A Modern Icon of the Nativity

Here is a beautiful modern icon of the Nativity. One figure who is portrayed somewhat differently here than in the West, St Joseph.

The standard interpretation is that by tradition in the East, St Joseph was a widower before he married Our Lady and so is always portrayed as an older man. He is hunched not just because of age, but also to reveal an inner turmoil. He is in doubt about whether or not he is witnessing a Virgin birth. The figure beside St Joseph, also as a hunched old man but in ragged clothing is the devil tempting him. All is resolved in the end for St Joseph loves his wife and through her prayers resolves this doubt. The distance between St Joseph and Our Lady emphasises also the fact the St Joseph had no part in the conception of Our Lord.

This does not diminish the stature of St Joseph at all, rather it serves to elevate that of Our Lady. St Joseph is a great saint. He is the protector of the Holy Family, foster father and guardian of Our Lord. This demonstrates by contrast with the figure of Our Lady how she is even greater. In this sense St Joseph might be seen as an examplar of all other saints and so Our Lady is greater than all the other saints and angels.

Bishop Mark Davies on human life, marriage and trends in modern society

In his homily in Shewsbury Cathedral at Midnight Mass Bishop Mark Davies said:

We gather on this Christmas night amid the shadows of early 21st Century Britain. The eyes of the nation turn to this “child born for us” (Is.9:1) tiny and frail, it is this beautiful revelation of the Son of God which casts light on the darkest shadows of our time. The widespread neglect and ill-treatment of the frailest, elderly people in our society: concerns high-lighted in the Care Quality Commission’s recent report. The growing concern about end of life care and what is happening to the most vulnerable. The dark side to our own society is surely connected to the discarding of human life from the beginning in abortion on an industrial scale, in reproductive technologies, in embryo experimentation which our laws have sanctioned. “Today there exists a great multitude of weak and defenceless human beings, unborn children in particular, whose fundamental right to life is being trampled upon” Blessed John Paul II reflected in his 1995 letter The Gospel of Life, “if at the end of the last century, the Church could not be silent about the injustices of those times, still less can she be silent today” (Evangelium Vitae n.5).
This Christmas we are conscious of new shadows cast by a Government that was pledged at its election to support the institution of marriage. This vital foundation of society which, the 2011 census indicates, now stands at is lowest ebb. At such a moment the Prime Minister has decided without mandate, without any serious consultation to redefine the identity of marriage itself, the foundation of the family for all generations to come. This is again done in the name of progress. The great English writer, G.K Chesterton, warned: “progress is a useless word; for progress takes for granted an already defined direction; and it is exactly about the direction that we disagree” (American Notes). The British people have reason to ask on this night where is such progress leading?

Hodie Christus natus est

O Sapientia

The Advent "O" antiphon for Vespers on 17 December.

O Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodiisti,

attingens a fine usque ad finem,

fortiter suaviterque disponens omnia:

veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae.

O Wisdom, coming forth from the mouth of the Most High,

reaching from one end to the other mightily,

and sweetly ordering all things:

Come and teach us the way of prudence.

Scouts and guides consider adopting atheist oaths

Since 1908, when Robert Baden-Powell laid down the rules for his nascent movement in Scouting for Boys, new Scouts and Guides have made the traditional three-finger salute and promised to not just help others but remain loyal to a deity or higher power. Now, for the first time, the self-professed godless could also be welcome.
The Scout Association has launched a consultation to gauge support among members for an alternate atheist Scout promise, removing the invocation of a deity. At the same time, the Guide Association, the parallel movement which began two years later, is to launch a consultation about its very similar promise, with views sought on all parts of the wording from early January.
The current version of the Scout promise reads: "On my honour, I promise that I will do my best to do my duty to God and to the Queen, to help other people and to keep the Scout law."
The reference to God is deemed usable for most religions, although there have been options – such as Allah for Muslims or "my Dharma" for Buddhists – for more than 40 years. Those in other countries promise duty to their own nation or monarch.
But there has been no non-religious equivalent for either Scouts or Guides, meaning young atheists have had to either had to fudge the promise or forgo the woggle.
Secular groups have campaigned for change, highlighting cases such as that of 11-year-old George Pratt, who had been scouting for almost a year but was unable to join when officially invited as he felt unable to make a pledge to God.
The Scout Association, which began admitting girls in 1976, is indicating it would favour a change.
Wayne Bulpitt, its UK chief commissioner, said religion would remain "a key element" even if a new variant of the promise was approved. He added: "However, throughout our 105-year history, we have continued to evolve so that we remain relevant to communities across the UK. "
Julie Bentley, chief executive of the Guide Association, said its consultation would begin on 3 January. "It's something our board has been planning to do for some time," she added.
The news was welcomed by secular campaigners. Terry Sanderson, president of the National Secular Society, said the change would bring the Scouts "in line with the reality of 21st-century Britain, where more than two thirds of young people say they have no religious belief".
Atheist or not, all new Scouts and Guides must still promise to adhere to their respective laws, including for the former that they "make good use of time and are careful of possessions and property" and "have courage in all difficulties".