Frequent Confession?

The Sacrament of Confession is probably the most feared Sacrament in the Church. The answer why is obvious. The person in Confession must confess all of their Mortal Sins (and smaller sins are suggested as well), and therefore, it may feel embarrassing to tell the priest about the bad things you have done. Hence, many souls have not gone to confession in years, and many only go when required, and some do not tell all of their sins. An understanding of why confession is necessary is the first step. When one falls into Mortal sin (1 John 5:16-17) he is cut off from God's saving Sanctifying Grace, and in that state cannot enter Heaven. In that knowledge, one could out of fear go to confession frequently. However, that is what we call an imperfect intention. God does not desire that we go to confession just out of a fear of Hell (however, we should all of some fear of Hell), but out of love for Him. That love is where the engines for frequent confession and the fight to do better should come from. That is the reason one would confess smaller sins in addition to the larger ones (if there are any). And that is also the reason one would choose to go to confession frequently, because out of love for the All Good Creator he would strive to reform his life constantly according to God's law. Every time he falls, he will get up again determined to do better.

And what of embarrassment? What if one is too embarrassed to mention a certain sin (many times sexual sins)? An answer I have given before is that pretty much every priest out there has heard just about every sin in the book and then some. He has heard "one-of-a-kind" sins before and all of the big ones, and he will not have a heart attack if he hears your confession. The point is love. You confess your sins not just to a priest, but to God and out of love for God. The priest is not God, but he is a representative, and the point in confession is confessing our sins to God, and asking for and receiving God's forgiveness. It is actually a sin to go to confession and leave out a mortal sin intentionally (If you honestly forgot, then you should confess the sin in your next confession.). Therefore, if you had 3 mortal sins, and intentionally only confessed two, you would walk out of confession with 4 mortal sins. But if you truly have love for Christ, (Who by the way, already knows all of your sins, but still has asked you to confess them) then why would you leave out a sin? You will only hurt yourself by not confessing. Confess your sins, and then give yourself to Christ! The Catholic Church requires that one receives the sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) at least once per year. However, being a sinner myself, I can tell you I have to go to confession a lot more than that (I suggest at least once a month, and ideally about every two weeks). I beg each of you to consider frequent confession as a means in which to come closer to Christ Jesus the Lord!

For more info on Confession, I suggest reading my previous article: "7 excuses that won't work for Confession"

Also, if you would like, please take my survey on when you last went to confession (screen down on right). Your answers are anonymous.

Liturgical Abuse.... What's the Point?

Have you ever gotten frustrated about liturgical abuse and thought: What's the point? Why can't so-and-so or such-and-such just be done right? Well, believe it or not, those who do liturgical abuses usually do have reasons (though not necessarily good reasons). By the way, much of what I will be posting about liturgical stuff will be coming from Jimmy Akin's book "Mass Confusion". I suggest that you purchase this book if you are interested in promoting the Sacredness of the Liturgy. Anyway, so what reason is there for liturgical abuse? It mostly boils down to the priest (or whoever) not knowing the reasons for doing things the right way. The Church for example does not ask us to pour the wine before it is consecrated into the chalices for no reason. One reason would be to protect the dignity of the Precious Blood to prevent it from spilling and being irreverenced. But for everything in the Liturgy there is a reason it is done- from the beginning of Mass until the end. So, many times a priest who is not informed on why something is supposed to be done a certain way will change it to his way that he understands. A common example may be that the priest during consecration will break the host during the words: "before he was given up to death, a death he freely accepted, he took bread and gave you thanks. He broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said:" However, the priest is not supposed to break the host until the Agnus Dei (The Lamb of God). There is a theological reason for this though, and the Church has not said this for the sake of making more rules. When we study the mass, we can start to understand why things are done. When addressing a liturgical problem at your parish, remember to include why it is wrong. The Catechism talks about the Holy Mass starting at #1348. When trying to stop a liturgical abuse, try to find out what the reason is on their side first, and then show why the Church has said to do it the right way. I have not yet found a situation in which the liturgical abuse had the better reason.

