I heard a variation on the stable bit that it was the most private place, except for the animals, and therefore the most appropriate place for the birth of a child.
> They were relegated to the undercroft of the house
So basically he was born in the garage as I imagine it (not that it was garage-like in structure or content, but here in hilly territory garages are often in the basement of the house, as though "in" the house but not "of" the house.)
> Do we want him in our lives?
And at what price to ourselves? ("(Costing not less than everything)" per Little Gidding but he usually works up to it gradually.) Another good question is "what would I do if I were not afraid?" (Why do I not do thus-and-such? Because I am afraid to.)
The ongoing situation in Newark is yet another troubling chapter in the persistent crisis of abuse within the Catholic Church. While Ed Condon accurately highlights the foot-dragging of civil authorities and their potential politicization, the deeper issue is clear: the Church should never have to rely on outside authorities for accountability. True accountability must come from within the institution itself.
The Church holds a fundamental responsibility to uphold its own integrity and protect its community. When secular authorities are called upon to address misconduct, it signals that the Church is unable—or unwilling—to govern itself effectively. This reliance undermines its moral authority and places victims at the mercy of external systems that may be slow or politicized.
A few problems with the introduction. Joseph was NOT from Bethlehem. He was a descendant of the House of David and therefore was required to register and pay according to Roman taxation methods at the tribal centre. There would not necessarily be a “family home”.
Diversorium was the closest that Saint Jerome got and we should remember that Saint Jerome was actually writing the Vulgate in Bethlehem itself, literally yards from the site of the Nativity itself. Had he wished to say “family home” he would not have used “Diversorium” but more likely “domus”, the generic catchall for “ house, home, family home” or even “palace” or, maybe, at a stretch “oppidum”. By using the commercial “diversorium”, he was clearly not suggesting there was a rejection by family but simply no room for a carpenter when the entire House of David was descending on the place. Sometimes, modern “Biblical scholars” need to rein in their imagination. 😉
However, the general principle remains sound. Merry Christmas.
--Saint Jerome was translating from the Greek, and the Greek is indisputable on this point. Luke uses the word "kataluma" (as he does for the upper room later) and not the word "pandocheion," which is the greek word for a hotel-type place, which Luke uses in the story of Good Samaritan.
--I think the text is also clear that Joseph's relatives were in Bethlehem.
-- It's also an entirely plausible read (and perhaps the most logical given the circumstances) to think that Joseph or his father were from Bethlehem, and went north like a lot of craftsmen for the Herodian building boom. It's speculative, but not unreasonable, I don't think.
New subscriber here because I like all of The Pillar’s work but most recently because I am loving the Sunday School podcast of weekly readings and commentary. Thank you for true journalistic integrity, enlightening commentary, frequent amusement and now you top this all of with a clip from Muppets Christmas Carol?!? Now you officially have a very big fan 🙂 A most blessed Christmas to all of you and may you have rest and joy during this break. God bless you all.
// “The conversion that we need must truly reach into the depths of our relationship with reality,” Benedict taugh. “Let us ask the Lord that we may become vigilant for his presence, that we may hear how softly yet insistently he knocks at the door of our being and willing. Let us ask that we may make room for him within ourselves, that we may recognize him also in those through whom he speaks to us: children, the suffering, the abandoned, those who are excluded and the poor of this world.”
I hope I’ll open the door. I hope that you will too. //
I am very much afraid that we have got into the habit of doing all this in groups, and not as individual human beings. The modern world is so much with us, in its unending and unescapable noise and blather, that we are losing the ability to think - and to feel - outside herds. One frequent critique of modernity is that we are becoming atomized, unable to find and cherish an abiding sense of community. I think it's rather that we are being torn away from old groups in order that we can more easily be pushed into new groups, which themselves are constantly dissolving. Groupthink churn rules, even and perhaps especially in religion. We *can* resist this, but perhaps we are losing any desire to.
// To my way of thinking, it looks increasingly like NJ’s attorney general announced a task force when it was politically expedient for state politicians to do so, and then promptly relegated the whole affair to some underfunded back office. //
Isn't that standard procedure for bureaucracies? It's only efficient. Scratch the itch and move on. The Vatican does it. So do they all.
Merry Christmas to you and your family, JD! Thank you for your support, friendship, and witness to Christ!
I think I heard the "inn" bit from Sunday School, and I cribbed it for my Christmas bulletin message. Merry Christmas all y'all!
I heard a variation on the stable bit that it was the most private place, except for the animals, and therefore the most appropriate place for the birth of a child.
> They were relegated to the undercroft of the house
So basically he was born in the garage as I imagine it (not that it was garage-like in structure or content, but here in hilly territory garages are often in the basement of the house, as though "in" the house but not "of" the house.)
> Do we want him in our lives?
And at what price to ourselves? ("(Costing not less than everything)" per Little Gidding but he usually works up to it gradually.) Another good question is "what would I do if I were not afraid?" (Why do I not do thus-and-such? Because I am afraid to.)
