Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

I was wondering what difference does it make if we greet one another with Merry Christmas or Happy Holiday or Seasons Greetings.? I went to the Merriman-Webster for some definitions. Christmas is a combination of the two words: Christ + Mass; Holiday is derived from the phrase ‘Holy Day’ – a religious feast day. What we are, as Christians, are celebrating on December 25 is not a social or generic event. It is a very specific Holy Day, the Nativity of our Lord Jesus in time; the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas is truly a holy day that we celebrate with the Mass, the prayer by which we united ourselves with Jesus in the Holy Spirit in giving thanks to the Father. The primary sacrament of our Catholic Faith in which we encounter our God in the community, in the Word and in a special and unique way in the Sacrament of Jesus’ Body and Blood. There is no other season quite like it and there is no other holiday like it. It is not a celebration of a generic season or generic holiday; it is truly a Holy Day. I encourage all to greet one another with the deeply religious greeting: Merry Christmas!
God Bless,
Fr. Dan