Catholic Devotions Meme

I was asked by Mysterium Fidei to post this on my blog, so here it goes:

1. Favorite devotion or prayer to Jesus? The O My Jesus prayer after each decade of the rosary, the Divine Mercy chaplet, and prayers to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

2. Favorite Marian devotion or prayer? The First Saturday Devotion is my favorite, but I have not been easily able to do it recently. Also the rosary.

3. Do you wear a scapular or medal? Scapular.

4. Do you have holy water in your home? Yes

5. Do you 'offer up' your sufferings? I try to remember to do that for various intentions throughout the day.

6. Do you observe First Fridays and First Saturdays? As stated above, between work, school, and lots of other stuff in my life right now, the First Saturday devotion has not been happening for me, however I would love to do it again. I have never done the First Friday devotion, but I am interested.

7. Do you go to Eucharistic Adoration? How frequently? Sometimes. I am trying to make a visit to the Blessed Sacrament daily or as often as possible, but this resolution started on Christmas---So Jesus please help me!

8. Are you a Saturday evening Mass person or Sunday morning Mass person? I have to go on Sunday morning because of work on Saturday evening.

9. Do you say prayers at mealtime? Yes.

10. Favorite Saints? St. Francis of Assisi, St. Isaac Jogues, St. Pio, St. Dominic Savio, St. John Bosco, St. Therese of the Little Flower.

11. Can you recite the Apostles Creed by heart? Yes, and I encourage those who don't know it to memorize it as it is simple and important, and is the first prayer of the Rosary.

12. Do you usually say short prayers (aspirations) during the course of the day? Yes. Normally something like "Jesus please help me, Lord have Mercy, etc."

13. Bonus Question: When you pass by a automobile accident or other serious mishap, do you say a quick prayer for the folks involved? I try to remember to, thanks to a few years ago seeing a fellow Catholic doing so. She inspired me to do the same.

The Divine Nature of Jesus

I want to post this article on proofs for the Divine Nature of Jesus in response to a fellow co-worker of mine who believes that Jesus is the Son of God but not God, believing that the things that Jesus did (including the Resurrection) were simply God the Father's doing. I am providing text from the King James Version of the Bible, only because this seems to be the most widely accepted version of the Bible from various Religious groups. I would use my Catholic Revised Standard Version, but I am afraid an argument of text translation would ensue. So here I go:

First of all, I would like to remind folks that Jesus was crucified because He proclaimed Himself to be the Christ-God.

Matthew 26:63-66

"63But Jesus held his peace, And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.
64Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
65Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.
66What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death."

Jesus was more than just a "Good Man". He was and is the Christ Who is Lord.

Acts 2:36:
"36Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ."

I think one of the greatest verses I found was in Philippians 2:5-11

"5Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

OK, so Verse 6 seems to make that Jesus is actually God, and in verse 7 we see that Jesus "was made in the likeness of men". So you cannot say that Jesus was "just a man" with this verse in mind. Yes Jesus became man, but He was still God. Then in verses 10 and 11 we see that it is saying that Jesus is Lord and that we should bow down to Jesus. Now, if Jesus was ONLY a man, no matter how blessed, it would be idolatry to worship Him. BUT, since He is God, it is right that we should worship Him.

Finally, I found this very interesting verse in John 20:26-29:

"26And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
27Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
28And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God.
29Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast"

You really can't get much more clear here. Thomas called Jesus God, and Jesus never rebuked him for this.

and John 1:1-5 and verses 14-15

"1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2The same was in the beginning with God.
3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not."

"14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
15John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. "

The "Word was with God and the Word was God" and "the Word became flesh" make it pretty clear that Jesus was and is indeed God.

I understand that this subject can be complicated, and that is a mystery to humans that Jesus was and is God and that He became man. But the scriptures clearly point out that Jesus was and is God.

