December 16, 2012
Third Sunday of Advent
Page 9
St. Boniface’s Christmas Tree Saint Boniface’s birth name was Winfrith. He was born in Crediton (England) in the year 680. At an early age he felt that he was called to become a priest. First he went to a Benedictine monastic school at Exeter. He was a competent scholar. After a few years he went to another monastery at Nursling. There he became a Benedictine monk and later a Catholic priest. At the age of 36, in the year 716, he set off for the area known as Frisia (near modern day Holland), and embarked upon a mission to bring Christianity to the pagan peoples of the region. Finding it a great challenge to get his message across to these Norse pagans, Winfrith decided to go to Rome to seek some help for his conversion mission. He met with Pope Gregory. The Pope was impressed by Winfrith and his love of learning and his desire to spread Christianity. It was here that Winfrith was given the name Boniface by the Pope. In 722 Boniface was made a bishop and sent north to what is now central Germany. Although he was a bishop, he had no defined boundaries to his new “diocese”. He built an Abbey at Fulda (some 90 km North East of the modern city of Frankfurt). It became his spiritual domicile. He spent the next 30 years of his life establishing abbeys, monasteries and other religious centers, throughout central Europe. He was made an Archbishop in 732 by Pope Gregory II. For many years Boniface longed to return to the challenge of converting the northern pagans of Frisia. In his early 70s, he left his position at Fulda and set off with a party of fellow monks bound for Frisia. As legend has it, upon his return to the north, Boniface came across a human sacrifice taking place at the foot of an oak tree (oak trees were symbolic of the Pagan god Thor) in Geismar. Boniface stopped the sacrifice and took an axe and chopped down the mighty tree. Then, pointing to an evergreen (fir tree) that was growing at the roots of the fallen oak, Boniface said, “This humble tree's wood is used to build your homes: let Christ be at the centre of your households. Its leaves remain evergreen in the darkest days: let Christ be your constant light. Its boughs reach out to embrace and its top points to heaven: let Christ be your comfort and guide.” Legend has it that he used the triangular shape of the fir tree to describe the Holy Trinity of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Soon word of Boniface’s actions spread throughout the region. Pagans in the region began to accept Christianity as their belief. Most of the region however, was still problematic and hostile toward Christianity. On the June 5th, 754 Boniface and his fellow monks were attacked while on their way to spread the gospel to the town of Dokkum, Boniface was killed. His body was taken by the monks back to Fulda, and was eventually interred in the Abbey. Today this tomb is located in a crypt beneath the high altar of the baroque Cathedral at Fulda. He was canonized as a Saint shortly after his martyrdom. His feast day is June 5th. (Sources: The Catholic Encyclopedia, National Shrine to St Boniface, U.K.)
Submitted by Kevin Neis
CATHOLIC CHARITIES SERVES NEEDY FAMILIES
Attention Parishioners and Visitors Please consider spending an hour with our Lord. Adorers are needed for the following hours:
Sunday 2am Thursday 3pm Friday 6pm Saturday 11am Saturday noon Saturday 5pm Please consider visiting with our Lord at this time. Call Barb at 630-885-1726 or blandiak@gmail.com
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet, hopes to make Christmas a little brighter for low income and homeless families in DuPage County. This year, through the Agency's Holiday Outreach Program, approximately one thousand children and their parents have already been "adopted" by donors and parishes. Although most families were "adopted" during the early fall months, Catholic Charities is still in great need of monetary donations to purchase gift cards for food and clothing for families who will ask for our help before and during the Christmas holidays. Your donation to purchase food and gift cards for these families and their children may be mailed to Catholic Charities' Holiday Outreach Program, 26 W. St. Charles Road, Lombard, IL 60148. If you prefer, you may donate small denomination ($10, $25 and $50) gift cards for area grocery stores and department stores (example: Target, Wal-Mart, Kmart, and Kohl's). Catholic Charities relies on the continued generosity of the community to help them serve every needy family. Thank you and God bless you.