DAVENPORT — For nine nights in a row, Hispanics have celebrated las posadas in parishes across the Diocese of Davenport.
Anne Marie Amacher A young girl and boy portray Mary and Joseph during a posada at St. Mary Parish in Davenport Dec. 16.
Posada means inn or shelter, said Rosario Castel, a parishioner at St. Mary Parish in Davenport. Re-enactment of the posada story is an important Mexican Christmas celebration.
Castel said it involves the re-enactment of Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter in Bethlehem. Las posadas are traditionally held Dec. 16-24.
At St. Mary Parish, las posadas are held in the parish hall Dec. 16-23, then in the church Dec. 24 leading to the Christmas Eve Mass. In some parishes posadas may be held in different homes.
On Dec. 16, more than 100 people gathered in the parish hall from throughout the Quad-City area. The evening began with the rosary. Between decades, a song was sung reiterating Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter.
After the rosary and litany, parishioners gathered in the entry of the hall to re-enact the posada story. A young girl, dressed as Mary, sat on a fake donkey. A young boy who portrayed Joseph stood by her.
The song “Canto Para Pedir Posada” was sung. This traditional posada song has two parts. One group sings the part of Joseph asking for shelter. The other group sings the response that there is no room for them.
The posada culminates when an innkeeper says yes to Mary and Joseph seeking shelter. “The last part is of joy,” Castel said. “Welcome, welcome. Welcome home pilgrims. Come inside.”
Following the reenactment, traditional Christmas songs were sung in Spanish and a meal of pozole (pork or chicken and hominy soup) and chips was served Dec. 16.
Castel said each night at St. Mary’s a different family serves the food of their choice. For Dec. 17 it was pozole verde (green), which is spicier. Other examples of food served are tostadas (tortilla with any number of ingredients served by the host) or cookies.
As we approach the celebration of Christmas, many Christians seem to be tempted to think of its connection with our salvation only in terms of the birth of the one who would die to save us. Even some Christmas hymns describe Jesus as having “come for to die.” But Christian Tradition provides a much richer understanding of the Incarnation itself as God’s saving gift. The Catechism of the Catholic Church speaks of the effects of the Incarnation in ways that show the influence of early Christian scholars such as Irenaeus of Lyon (second century) and Athanasius of Alexandria (fourth century). Catholic spiritual tradition includes the Angelus prayer which at various times and places has marked morning, noon and evening at the call of the church bells. The versicles surrounding the Hail Mary’s of that prayer come to a pinnacle in the words from the Gospel of John: “The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.”
Corinne Winter
In Christian theology, we understand the Incarnation as a source of reconciliation through which the relationship between creation and creator, damaged by sin, is restored. Athanasius, in his work On the Incarnation, describes God as facing a kind of dilemma due to the presence and corruption in the world that God created out of God’s own goodness. While, according to God’s own law, death is the consequence of sin, God’s love cannot stand to see that play out. The Incarnation becomes the divine solution. When the very Word of Creation enters into that creation, the corrupting power is overcome.
The Incarnation thus reveals the truth and power of divine love for the world. According to Athanasius, knowledge of that love is essential to human salvation. When we lose the knowledge of God, we head toward nonexistence because for us “to be” is to be related to God. In that relationship, we find our only true happiness. By being incarnate among us, the Word of God brings us the revelation of God at a level where we may more fully grasp it, and thus saves us from non-existence.
The Incarnation also reveals the truth about the world. Many experiences may tempt us to despair of the world in which we live, to reject it as inherently evil. But by entering into that very messy world, the Son reveals that by the power of the Holy Spirit by whom he is conceived, the world is, in fact, capable of receiving God. Irenaeus of Lyons taught that God created the world in order to call it back to union with God. For Irenaeus, the personal union of God and humanity in Jesus Christ marked the turning point for which all creation had been groaning, the beginning of the return to God.
Again, the Incarnation reveals the human vocation. Athanasius says that the likeness of God in which we are created is a share in the Word who is God’s image within the Trinity. One of Athanasius’ most often quoted statements is that God bore our humanity so that we might bear divinity — that we might share in the very communion of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Athanasius teaches as well that the Incarnation of God in one particular human person affects all people due to the solidarity of humanity. The 20th century theologian Karl Rahner, along with other theologians, also describes the work of Jesus Christ as directly affecting our common humanity. In a way that we do not fully grasp, we are included in the work of Christ.
