Bless Me Father....

...for I have erred greatly! Thanks to Aunt Mary (a wise and well-schooled catholic woman) and the internet, I have been enlightened on the origins of the immaculate conception and Jesus' birth. However, in all fairness, I only attended catholic school up until the beginning of seventh grade, when we moved and Aunt Mary attended all through high school and into college. Nonetheless, I'm sure my grade school nuns are rolling over in their graves as I type.

As it turns out, the immaculate conception doesn't even have anything to do with Jesus (even though he was immaculately conceived), rather, it has to do with Mary. According to www.gotquestions.org, the immaculate conception is a doctrine, or an official statement, of the Roman Catholic church that is the belief that "Mary did not have a sin nature and was, in fact, sinless."

The website goes on to say, however, that one problem with this doctrine is that is not taught in the bible (maybe that's why I didn't know this!) The bible really only refers to Jesus being without sin. However, people started wondering, how can Jesus be without sin if he was born in a sinful woman. Thus, the need to create a sinless Mary. If Mary is a sinner, then that means Jesus is a sinner. The bible's solution to this problem is addressed by declaring that Jesus was "miraculously protected from being polluted by sin" while in Mary's womb. To which some argue, "well what's up with that?" If he could protect Jesus from sin, why couldn't he protect Mary, thus eliminating the need for her to be immaculate? Also, what about Mary's mom and grandma? In order for Mary to be immaculate, THEY would have to be immaculate.

The website goes on to explain that the doctrine is neither biblical nor necessary. Jesus was miraculously conceived inside Mary, who was a virgin at the time. The bible doesn't even hint that there was something special about Mary's conception, rather it only teaches the miraculous conception of Jesus Christ. I may be opening up a whole new can of worms here, but I believe that happened when an angel visited her. To which Joseph replied "what?" upon hearing that explanation.

Anyhow, that's today's lesson on Maryology (yes it's a real word), which is the theological study of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Suffice it to say, Mary was not pregnant for a mere three weeks or even three months.

Check back next week, when we will once again be discussing Rebeccaology, the study of Rebecca, the mother of Alex and Cameron.

A New Day Has Come

It was a year ago today, December 14, that I published my first post on this blog. It featured a picture of Alex kissing his newborn brother over 15 years ago. Today I have another newborn to feature, and his name is Noah David. He was born to our niece Jyl and her husband, Paul. He is their third child....third boy....third blessing.

He was born last Monday, December 7. The day before the Immaculate Conception holy day. Which got me to thinking.....did Mary conceive Jesus on December 8 and then give birth to him on December 25, because I bet Jyl would have loved a speedy pregnancy like that! As a girl who went to catholic school from grade one through grade seven, I should know these answers. I was watching a show the other night and a character on the show kept saying that technically, Jesus was born in March and that's when we should be celebrating Christmas. So, again, does that mean Mary conceived Jesus in December and gave birth to him in March? Because three months is still pretty attractive, compared to nine months. Can you imagine if that were the case? Although, I don't know. Having a baby in three months really wouldn't be a good thing for people like Octomom and Michelle Duggar, who just had her 19th child. If they only had to endure a three month pregnancy, they'd probably have double the amount of kids than they do now due to shorter waiting times. Wow, I just realized they each have more kids than Jesus had disciples.

Anyway, as I recall, being pregnant is an awesome and exciting experience....for about the first four, five, six months. Then after that things get very crowded in there and you start feeling incredibly crabby and uncomfortable. You begin to feel like you have a tumor or an alien growing inside of you and all you can do is think "get it out, get it out, get it out!" You liken it to a house guest who has overstayed their welcome.

And then, when the baby is good and ready, he arrives. He is perfect, and sweet, and you stare at him with wonder. You think, how could such a tiny, helpless person have caused so much discomfort to your bladder at all hours of the day and night? You feel like you could stare at him forever. You are amazed at the beauty of this gift and then you realize "I made this" and you feel overwhelmed with pride and love. So innocent and pure.

Then, before you know it, this awesome gift turns two and you start asking "who's child is this and why won't he listen to me?" I wonder if Mary ever thought that. On second thought, that's probably where that song "What Child is This?" comes from. Do you think Jesus went through the terrible twos? I mean, we don't really hear about the early, early years of Jesus' childhood. Do you suppose when they sat at the dinner table and Mary asked him to sit back down and finish his vegetables, he said "I don't have to, I'm the Messiah." To which Mary replied "I don't care if you're the Lamb of God. Sit your butt down and eat your broccoli!" As Jesus grew older and realized he had a special talent, I wonder why he didn't opt to multiply dessert instead of fishes and loaves of bread to feed the hungry masses and declare "Cookies for everyone!"

Oh dear, I can feel myself burning in hell already for asking these questions.

These are certainly difficult times we are living in. War, economic hardships, and what seems to me, an overall loss in faith, goodness, and humanity. Some of the biggest stories this year involved people who, betrayed their own families due to their need for attention--Octomom, Governor Mark Sanford, Balloon Boy parents, and now Tiger Woods.

This time of year we look to the Christmas season as a way to regain our feelings of hope, love, and forgiveness. We need Christmas. By the end of the year, we are so burned out that we need to be rejuvenated. The birth of a baby, whether it's Jesus or your nephew, sure helps you remember the good things about the world. For every selfish loser, there is a kind and giving winner. For every thing imperfect, there is something perfect, if only til they turn two.

You put all your dreams and high hopes onto a baby. You wish for them all things possible, because frankly in this day and age, it is possible. Medical miracles, educational opportunities, and the ability to discover the world at the click of a mouse.

For my family alone, 2009 has been marked with ups and downs. The loss of a job after 20 years of service for Ed. The high school graduation of our first born with successful entry into college. A driver's permit for our second born (yikes!), a twenty-year wedding anniversary for Ed and me, health care issues and surgeries for my parents, a heart attack for my brother, and the birth of a beautiful, healthy nephew. Overall, we have been blessed. Ed successfully found work as a contractor and now has been hired as a full-time employee by another firm. My parents have come through each of their health care issues with flying colors. My brother had a scare, but has been given a second chance. A new day, rebirth for many of us, in more ways than one.