What Christmas is Really About

POPE CALLS UPON CHILDREN TO BEAR WITNESS TO JESUS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 21, 2006 (VIS) - In a traditional meeting for this time of year, the Pope today received a group of children from Italian Catholic Action, who came to the Vatican to wish him a happy Christmas.

Addressing the young people, the Holy Father made reference to the slogan - "Beautiful. True" - they had chosen for their formative journey this year. "Christmas," he said, "is the great mystery of the Truth and Beauty of God Who came among us for everyone's salvation. The birth of Jesus is not a fable, it is a story that really happened, in Bethlehem two thousand years ago. Faith brings us to recognize in that little Child born of the Virgin Mary, the true Son of God Who, out of love, chose to become man."

"In the face of the little Jesus," the Holy Father proceeded, "we contemplate the face of God, which is not revealed through force or power, but in weakness and the fragile constitution of a child. This 'Divine Child' ... demonstrates the faithfulness and tenderness of the boundless love with which God surrounds each of us. For this reason we rejoice at Christmas, reliving the same experience as the shepherds of Bethlehem."

"The wonder we feel before the enchantment of Christmas" is, said Benedict XVI, in some way reflected in the birth of all children, "and it invites us to recognize the Infant Jesus in all babies, who are the joy of the Church and the hope of the world."

The Pope assured the children of his trust in them and called upon them "to be friends and witnesses of Jesus, Who came among us in Bethlehem. Is it not a beautiful thing to make Him better known among your friends, in cities, in parishes and in your families? The Church needs you in order to be close to all the children and young people who live in Italy. Bear witness to the fact that Jesus takes away nothing of your joy, but makes you more human, more true, more beautiful."
AC/CHRISTMAS/CATHOLIC ACTION VIS 061221 (360)

Litany of Humility

Here is a great prayer I recommend to all of you. It is a prayer for Humility that was composed by Cardinal Merry del Val. It is a prayer, that to say with conviction is difficult. I encourage all of you if possible to say this after Mass or after Holy Communion in your parishes. Yes! Not just you, but if possible, with your priest's approval have your entire parish say it! That would be wonderful. Tell me if it works!

O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me.

From the desire of being esteemed, Deliver me, Jesus

From the desire of being loved,...

From the desire of being extolled,...

From the desire of being honored,...

From the desire of being praised,...

From the desire of being preferred to others,...

From the desire of being consulted,...

From the desire of being approved,.....

From the fear of being humiliated,....

From the fear of being despised,...

From the fear of suffering rebukes,...

From the fear of being calumniated,...

From the fear of being forgotten,...

From the fear of being ridiculed,...

From the fear of being wronged,...

From the fear of being suspected,...

That others may be loved more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That in the opinion of the world others may increase and I may decrease,...

That others may be chosen and I set aside,...

That others may be praised and I unnoticed,...

That others may be preferred to me in everything,...

That others become holier than I , provided that I may become as holy as I should,....

Another Important Prayer Request!

Tonight at work, a co-worker identified himself to me as a witch. We were in a debate about the Catholic Church and stuff, and I have this uncomfortable feeling around him (that doesn't necessarily mean anything though) I normally don't get when talking to other people about the Faith. He has a very matter of fact attitude. I wish I knew apologetics better than I do. I feel so dum sometimes when people present these very weird ideas and I have a hard time knowing what to say. I wonder why God choose me to witness when I am so unfit?! But God works in mysterious ways. I beg that you would please pray for me-that I would be a good witness and that God would protect me. Also, most importantly pray for the conversion of this soul--I BEG you! Please! Say a decade, or a rosary, or a offer a Holy Hour, or offer the Sacrifice of the Mass, --Please! Here are some things that he believes that I will try to study up on, but any help would be appreciated.

