years, to challenge our Christian foundations. We need to pray for our country.

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The Catholic Defender: The Secular Threat

According to the Pew-Research report (18 December 2013), a Religion and Public Life Project, is just off the printing press.

This study was based on interviews with more than 35,000 Americans aged over 18.

The Pew Research reveals some serious concerns.

For the Catholic Church there is good news and their is bad news.  Which would you prefer first?

I'll give the bad new first.  According to the survey, roughly one-third of those surveyed identified themselves as former Catholic.  This would mean that nearly 10% of all Americans would statistically fall in as a former Catholic.  This would clearly be the second largest group in the survey.

Clearly that is not good news but it is not anything unexpected.  We have seen this the past few years.

The good news is that the Catholic Church is relatively stable because of the numbers of people converting to Catholicism each year.  That is about 2.6% of the population.

Another positive aspect that was not covered in this survey was the importance of many Catholics who are returning to the Faith.  I myself would fall into that category as well as many more.  The basic result for the Catholic Faith in the overall percentage who claim to be Catholic remains stable.

Apologetics from Deepertruth, Catholic Answers, Catholics Come Home, Defenders of the Catholic Faith (DCF) and many other good Catholic Apologetics last year helped to bring home more than 300,000 fallen away Catholics.  That is a step in the right direction.

Currently. about 25% of all Americans classify themselves as Catholic and that has been the mid-line for some times.  Catholics hover around one in four Americans.

The survey also raised an important factor that has been developing is the influx of Hispanic peoples coming to America.

The Catholic Faith for the past few years have been receiving great Catholic Converts such as Steve Ray, a former Non-Denominational/Baptist Minister.  They have had a great impact in reaching other Protestant Ministers of all Denominations.

EWTN, A Catholic Television Network based in Alabama features a show, "The Journey Home" that interviews many prominent  conversion stories.

It is good to see the Catholic Faith being stable, but the problem of anyone leaving the Faith continues to be a challenge. 

Protestantism, according to the survey seems to be on an obvious decline.  Americans aged 70 and older 62% claimed Protestantism which is about six-in-ten people.  The same survey shows that Americans aging 18-29 represents about 43% which is about four-in-ten.  What was not questioned was the decrease in the mainline Protestant churches who are classified as liberal.

Church attendance radically drops from those denominations that have accepted women priests and pastors, who have embraced Gay marriage, embraced Gay ministers.  Those who accept abortions on demand are in decline.  Some of the "mega" churches (Non-Denominational) along with the Catholic Faith have been the recipients of many of these people.

According to the results of the survey, the general pattern shows a "decline in the number of Protestants and the growth of the unaffiliated population may continue."

 The following are the basic highlights of the report:

• Men are significantly more likely than women to claim no religious affiliation. Nearly one-in-five men say they have no formal religious affiliation, compared with roughly 13% of women.

This pattern seems to reveal a problem that is not new, men for a good while have not been supporting their role as a Father and leader of their family.

This very problem is a major reason their Children have abandoned the Catholic Faith.  When the Man is leading his family being a responsible Catholic, their Children embrace the faith well over 90%.  When everything depends on the Mother and the Father is out of the picture, only about 30% of the Children hold onto the Faith.

Among people who are married, nearly four-in-ten (37%) are married to a spouse with a different religious affiliation. (This figure includes Protestants who are married to another Protestant from a different denominational family, such as a Baptist who is married to a Methodist.) Hindus and Mormons are the most likely to be married (78% and 71%, respectively) and to be married to someone of the same religion (90% and 83%, respectively).

This is an issue that many Catholics find themselves.

Many who do convert to the Catholic Faith come from those who married a spouse who was Catholic.

St. Paul speaks about this issue 1 Corinthians 7:12-16.

• Mormons and Muslims are the groups with the largest families; more than one-in-five Mormon adults and 15% of Muslim adults in the U.S. have three or more children living at home.

This reveals that Catholics in general have accepted the attack on marriage and motherhood.

The use of Artificial Birth Control and Abortion is problematic for a large sector of the Catholic population.

The Church has not done well in presenting the gospel message in this area as have the secularists pushing the culture of death.

• The Midwest most closely resembles the religious makeup of the overall population. The South, by a wide margin, has the heaviest concentration of members of evangelical Protestant churches. The Northeast has the greatest concentration of Catholics, and the West has the largest proportion of unaffiliated people, including the largest proportion of atheists and agnostics.

This highlight shows my previous response.  The Northeast is overwhelmingly liberal and many of the Catholics there voted for the Democratic Party who espouses the far-ultra left.

This is a serious problem that the Catholic Church has to come to terms with in the Northeast.  The hierarchy cannot compromise the gospel for political expediency.

