Spooky Christmas for a Large Blended Family

How can Christmas ever be spooky? It can be when a couple and their nine children face the cold weather in December to visit 9 cemeteries in their local area on a bright Christmas Day.

Are they planning to give their presents to the dead? Isn't Christmas about spending time with family with lots of cheers, singing carols, and gift-giving? Isn't the true meaning of Christmas about Jesus?

The 9 children wore their winter jackets and jumped into their two vans. The activity is nothing strange to them. Mom and Dad, in separate vans, drove the children to the first cemetery near their neighborhood. For one thing, South Carolina has a seemingly endless number of grave sites per square miles. Since Upstate Greenville is considered a part of the Bible belt, the area is infiltrated with Protestant Churches with cemeteries on their properties.

Dad and Mom pulled out their novena sheets containing 9 prayers for each cemetery that they will visit. The couple passed it to their children and each gathered together in a circle.

The 18-year old teenager boy led the group in the first novena prayer for the "Holy Souls". After the prayers, each child pulled out their list. Each child's list contains people they know in their lives who had passed away. Some were their Great Uncles and Aunts, others were their friends in school, some were relatives that recently died, and others were family friends.

At the end of their intentions, they fervently prayed for the very special personal petition to God. Then, off they ran to their vans and proceeded to go to the cemetery number 2.

There are important Catholic values that are imparted by Dad and Mom in this unique Family Christmas tradition. Christmas has been a gift-giving tradition in our society. Christian children are clear in understanding the Christmas celebration is about the birth of Jesus. What can we give our Lord as a Christmas present? Didn't God give His only Son as His gift to mankind?

We want to teach our children to give a gift is to have a generous heart. Generosity requires a certain degree of sacrifice. Each present they receive is a result of a person who sacrificed their resources - money and time, to be able to give them something they will enjoy this Christmas. What would Jesus enjoy receiving this Christmas?

The answer is "souls, souls, souls".

Our Lady of Medjugorje in 1983 said "It is not on All Souls' Day but at Christmas that the greatest numbers of souls leave purgatory." As we watch our children open their presents early Christmas morning, many souls are rejoicing. The gates of heaven are opened for them after some time in purgatory.

The couple also saw it as an opportunity for the children to be in action to actually save souls. Like they are some sort of superheroes with irresistible powers to soften the heart of God so that the distraught, sufferings souls' eager to see God will actually be with Him.

The children also noticed how they were drawn to Protestant cemeteries. They asked their parents why they keep coming back to the same gravesite. The 15-year old boy remarked to his little brothers that Protestant cemeteries almost look similar. The family marveled at how they probably were the only ones that ever thought of praying for these souls.

Christian denominations keep saying that Purgatory denies the sacrifice of Christ. But, purgatory is Christ giving us the opportunity to participate in His Sufferings so as to achieve holiness necessary to enter heaven.

The role of indulgences in this Christmas tradition cannot be neglected. The word indulgence originally meant kindness or favor. In the Old Testament it meant release from captivity or punishment.

In these modern times, indulgences are downplayed in the Catholic loop. The Fundamentalists challenge the Catholics so much in this angle that most Catholics shy away from even attempting to understand it.

By receiving the sacrament of penance our sins are forgiven but, we aren't let off the hook as far as punishment goes. Purgatory is seen as a place of purification to be worthy to be with our God.

In visiting a cemetery, one gains a partial indulgence. It does not wipe away the time in purgatory like a plenary indulgence would but God uses the partial indulgence as He sees fit for purgatory is not measured in time and space.

Dad explained to the children what the requirements are so the children can gain the fruits of the indulgence. To receive a partial indulgence: one has to recite the prayer or do the act of charity; one has to be in a state of grace; and the other is having a general intention.

Children smiled for they all had the prerequisites. They just lined up for confession last Saturday before Christmas. Going to each cemetery in the cold, chilly weather without complaints to their parents is an act of charity. And, most of all, they are offering this novena for a general intention: for the departed souls in purgatory.

As the day ends and toward the last few cemeteries, Mom and Dad are tired and hungry. They were waiting for cues for the little ones to be like cats on a hot tin roof. No one did. Everyone was focused on completing the task.

The family came home at sunset. Teaching moments on sacrifice, purgatory, indulgences, novenas, generosity, and the meaning of Christmas were hopefully ingrained not only in their minds but hearts as well.

What is the bottom line of this Christmas activity?

Parents must go out of their comfort zones and do something out of the ordinary to stamp a seed of faith on special occasions in their children's lives. Savor those precious moments with the children to create an impact on their own little world where their thoughts can be directed to service for others through acts of charity and prayers. We want Heaven for our children.