1. Homosexuality is not wrong

2. Jesus is not God, only the Son of God. (It's so weird, because it seems that he believes in the Bible)

3. That the Catholic Church is a man-made Church, and that the real Church exists only in our minds and hearts.

4. Catholics worship Mary and only the original Apostles were true Saints but the Catholic Church has no right to say that anyone else is a saint.

5. Jesus rose from the dead only because God rose Him from the dead and not because He was Divine.

These are just some of the things. Please keep me and him in your prayers! Thank you and God Bless!

Caption Contest

It's time for another Caption Contest. Please post any funny but clean comments below about the picture!

"Why didn't I just keep my day job!??"

Another update

Just wanted to post a really quick update as to the situation in my parish concerning the pouring of the Precious Blood to various chalices when it is supposed to be done before Consecration so as not to endanger the Lord's Blood. I met with my liturgist today and I really can't say if it was good or bad yet. She seemed to understand my concern and to agree for the most part. I think that if she had a total say in the matter the abuse would come to an end. She is going to take my request to our priest and another lady involved in liturgical matters, and also to our Diocesan liturgical committee that she is apart of. It seems doubtful that anything will be done, but PLEASE PLEASE PRAY for this, that the abuse would come to an end. Our Lord has suffered enough mistreatment! Thank you for your prayers!

Please join Mysterium Fidei and The Catholic Warrior in the new "I Pledge Support" Campaign. The Holy Father needs our prayers! He practically begs for them on a daily basis. Cardinal Levada estimates that on an average day, the Holy Father asks others to pray for him around 80 times. Wow! Shall we take this invitation seriously? Or just let it go in one ear and out the other? I hope each of you will post this on your blogs, and update it monthly with the Holy Father's intentions. Place this on your blogs, emails, desktops, send it to anyone, and everyone! Spread the word, the more the better.

BENEDICT XVI'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR APRIL

VATICAN CITY, 1 APR 2008 (VIS) - Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for April is: "That Christians, even in the difficult and complex situations of present-day society, may not tire of proclaiming with their lives that Christ's resurrection is the source of peace and of hope".

His mission intention is: "That the future priests of the young Churches may be constantly more formed culturally and spiritually to evangelise their nations and the whole world".
BXVI-PRAYER INTENTIONS/APRIL/... VIS 080401 (90)

Separation of Church and State

I found this recent article to be very interesting as it addresses the so misunderstood theme of separation of Church and State. It's separation of Church and State that's kicking God out of schools, out of government and out of our Country. By the way, the words "Separation of Church and State" are not found in the American Constitution but were first found in a letter from Thomas Jefferson who was not using these words like people like to twist them. Religion is a way of life and therefore cannot be totally separated from society. Yes, sadly our society may not be embracing Christianity, but it is embracing Humanism and Relativism. Below I have highlighted some of the great points our Pontiff makes....

STATE MUST RECOGNIZE PUBLIC RELEVANCE OF RELIGION

VATICAN CITY, DEC 9, 2006 (VIS) - The Pope today received participants in the 56th national study congress, promoted by the Union of Italian Catholic Jurists, which is being held in Rome on the theme: "Secularity and secularities."

The concept of secularity, said the Holy Father in his address to the group, originally referred to "the condition of simple faithful Christian, not belonging to the clergy or the religious state. During the Middle Ages it acquired the meaning of opposition between civil authorities and ecclesial hierarchies, and in modern times it has assumed the significance of the exclusion of religion and its symbols from public life by confining them to the private sphere and the individual conscience. In this way, the term secularity has acquired an ideological meaning quite opposite to the one it originally held."

Secularity today, then, "is understood as a total separation between State and Church, the latter not having any right to intervene in questions concerning the life and behavior of citizens. And such secularity even involves the exclusion of religious symbols from public places." In accordance with this definition, the Pope continued, "today we hear talk of secular thought, secular morals, secular science, secular politics. In fact, at the root of such a concept, is an a-religious view of life, thought and morals; that is, a view in which there is no place for God, for a Mystery that transcends pure reason, for a moral law of absolute value that is valid in all times and situations."