• Of all the major racial and ethnic groups in the United States, black Americans are the most likely to report a formal religious affiliation. Even among those blacks who are unaffiliated, three-in-four belong to the "religious unaffiliated" category (that is, they say that religion is either somewhat or very important in their lives), compared with slightly more than one-third of the unaffiliated population overall.

The Black family has been largely attacked by the progressive liberal.

The NAACP continues to espouse the ultra-left which pushes for abortion, gay rights, and the attack on fatherhood.

Blacks will vote overwhelmingly more than 90% for the Democratic Party.  Their religious commitment is second to their political will.

• Nearly half of Hindus in the U.S., one-third of Jews and a quarter of Buddhists have obtained post-graduate education, compared with only about one-in-ten of the adult population overall. Hindus and Jews are also much more likely than other groups to report high income levels.

This is a very important statistic.  This survey shows that much of the general public have accepted the liberal mentality that wealth should be dispensed from the rich to give to the poor.

The incentives to move a head and make something of yourself is disappearing.  People are being raised with a right to food stamps mentality.

Our Country have clearly shifted over to a Socialistic State and freedom is being trampled.  The Constitution is being reduced by a political will that empowers the Government that ultimately enslaves the masses.

• People not affiliated with any particular religion stand out for their relative youth compared with other religious traditions. Among the unaffiliated, 31% are under age 30 and 71% are under age 50. Comparable numbers for the overall adult population are 20% and 59%, respectively.

This highlight reveals the impact that many young people have accepted the secular atheistic beliefs rejecting religion.

Children being taught that evolution is a fact of science as opposed to a theory, when religion is not given freedom in public schools, the results are obvious.

This is the goal of the secularist who want to push for Abortion and Gay marriage.  They want to take Christ out of public life.  This is where the Democratic Party derives it's war on Christianity.

• By contrast, members of mainline Protestant churches and Jews are older, on average, than members of other groups. Roughly half of Jews and members of mainline churches are age 50 and older, compared with approximately four-in-ten American adults overall.

This is a serious problem and an obvious evidence of decline.  I am so thankful that the Catholic Faith was not in that picture.

There are a lot of youth who are searching for the truth and the Catholic Faith is attracting many because of it's tradition, liturgy, history, and foundation.

It is the one true faith.  I recently spoke with a 16 year old teenager who was unaffiliated with any church.  He told me that his Mother was raised Catholic, but had not been practicing for many years.

A couple of days ago, this young man thanked me for helping him to see the Catholic Faith.  His Mother went to Mass with him the past two weeks and they are excited about it.

• In sharp contrast to Islam and Hinduism, Buddhism in the U.S. is primarily made up of native-born adherents, whites and converts. Only one-in-three American Buddhists describe their race as Asian, while nearly three-in-four Buddhists say they are converts to Buddhism.

This movement began to change in the late 1960's when the Beatles and the Beach Boys began to follow Eastern Mysticism.

After the Beach Boys would play their concert, they would turn the stadium lights down and present Maharishi Mahesh Yogi who would then preach to the young people the ways of Transcendental Meditation and the way to Eastern Mysticism.

As a result of these appearances  it is approximated that nearly 1,000,000 young people became followers.

Many young Americans began to follow the Krishna movement.

Another group that has grown recently is the Wicca Witchcraft groups, there are "neo-Pagans" and Pagans.

Much of this interest developed with the widespread interest in the Harry Potter books and movies.

• Jehovah's Witnesses have the lowest retention rate of any religious tradition. Only 37% of all those who say they were raised as Jehovah's Witnesses still identify themselves as Jehovah's Witnesses.

This highlight reveals a sad truth that people eventually discover.

The Jehovah's Witnesses have no real foundation.  They were founded by Charles Taze Russell in the later 1870's incorporated in 1884.

They have many early false prophecies claiming the second coming of Christ.

They have no foundation.  That is a serious problem that all Protestantism has because they each have men as their founders and have lost that Catholic foundation.

Catholics in the past have been vulnerable to those visitors knocking on the door.  That might be changing today as more Catholics are discovering their roots.

• Members of Baptist churches account for one-third of all Protestants and close to one-fifth of the total U.S. adult population. Baptists also account for nearly two-thirds of members of historically black Protestant churches.

What this survey doesn't tell you is that there are 31 Baptist Denominations totally distinct from one another.  That is a sad consequence of division within the Baptist Communities.  When you add them all up together, they are a large group.

Protestantism in general, especially many of the Non-Denominational "mega" churches compete with everyone else much like a business.  For one of these churches, a convert is a potential support with monetary value.  That is how they pay for their expensive stage shows and bands.