Finally, the Incarnation is not merely a once upon a time historical event. The union of humanity and divinity in Jesus the Christ remains. Further, the doctrine of the Incarnation provides a foundation for other Catholic teachings and practices. For example, because the Son of God entered into the material world, we believe in the capacity of material things such as bread, wine, water and oil to bear God’s grace to us. We believe that the holy lives of individual saints can be instrumental in our own responses to God.
So, as we celebrate Christmas, let us give thanks to God for the Word made Flesh who dwells among us.
(Corinne Winter is a professor of theology at St. Ambrose University in Davenport.)
My husband Steve greeted me inside the nursing home where we would bring Communion to Catholic residents. He wore an oxford shirt and corduroy slacks, dressing up from his preferred flannel shirt and jeans. Both of us serve as extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist for our parish, but bringing Communion to the nursing home was a first-time experience. Steve admitted feeling nervous. He worried about “messing up.” I felt a sense of peace because we were together, bringing the gift of Christ to people one week before Christmas.
Arland-Fye
Steve carried a clipboard with the Rite for distributing Communion outside of Mass attached. He also had two pocket watch-shaped containers (pyxes) that hold the body of Christ to bring to the sick. Nursing home staff led us to a warm, reassuring activity director who gave us a list of names of Catholics and their room numbers. We were to return the list to her after distributing Communion.
Off we went, walking through the halls, knocking gently on doors and asking people on our list if they would like to receive Communion. Steve and I took turns leading the prayers and giving Communion to our brothers and sisters in Christ. We tripped over our words a few times, apologizing that we were new at this ministry. We were received with gratitude, not criticism.
At times, I felt a pang of unworthiness. Praying prayers from the Communion rite alleviated that anxiety. “Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.” Yes, I do believe! I heard those words echoing in my mind. And the response reaffirmed the faith I profess, even though I was giving not receiving Communion: “Lord I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”
If the individual we had come to see wasn’t in the room or sleeping, Steve prayed for them. We brought Communion to 21 people and each one left an impression on us. Finished for the day, Steve and I left in separate cars promising to talk later about how the experience affected us.
Brian and Karen lead this ministry for our parish. The next day, I spoke with Karen and Steve spoke with Brian. It dawned on me that the pang of unworthiness I felt might have been masking misplaced pride. Like Steve, I didn’t want to “mess up.” Our fears can cause us to miss the grace of the sacrament, Karen observed.
Brian, a nurse by profession, provided good insight for Steve concerning questions he had about distributing Communion in the nursing home. Brian assured Steve that he had been appropriately sensitive to people’s needs.
In reflecting on the experience, Steve said he felt invigorated. “The people appreciated it so much; they wanted to receive Communion.” I also felt that sense of gratitude.
This week we’re celebrating Christmas with extended family for the first time in a couple of years. My prayer is that all Christians have an opportunity to experience the love of family at Christmas time, and in particular the people to whom Steve and I brought the gift of Christ the week before Christmas.
(Barb Arland-Fye, Editor, can be reached at arland-fye@davenportdiocese.org.)
One of our donors had $40,000 in a 403B. He asked how he could donate this to Sacred Heart Cathedral’s building project in Davenport. I recommended that he ask his broker to roll this over into an IRA. When the federal government approves donating directly to a qualified charity from your IRA, the donor will be ready.
On Dec. 18, when President Obama signed the charitable IRA into law, I contacted the donor who called his broker who did the necessary paperwork to donate the IRA directly to Sacred Heart Cathedral.
Sr. Goedken
I notified the parish about this gift and shared information needed by this donor for his taxes following the donation. This tax letter needs to be saved for several years in case the donor is audited by the IRS.
The donor wanted to assist the cathedral with its building project and he knew he did not need his 403B for retirement living. He also knew if he cashed in his 403B he would need to pay taxes on it. This would put him in another tax bracket which could also require him to pay taxes on his Social Security payments.
This is a win/win for the donor and for Sacred Heart Cathedral parish.
This new law permits anyone who is 70½ or older with an IRA to donate up to $100,000 annually to a qualified charity without paying taxes on it. Qualified charities include the Catholic Foundation for the Diocese, the Diocese of Davenport, your parish or your Catholic school.
This new law is a permanent tax extender. This means you can donate from your IRA every year without paying taxes on this money. The check needs to come from the company holding of your IRA directly to the charity. For more information contact Sister Laura Goedken, OP, at Goedken@davenportdiocese.org or (563) 888-4252.
Evil is winning. Fear is spreading across the land. National figures are using language and concepts about other races, religions and nations that we have not experienced since the KKK preached its poison about blacks, Catholics, Jews and Asians. We see places of worship and faith-based universities urging their people to arm themselves against the enemies.
Christ was a radical. He defied the common wisdom of his time. He was crucified for this and so that we could have life, life to its fullest. When we denigrate others, when we arm ourselves against the stranger, we turn our backs on his sacrifice. The fifth chapter of Matthew contains some of the most radical words of Christ. “Love your enemies,” “pray for those who persecute you.” In the 26th chapter, when facing an armed mob, Jesus commands his followers to disarm. If we emulate Christ, we are Christians. If we do not live as he commanded, can we claim that name? “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”
Few of Christ’s disciples escaped stoning, crucifixion or beheading. Yet we all expect to die of old age. Few Christians can live out the great command to go out to the world with the good news. We will not reach out to the stranger just moving into town, much less go to his country to experience the realities of his life. We will not greet or minister to him, but instead will arm ourselves against his desire to achieve for himself the blessings we have received.
Glenn Leach
Volunteer, Diocese of Davenport Social Action Office.
Platicando con unos amigos, me decían que Adán y Eva tenían la culpa -por haber pecado- de todos los problemas que los seres humanos hemos tenido que enfrentar anteriormente y de todos los sufrimientos que estamos viendo en el mundo entero. Consideran que día a día, se agudizan más por la falta de tolerancia, hermandad, solidaridad, justicia e igualdad entre las personas. Todo esto como consecuencia de la ausencia de los valores básicos, que comienzan con la formación de los niños en las familias, ya que la familia es la base de toda sociedad, en donde se producen y se forman los hombres y mujeres del mañana y, que por lo tanto, depende de la formación que les demos, la calidad de seres humanos que serán; de allí podremos esperar sociedades más justas, humanas y económicamente más desarrolladas, con igualdad de oportunidades para todos.
Miriam Wainwright
Y así como la familia es la base de la sociedad, el matrimonio es la base de la familia, por lo tanto, un matrimonio solido conlleva familias sólidas, no perfectas, pues, ya lo dijo el Papa Francisco, no hay familia perfecta, pero si matrimonios y familias que luchamos, para que aun en medio de las diferencias, de los problemas y de las pruebas, prevalezca el amor.
El libro del Génesis nos enseña que en el día sexto de la Creación, Dios creo al hombre a su imagen y semejanza, lo puso en un bello lugar, hecho exclusivamente para ese ser tan especial que Dios había creado y le dio poderío sobre la tierra y sobre todo otro ser viviente. Le dio una compañera, la mujer, para complementarse y que no estuviera en soledad, al hombre le dio la fuerza, el carácter, el valor, la determinación; a la mujer le dio la docilidad, el cariño, la tolerancia, la amabilidad y a ambos la capacidad de entrega, de darse y de amar que va más allá del sufrimiento. Tenían a Dios con ellos y nada les hacía falta, pero llega un ser lleno de maldad y les incita al pecado, que no es ninguna manzana, ni el sexo como se nos ha hecho creer, si no, la desobediencia a Dios quien les dijo que no debían comer del árbol del conocimiento del bien y del mal o morirían; pero la serpiente muy astuta les dice: ‘’no es cierto que morirán… Es que Dios sabe que si comen de ese árbol, se les abrirán los ojos y serán como Dios…”
Les dijo una mentira mezclada con una verdad. No hay nada que confunda más que una mentira mezclada con una verdad; ellos comieron y pasaron a ser como dioses, sabiendo que es bueno y que es malo, cuando solo a Dios correspondía tal cosa y claro, la mentira se hizo obvia, pues contrario a lo que la serpiente dijo, si morimos…
Las consecuencias de la desobediencia a Dios, trajo a las personas problemas, enfermedades y muerte, cosas que se han ido multiplicando y que hacen de la vida del hombre y de la mujer, un
constante sufrimiento y al igual que a mis amigos, he escuchado a muchos culpar a Adán y a Eva de sus problemas, pero ¿se vale seguir echándoles la culpa a ellos?
