Christmas season is moving fast this year! On the second day of Christmas we typically St. Stephen’s day. This year, we celebrate the feast of the Holy Family because it falls on Sunday. May the Christmas celebration and praise continue!

Merry Christmas!

Being good is not good enough for salvation. Salvation is a free gift we need to accept, not something we deserve.

I was in a discussion with some good friends lately and Christ and Santa Claus came up in an interesting contrast.

First, remember a key element about Santa is earning or worthiness. As the modern legend goes, Santa makes a list of the naughty and nice children (that he repeatedly checks). The nice children get toys and candy, the naughty children get nothing or coal. While in practice, there may be lots of not so nice children who end up with nice gifts, the concept of Santa Claus implicitly involves earning or at least worthiness. Santa knows if you’ve been good or bad, so you better be good for goodness sakes.[...]

Remember that today is a Holy Day of Obligation. Be sure that you and your family attend mass today. As head of the domestic Church, fathers take on a special responsibility in ensuring observation of special feasts like today.

As a reminder, we are celebrating today Mary’s conception without the stain of sin. Some think we are celebrating Christ’s conception, but that is incorrect- we celebrate that at the Annunciation. Visit the Catholic Encyclopedia at New Advent for details on the doctrine of the Immaculate Conceptions.[...]

Please join me in welcoming JonMarc Grodi and his blog Restatement of the Obvious to Catholic Dads. Here is what JonMarc writes:[...]

Congratulations to Steven McEvoy, long term Catholic Dad on the birth of his daughter Zoey on November 30!

Find resources for a fruitful Advent and share your Advent plans and traditions to help others do the same
Advent this year begins on Sunday, November 27th. As a Catholic father, it is our duty and joy to be able to guide our families on this journey of anticipation and expectation. We must prepare our own hearts, and help prepare those of our family through teaching and example. Advent is a time for prayer, repentance, and sacrifice and we need to have a game plan if we hope to take advantage of this spiritual opportunity.[...]

The Holy Father will hold a vigil tonight at the time of Vespers on the eve of the first Sunday of Advent for all Nascent Human Life. He has asked the bishops of the world to join him, and to gather the people of the Church together from all around the world. Many bishops have generously responded to this call. Others have not fit this into their schedules.

As Catholic fathers, we are each head of our domestic Church, and we can and should respond to the Holy Father’s call to the universal Church. Here is what you can do to participate.[...]

Please welcome Matt Shurtliff from Life in the Spirit. Matt writes:
“I’d like to be included as a Catholic Dad. I’ve been writing a “more or less” daily email to my parish since 2008. I save most of these messages to my blog.”

Welcome Matt!

Joe Hanneman, Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus Council 697 in Racine, Wisconsin has recently published a new book about his father’s journey in faith as he approached his death. Joe thought this would be an excellent read for Catholic Dads, and asked that I mention it. Instead of simply linking to the book site, I asked Joe to provide a description of the book to post here. The following is what he sent.

The Journey Home is the inspiring story of a father’s battle with cancer, and the miraculous parting message he left for his family. Despite crippling symptoms from cancer, David Hanneman finished his life with renewed Catholic faith. His example, and the miracles witnessed by his family, give compelling witness to how each life has an incredible destination – in eternity.[...]

Please welcome new member Marques from The Q Continuum. Marques is a lay catholic living and working in Northern Virginia. He is the father of four and is thoroughly in love with his beautiful wife Christine. He is an avid believer that philosophy and theology should only be discussed with either a fantastic glass of wine or a steaming hot cup of coffee.

Given a bit of expertise, Marques will also be starting a new regular feature on Theology of the Body. Look for more information on that in coming days.