Wow...intro was truly touching and to the point....Ok fair warning JD...I am so stealing parts of it for my Christmas homily...just sayin'....
Amigo, I can think of no better compliment.
Merry Christmas and thank you for your ministry!!
The ongoing situation in Newark is yet another troubling chapter in the persistent crisis of abuse within the Catholic Church. While Ed Condon accurately highlights the foot-dragging of civil authorities and their potential politicization, the deeper issue is clear: the Church should never have to rely on outside authorities for accountability. True accountability must come from within the institution itself.
The Church holds a fundamental responsibility to uphold its own integrity and protect its community. When secular authorities are called upon to address misconduct, it signals that the Church is unable—or unwilling—to govern itself effectively. This reliance undermines its moral authority and places victims at the mercy of external systems that may be slow or politicized.
I keep asking: is there no shame?
A few problems with the introduction. Joseph was NOT from Bethlehem. He was a descendant of the House of David and therefore was required to register and pay according to Roman taxation methods at the tribal centre. There would not necessarily be a “family home”.
Diversorium was the closest that Saint Jerome got and we should remember that Saint Jerome was actually writing the Vulgate in Bethlehem itself, literally yards from the site of the Nativity itself. Had he wished to say “family home” he would not have used “Diversorium” but more likely “domus”, the generic catchall for “ house, home, family home” or even “palace” or, maybe, at a stretch “oppidum”. By using the commercial “diversorium”, he was clearly not suggesting there was a rejection by family but simply no room for a carpenter when the entire House of David was descending on the place. Sometimes, modern “Biblical scholars” need to rein in their imagination. 😉
However, the general principle remains sound. Merry Christmas.
And what of the tradition that Our Lord was born in a cave, a place where animals were kept?
Ancient Christian writers and early liturgical texts use the word, "cave" for the place of the birth of the Son of God.
The the grotto in the Church of the Holy Nativity in Bethlehem also attests to this.
does that not fit with a kind of domestic undercroft (where animals were kept)?
since a lot of judean houses were built into cliffs/bluffs, etc, these don't seem mutually exclusive to me!
Hey Mike! Merry Christmas. Couple thoughts:
--Saint Jerome was translating from the Greek, and the Greek is indisputable on this point. Luke uses the word "kataluma" (as he does for the upper room later) and not the word "pandocheion," which is the greek word for a hotel-type place, which Luke uses in the story of Good Samaritan.
--I think the text is also clear that Joseph's relatives were in Bethlehem.
-- It's also an entirely plausible read (and perhaps the most logical given the circumstances) to think that Joseph or his father were from Bethlehem, and went north like a lot of craftsmen for the Herodian building boom. It's speculative, but not unreasonable, I don't think.
Yeah, we need to agree on “speculative”. Cheers
Modern scholars modernize, which means they re-interpret. What happened in history doesn't change. Be sceptical of re-interpretations.
New subscriber here because I like all of The Pillar’s work but most recently because I am loving the Sunday School podcast of weekly readings and commentary. Thank you for true journalistic integrity, enlightening commentary, frequent amusement and now you top this all of with a clip from Muppets Christmas Carol?!? Now you officially have a very big fan 🙂 A most blessed Christmas to all of you and may you have rest and joy during this break. God bless you all.
Merry Christmas! Thanks for including the Rembrandt!
Merry Christmas, all!
// “The conversion that we need must truly reach into the depths of our relationship with reality,” Benedict taugh. “Let us ask the Lord that we may become vigilant for his presence, that we may hear how softly yet insistently he knocks at the door of our being and willing. Let us ask that we may make room for him within ourselves, that we may recognize him also in those through whom he speaks to us: children, the suffering, the abandoned, those who are excluded and the poor of this world.”
I hope I’ll open the door. I hope that you will too. //
I am very much afraid that we have got into the habit of doing all this in groups, and not as individual human beings. The modern world is so much with us, in its unending and unescapable noise and blather, that we are losing the ability to think - and to feel - outside herds. One frequent critique of modernity is that we are becoming atomized, unable to find and cherish an abiding sense of community. I think it's rather that we are being torn away from old groups in order that we can more easily be pushed into new groups, which themselves are constantly dissolving. Groupthink churn rules, even and perhaps especially in religion. We *can* resist this, but perhaps we are losing any desire to.
// Closer to home, Catholics in the U.S. have been outraged this week //
Maybe. I don't know any.
// To my way of thinking, it looks increasingly like NJ’s attorney general announced a task force when it was politically expedient for state politicians to do so, and then promptly relegated the whole affair to some underfunded back office. //
Isn't that standard procedure for bureaucracies? It's only efficient. Scratch the itch and move on. The Vatican does it. So do they all.
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas to the writers, readers, and commenters of The Pillar. I appreciate you all (as I wait for midnight mass)
Thanks Nathaniel, same to you and yours, brother! I appreciate you too!