Hello. Recently I received the following question:

The answer is that Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, flying reindeer and toy-making elves don’t even exist, much less have anything whatsoever to do with Christmas.

But what, then, is Christmas? What does it mean to the Church? What does it mean to the world? Most importantly, what does it mean to you? …

Almost every character, symbol and purpose that has been attached to Christmas in recent times is, sadly, very wrong and teaches ideas that have nothing to do with Christmas. They encourage people - especially children - to view Christmas as a ‘magic’ time when people are supposed to: spend a lot of money; receive a lot of presents; eat and drink a lot of tasty food; watch a lot of parades or games of sports on the television set; go to lots of parties; and even more.

So what is Christmas for?

First of all, Christmas is not just one day but a whole season of 12 days. It begins on December 25th - the day Christ was born. It ends on the feast of the Epiphany - the day when three pagan kings gave presents to the Infant Jesus and adored Him as God.

These kings were not Jews, but God offered them the grace to see that the birth of Jesus was the birth of a very special King who was greater than they were. After enduring many hardships and traveling a great distance, they finally arrived at Bethlehem. A miraculous light in the Heavens led them exactly to the spot where Jesus, Mary and Joseph were. With great delight, they approached this Divine Baby Who was sent to be the Redeemer of the whole world.

These wise men knew that Jesus was destined to be King of the Jews, but they also understood that He would be King of more than just the Jews. With deep joy, they knelt to give Him expensive gifts and their humble adoration.

They were pagans, which means that their religion did not worship the true God. But when they accepted God’s grace to understand that this birth was like no other, God later rewarded their humility in the most wonderful way. Not only did they become Catholic, but the famous "three kings" of Christmas - Caspar, Balthasar, and Melchior - even became Saints in the One True Church of God. Their feast day was celebrated on the Feast of the Epiphany.

God invites all people to recognize Jesus Christ as His Divine Son and to recognize The Holy Roman Catholic Church as His One True Church which Jesus Himself established before He ascended into Heaven. To Saint Peter, the first Bishop of Rome and the Church’s first Pope - Jesus said, that, on the rock of Saint Peter, Christ would build His Church.

To those who, like the three pagan kings of old, act on God’s grace to see that Jesus is truly God and join His Roman Catholic Church, God offers the hope of salvation and eternal happiness forever with the Most Blessed Trinity in Heaven.

Let us remember then the purpose of Christmas and its meaning. On this day, Jesus Christ was born of the Blessed Virgin Mary. God became a man to suffer and offer His life to atone for the sins of the whole world and to reopen the gates of Heaven so that men could have a chance to save their souls.

Let us give this sweet and loving Jesus gifts this Christmas. First, let us be grateful for the great grace to be a Roman Catholic. Then, let us help Our Lord and Our Lady to offer that great gift to others. We do this by praying and offering up sacrifices.

You remember the story in the Gospel of Saint John (chapter 6 verses 1 - 15) where Jesus had to feed many thousands of people, but He had no food? Saint Andrew found a small child that had only 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. This little bit of food was placed in a basket and brought to Jesus. After He gave thanks and blessed it, His disciples distributed it amoung the people. After everyone had had their fill, twelve baskets of food were gathered up. In this story, the little bit of food represents our prayers, good works, sacrifices and sufferings that we offer up. The basket represents the Immaculate Heart of Mary. When we offer up to the Mother of God the little bit of good we do, she presents it to Her Son, Who blesses it, and then thousands are able to be fed spiritually by the small amount we gave.

This year let us give Jesus the gift of trying harder to: say more prayers; suffer more bravely the crosses He sends us; perform more good works; and offer up more sacrifices. Let us do all of this in Jesus’ Holy Name, for the love of God and His greater glory and pleasure. Let us give all of this to the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, that she may give it to God for us in our name. God came to earth through His Most Holy Mother, and we should go to God through the same path that He chose. This is the great secret of the Saints. To love God’s Mother as He does. Let us ask Jesus for the grace this year to grow to love the Most Blessed Trinity and the Most Holy Mother of God with the greatest love that God desires!

When we succeed in this, we will accomplish great things for God!

Remember … His birthday is December 25th.

This year let’s give Him a gift.

Let’s try to make it something He would really like.

Oh, I know - He wants your whole mind, your whole heart, your whole body, your whole soul with all of your will and strength.

It sounds very expensive … … but then … He’s worth it!

Everyone here at the Catholic Kingdom prays that you, and all whom you love, have the most blessed Christmas season ever!

Please pray for everyone here at the Kingdom that we also will give Our Lord, on His birthday, what He truly wants to receive.

May the King and Queen of Heaven and earth fill you, and all whom you love, with every true peace, blessing, and grace of Almighty God … now and forever.

I remain faithfully yours in the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary,