Religious Customs In The Family: The Radiation of the Liturgy into Catholic Homes by Fr. Francis Weiser

Author:Fr. Francis Weiser [Weiser, Fr. Francis]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: TAN Books
Published: 2015-10-11T05:00:00+00:00

–17–

OTHER CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS

LIGHTS IN THE WINDOWS

This custom was brought to America by the Irish immigrants. Its historical meaning and background are deeply inspiring and might be told to the children to make them understand the spiritual message which it contains. Smaller children usually forget such explanations from one year to the next and will have to be told again when the next Christmas comes. (From the Author's Christmas Book, with permission of the Publishers.)

When religion was suppressed in Ireland during the English persecution [17th century], the people had no churches. Priests hid in forests and caves and secretly visited the farms and homes to say Mass there during the night. Now it was the dearest wish of every Irish family in those days that at least once in their lifetimes a priest would be near their home at Christmas, so he could come and celebrate the divine Sacrifice during the Holy Night. For this grace they hoped and prayed all through the year.

When Christmas came, they left their doors unlocked and put burning candles in the windows so that any priest who happened to be in the neighborhood would know that he was expected and welcomed. The light of the candles guided him to the house. Silently he would enter through the unlatched door, to be received by the grateful people with tears of happiness. Their home was to be a church during the Holy Night.

The English soldiers, being suspicious of such customs, asked the Irish what the purpose of this illumination was. In order to cover the actual reason, the Irish people used to explain: "We burn the candles and keep the doors unlocked, that Mary and Joseph, looking for a place to stay, will find their way to our home and be welcomed with open hearts." The English authorities, finding this Irish "superstition" harmless, did not bother to suppress it.

Thus the candles in the windows have always remained a cherished custom of the Irish, although many of them have forgotten its true reason and origin. From the Irish immigrants in this country, the custom spread among other Americans, and in many houses may now be seen the cheerful lights at Christmas time, radiating their message and greeting into the streets of the town.

We could and should tell the children this story of the lights in the windows and make them aware of the spiritual meaning of this attractive custom. Historically speaking, every such light is a herald of love and devotion to the newborn Saviour, of a burning desire for Mass and Communion on Christmas day and of heroic loyalty to the Church and the priesthood.

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