The Holy Father underlined the need "to create a concept of secularity that, on the one hand, grants God and His moral law, Christ and His Church, their just place in human life at both an individual and a social level, and on the other hand affirms and respects the 'legitimate autonomy of earthly affairs'."

The Church, the Pope reiterated, cannot intervene in politics, because that would "constitute undue interference." However, "'healthy secularity' means that the State does not consider religion merely as an individual sentiment that can be confined to the private sphere." Rather, it must be "recognized as a ... public presence. This means that all religious confessions (so long as they do not contrast the moral order and are not dangerous to public order) are guaranteed free exercise of their acts of worship."

Hostility against "any form of political or cultural relevance of religion," and in particular against "any kind of religious symbol in public institutions" is a degenerated form of secularity, said the Holy Father, as is "refusing the Christian community, and those who legitimately represent it, the right to pronounce on the moral problems that today appeal to the conscience of all human beings, particularly of legislators.

"This," he added, "does not constitute undue interference of the Church in legislative activity, which is the exclusive competence of the State, but the affirmation and the defense of those great values that give meaning to people's lives and safeguard their dignity. These values, even before being Christian, are human, and therefore cannot leave the Church silent and indifferent, when she has the duty firmly to proclaim the truth about man and his destiny."

The Pope concluded by highlighting the need "to bring people to understand that the moral law God gave us - and that expresses itself in us through the voice of conscience - has the aim not of oppressing us but of freeing us from evil and of making us happy. We must show that without God man is lost, and that the exclusion of religion from social life, and in particular the marginalization of Christianity, undermines the very foundations of human coexistence. Such foundations, indeed, before being of the social and political order, belong to the moral order."
AC/SECULARITY/... VIS 061211 (640)

Christmas Quiz (I know it's still Advent, but I guess I couldn't resist!)

You are 88% knowledgeable regarding Christmas culture.

CONGRATULATIONS!!! YOU DID IT! YOU PASSED! Now you're ready to go on to gotoquiz.com/how_christmas_are_you Have a blessed Christmas!

THE CHRISTMAS QUIZ
Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

I just took this quiz and really enjoyed it. BTW, I am not endorsing all of the quizzes on that site, but found this one to be good. I guess I did pretty good!

Talking About the Terrible "It"

What do you do when your talking about an unborn baby? You know, your talking on the phone with Suzy about Mary's pregnancy when you suddenly come to the crisis of what do you call the unborn child. OK. Normally you don't think of it as a crisis--- but seriously now. Which of these sentences would you most naturally and most likely say:

(Referring to the unborn baby)

A. "How old is it?"

B. "How old is he/she?"

C. "How old is your fetus?"

It depends on what you believe and how brainwashed by society you have become that would depend on your answer. Do you believe that an unborn child is a child? Or do you believe that the child is an "it"---not a child but a thing? Do you believe that this unborn human is simply a clump of tissues referred to as a fetus? If you believe that the baby is not a person, I ask you, when does "it" become a person? At birth? But the baby's heartbeat begins on the 21st day after conception, and electrical brain waves have been recorded as early as forty days after conception. So what exact moment does the "it" become a somebody??? It's a question people have pondered for a very long time, but there is a simple answer: Life begins at conception. Period. God gives each individual their soul at that exact moment. It's not when the baby is born, or when the parents take the child home. It's at the exact moment of conception. In the Bible in Jeremiah 1:5 it says: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations." The Catechism of the Catholic Church says, "Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person- among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life." (CCC 2270) (Bold marks added)

The Catechism really nails the point here. It says that at conception an unborn baby should be recognized as a human and have every human right. We would never think of calling a toddler and "it", so why should we to an unborn baby. If the sex of the child is unknown, it is appropriate to simply call the child "him". Please, I know it's hard for some of us to stop using this terrible pronoun, but please, never call a child "it"!