Compare what the average Protestant Minister makes in his salary compared to the Catholic Priest.  It is night and day.  Many of your Protestant Pastors have a 6 digit income, have more bodyguards that your Government representatives.  It is more than souls, it is about profit.

The Catholic Priest in comparison lives with a very modest income, Religious Order of Priests take vows of poverty.  The Diocesan Priest may have a car and a rectory, but that is provided by the Church Community. 

The entire Catholic structure is all about the worship of God, it is Community driven.  The Protestant has far more considerations because they have to compete to appeal to followers and their support.  That is why 44% of Protestants in the Pew-Research Survey revealed that they have "church-hopped" because they move where they might like the music, the preaching, the youth programs better.  They drift to what might be more popular.  The gospel of wealth sells a lot of material.

For Catholics, our response to all of this is the greater need to activate fathers to take their leadership role in leading their family.  That Catholics change their political support for those running for office that defend the Culture of Life.  That promotes the Constitution of the United States and the defense of religious freedom.  That we take back our educational places of higher learning that will stand up for Christmas and religious freedom.

We do this, we would go far in turning around the direction America has been declining towards.  Pray for the United States of America.

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The Catholic Defender: The Love of Missionaries

The Catholic Faith was founded by Jesus Christ nearly 2,000 years ago and from that time on many people answered the call to follow Him!

Acts 1:8 Jesus says, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

We see the Great Commission of Christ at the Ascension of Jesus, "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.  And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20)

Jesus taught his followers to feed the hungry, to give drink to the thirsty, to welcome the stranger, to cloth the naked, to care for the sick, and to visit the prisoner.

This is the heart of the Missionary.  We see this from the beginning of the Church.

There are many Orders of Religious who serve among the poorest of the poor, along with many lay volunteers to help.

One place that has need of missionaries is Sri Lanka.  Sri Lanka is an island in the northern Indian Ocean off the coast of South Asia.

It is close to India with a Buddhist heritage.

The Catholic Church continues to make inroads there largely due because of the various Missionaries there.

I am reporting on one special lay missionary serving at Sri Lanka near the village of Kanda.

Evelyn Takahashi is a Missionary from the Philippines who has been living there among the people.

Evelyn is a Facebook friend of mine and what a great blessing it is to be able to reach and support others around the world to build up the Kingdom of God.

Sri Lanka has many outlying areas where people live in small villages.

It is a hilly/mountainous terrain with a lot of rain in the rainy season.

People will walk great distances each Sunday to attend Holy Mass walking through the canons, the valleys, passing despite the great cool rainfall.

Because of the support given the Missionaries, they will give food items to the people.

I have always been taught that the Missionaries are the extension of our hands when we give to support these causes.

St. James asks this question, "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well, but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it?" (James 2:14-16)

St. James is bringing home the importance of Jesus teaching to do the Corporal Works of Mercy.

We are to see Jesus in each and every person.

That is the calling we each share.  Evangelization begins at home.  We are all involved in some fachion if we are following the Faith.

We are to toil and labor to do the Lord's work, we become His hands when we do His will, we become His feet when we go where he calls, we become His voice when we proclaim his Church.

St. James continues, James 5:7-8, "Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord.  See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient with it receives the early and the late rains.  You too must be patient.  Make your hearts firm, because the coming of the Lord is at hand."

We are the presence of the Lord to those who are in need, doing His will.

St. Peter gives this challenge, "But whoever is made to suffer as a Christian should not be ashamed but glorify God because of the name.  For it is time for the judgment to begin with the household of God; if it begins with us, how will it end for those who fail to obey the gospel of God?" (1 Peter 4:16-17)

In other words, as Christians, we should not allow ourselves to become idle, to become so attached to things that we forget our real purpose in life.
To care for those who are suffering.

The need is great and there is so much to be done.

It is not so much of how successful we are, but rather, how faithful we should be.

Jesus gives us the basis for his teaching and for our participation stating: "You are the salt of the earth.  But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.  You are the light of the world.  A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.  Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lamp-stand, where it gives light to all in the house.  Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father." (Matthew 5:13-16)

Some are called to be missionaries to go where the need is great and thank God for them.

We need people to give this kind of commitment.

We also need to renew our faith in our families.  To bring back the light of faith that anchors the imagination of the mind to seek to do God's will.

Please keep in prayer Evelyn and all our missionaries serving throughout the world.  They truly are the hands who serve those in great need.  Many are facing persecution particularly in the Middle East because of the violence there.  Please keep them in your prayers and pray that our Government will finally do something about that.  You become a participant when you support them.  God bless you and Merry Christmas.

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