From the Gospel: How to avoid saying “Bah, humbug!” – Fr Brendan Gatt

Third Sunday of Advent, Cycle A. Today’s readings: Isaiah 35:1-6a, 10; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11

The Secret History of Christmas, an audiobook by Bill Bryson

I recently listened to a delightful little audiobook called The Secret History of Christmas. It is written by one of my favourite authors, Bill Bryson, who manages to compress into three hours a plethora of fascinating titbits about this festival and its history.

One of the most intriguing points he makes is how close Christmas came to being killed off in the English-speaking world, mainly through the efforts of the Puritans – around the 17th century – who tried to cleanse the Church of England of any vestiges of Roman Catholicism. Christmas was a particular target of theirs because they considered it to be tainted not just by medieval popery but also by ancient pagan practices.

They had remarkable success in their efforts to purify (for which read ‘destroy’) Christmas, and for over a century – in England and in America – December 25 was just another work day, stripped of any exterior joy and celebration. I wonder what those hardcore Protestants from centuries ago would make of the fact that even many Catholic thinkers...