Jesucristo vino a rescatarnos del pecado; con su sacrificio en la cruz nos reconcilió con Dios, y nos dio su ejemplo de vida, ensenándonos a amar y a perdonar; amar incondicionalmente como Dios nos ama y fue más allá y no solo nos pide amar y perdonar a quienes nos aman, si no a amar y perdonar a nuestros enemigos, a aquellos que nos hacen daño, y tenemos ejemplos de muchos hombres y mujeres que han podido cumplir los preceptos de Cristo Jesús, amando y sirviendo al prójimo incondicionalmente y perdonando a aquellos que les han causado a veces, hasta la muerte y dentro de estos ejemplos tenemos el matrimonio que juntos han alcanzado la santidad.
Pensemos ahora y ¿si nosotros hiciéramos lo mismo? ¿Y si amaramos incondicionalmente en el matrimonio y en la familia? ¿Si practicáramos más la paciencia, el perdón, la tole-rancia podríamos mejorar al mundo? Claro que sí, si supe-ramos egoísmos, caprichos, orgullos, ambiciones y amor propio, por el amor, el perdón, la paciencia y el deseo del bien del prójimo, no habría más separaciones, divorcios, ni divisiones en las familias. No será fácil, y nadie dijo que lo sería, pero todo es posible cuando tenemos a Dios con nosotros, en nuestra flaqueza, él es nuestra fuerza, nuestra roca, nuestro alcázar, oremos siempre consagrándole nuestro matrimonio y nuestra familia y pidiendo su guía, pues no podemos pretender que el mundo cambie si no empezamos cambiando nosotros.
Ya no culpemos a los otros, nosotros tenemos la opción de ser y actuar diferentes y, no pretendamos ser como Dios, determinando que está bien y que está mal, eso le corresponde a Dios, hagamos siempre lo que él nos manda, pues él es un padre sabio que quiere siempre lo mejor para sus hijos. ¡Dios les bendiga!
DAVENPORT — Por nueve noches seguidas, la comunidad hispana ha ce-lebrado Las Posadas en diferentes parroquias en la diócesis de Davenport.
Anne Marie Amacher Una jovencita y un niño representando a María y José durante la celebración de las Posadas en la parroquia de Santa María en Davenport.
Rosario Castel, feligrés de la parroquia de Santa Maria en Davenport explicó que ‘posada’ es un lugar de protección o un lugar para pasar la noche. Esta es una tradición muy antigua e importante en la celebración mexicana de la Navidad.
La representación es sobre la Virgen María y San José buscando refugio en Belén. Las Posadas tradicionalmente se rea-lizan del 16 al 24 de diciembre.
En la parroquia Santa María de Davenport, las Posadas se celebran en el salón parroquial del 16 al 23 de diciembre. El 24 de diciembre se celebra en la Iglesia, seguida inmediatamente de la misa de Nochebuena. En algunos lugares se celebra en las mismas casas.
El 16 de diciembre, más de 100 personas se reunieron en el salón parroquial de toda la zona de Quad-City. La velada comenzó con el rosario. Los denarios se intercalaban con un canto, reiterando constantemente que María y José están buscando refugio.
Después del rosario y de las letanías, los feligreses se reunieron en la entrada de la sala para volver a re-presentar la historia de las Posadas. Una chica joven, vestida como María, sentada sobre un burro falso. Un muchacho joven que interpretó a José estaba junto a ella.
La canción “Canto Para Pedir Posada” fue entonada. Esta canción tradicional de las Posadas tiene dos partes. Un grupo canta la parte de José pidiendo refugio. El otro grupo canta la respuesta de que no hay lugar para ellos.
La posada culmina cuando un posadero dice: “Sí a María y José en busca de refugio.” La última parte es de alegría”, dijo Castillo. “Bienvenido, Bienvenido. Bienvenido esta es su casa peregrinos. Entren.”
Después de la representación, las canciones tradicionales de Navidad fueron entonadas con un convivio de pozole y patitas fritas.
Castel dijo que cada noche en Santa María, una familia diferente sirve la comida que prefiera. Para el 17 de diciembre era pozole verde, muy picante. Otros ejemplos de alimentos que se sirven son tostadas o galletas. Cada noche los niños también reciben dulces.