The Next Generation...

EDUCATION, A TASK FOR PARENTS, TEACHERS AND PASTORS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 5, 2006 (VIS) - Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B. sent a message to Luciano Corradini, national president of the Italian Catholic Union of Middle School Teachers (UCIIM), and to participants in that association's 22nd national congress. The congress was held in Rome recently on the theme: "Education in schools. New scenarios, new responsibilities."

In his message, the cardinal gives assurances of Benedict XVI's appreciation for the activities of the UCIIM which, he recalls, was founded by Gesualdo Nosengo in 1944 and "works actively in schools, promoting initiatives for the cultural and didactic aggiornamento of teachers, showing particular concern for their religious and spiritual growth, and supporting all initiatives that effectively seek to promote the education of youth. [The Pope] encourages you to continue along this path, facing the challenges of the modern age with farsighted courage."

Cardinal Bertone continues: "The formation of new generations, as never before in history, calls for much shared reflection, and for the preparation of educational and pastoral strategies aimed at meeting the expectations of the world of youth in the third millennium. It is necessary to transmit to young people an appreciation of the positive value of life, arousing in them the desire to spend their own lives in the service of Good. And this requires a responsible contribution on everyone's part: teachers, parents, pastors and all people who truly have the future of humanity at heart."
SS/EDUCATION:UCIIM/BERTONE VIS 061205 (250)

I found this article to be very interesting. Cardinal Bertone says: "The formation of new generations, as never before in history,..."

It is so vital that the youth today are educated. The future rests in the hands of the next generation, and what I see so far is not so good. Today, Catholic children know next to nothing about their faith for one of two reasons. 1. Because their parents don't know their faith or 2. Because the parents just don't think it's very important or are afraid to teach the faith. We are running out of time. Too many souls leave this earth without faith. The time for conversion is now! We must pass on the Faith! Please do your part by studying your Faith, and by not being ashamed to stand up for it. If you have children to do not hesitate to teach them. God has placed a moral responsibility on all parents to pass down the Faith, and to not fulfill that obligation would be a grave matter. Matthew 28:19-20: "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you". If you will not teach who will?

Thank You Faithful Catholics!

Just wanted to say a quick "Thank you!" to all of you who were praying for the Pope's protection on his trip to Turkey! I am so relieved he got back safely! Have a great day! God Bless!

December Officially dedicated to The Holy Infancy.

Adorable Child Jesus, in You wisdom resides, divinity dwells, and all eternal riches are found. You are the beauty of Heaven, the delight of the Angels, and the salvation of mankind. Here I am prostrated at Your feet, O source of innocence, purity, and holiness. Although I am a slave of sin, I belong to You by the undeniable right of Your sovereignty.

I hereby render to You as my Lord-my King and my dignified and most adorable Savior-my faith and my homage with the shepherds, and my act of adoration with the Magi. I give myself entirely and without restriction into Your powerful hands, which drew all the universe from nothingness and preserved it in the admirable order that we see.

O lovable Child, grant that as a result of my total devotion to honoring the mystery of Your divine Childhood, I may have the happiness-through the mediation of Your holy Mother and St. Joseph, Your foster father-to live all the rest of my life in You, for You, and under the direction of Your divine Spirit. AMEN.

This year, try to make Christmas about Christ. It's not about all of the fuss of shopping for gifts, and going to parties, and traveling to family. It is about Christ. It's not just some birthday party for Jesus either. It's celebrating much more. Namely that the Word became Flesh. God became man. (Although Jesus is 100% God and also 100% man--- something we can't understand) This event in history changed the entire course of history. Millions and billions of lives have been changed because of Jesus. Then, we also recall the summit of Jesus' time on earth--- His death on the cross. He was born to die. But He conquered death so that we may have life! Praise Jesus this Christmas and worship HIM. Give thanks to the Savior of the World!