My two older children (7 &8) are reaching the age where they starting to question Santa Claus. The questions have already begun that show the underlying story is beginning to crack under the weight of age and experience. I realize that some Christians don’t do the Santa myth for various reasons. I respect their faith and reason, but I don’t happen to agree and I don’t wish to argue it here. I like this time with Santa. They grow out of it quickly enough. I grew up with Santa and it didn’t hurt my faith.
I am trying to cherish this year. I suspect that for my oldest children this is the last year in which they can really enjoy the anticipation and mystery of Santa’s visit. As mentioned, they are starting to ask questions but they only probe so far, possibly afraid of what they might find. They, like me, are reticent to give up the fantasy. They like it enough to suppress their suspicious little natures, for a while.
So like I said, I have been trying to cherish what might be the last year with Santa. I have been careful to avoid any shows that might question his existence. With less than two weeks to go I thought I had it made. Then in stepped Fr. Look At ME.
I have written about Fr. Look At ME (LAME) a few times before, usually in frustration. Fr. LAME is an occasional visiting priest to my parish. His antics are a continuing source of frustration for me as all his actions (including ad libbing Eucharistic prayers, interrupting the liturgy to tell a story, walking all over the church during his ridiculously long and pointless homilies, and making a John & Yoko lovefest our of the Sign of Peace) scream Look At Me rather than look to Jesus.
So today when we got to mass today and I saw that Fr. LAME was visiting I exchanged glances with my wife. We have run into Fr. LAME enough times that I can usually block him out sufficiently to focus on the mass. After the homily today, I was so peeved that I was seeing red. For the first time, the family and I left right after the dismissal so as to avoid him in the narthex after mass. I was so angry that I feared saying something I would regret. I actually came up with a few good regrettable comments earlier, that is why I thought it better to leave early.
Fr. LAME starts off his homily by saying “There is a rumor going around that there is no Santa Claus. That he is made up and everybody knows it!” My kids immediately looked at with questioning and troubled eyes. I did my best to reassure them through my gestures, but it seemed to have little effect.
Father continued by telling the story of a boy who was questioning Santa Claus. All his friends had stopped believing so the troubled boy went to his Gramma to find out the truth. Gramma always tells the truth you see. Like when she says her cookies are world famous, they must be because Gramma says so. My kids know when I say my cookies are world famous that I am just making it up because kids are smart.
Gramma tells the little boy that there is a Santa. Santa is when we show love and charity to our neighbor. She illustrates it by having the little boy buy a coat for a needy boy in his class. See Bobby, there is a Santa Claus. Santa Claus is every time we love a neighbor. Bah Humbug.
Sorry Gramma, Sorry Fr. LAME, Santa is a fat bearded guy that comes down my chimney on Christmas Eve to deliver presents to good boys and girls. That is what I have been telling my kids. What gives you the right to ruin it?
This particular mass was the teen mass so there were plenty of young families and children around. I looked around while this assault on the dreams of children was unfolding and I saw other worried parents exchanging worried looks. The children were all riveted, since Fr. had mentioned Santa.
My seven year old son seemed unaffected by the homily and was asking Mom where he left his Nintendo DS at the end. But my eight year old daughter, who listed to every word of that homily, seemed deep in thought at the end. She didn’t look at me or bother to ask about it after which worries me even more.
I am furious. I have had it with this priest. Isn’t it bad enough that he messes with the liturgy, now he has to mess with Santa? What gave him the right to say such a thing to a church full of children? I feel doubly angry because I feel as helpless as I am outraged. I have called and left messages for my Pastor twice before after Fr. LAME has meddled with Eucharistic prayers. My Pastor has never bothered to even return my calls. So there is little to no chance that he will give a wit about Santa.
I just wanted one more year for her. One more year with the gleeful suspension of disbelief. One more year of mystery and joy. You can never get that time back. They can never get that time back. I just wanted one more year of the joy of Santa for my little girl. I never expected to have the mystery and joy of Santa stolen from us at mass.
The one story about Jolly ol’ St. Nick that keeps repeating in my mind is that time when he punched the heretic Arias at the Council of Nicea. Boy I wish St. Nick was around today. He would have known what to do.
December 16, 2008 at 3:55 am
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December 16, 2008 at 4:13 am
My two cents worth..
Some of the dear priests we have today have seemingly lost their Faith, and are encouraging others to do so. Santa should not have been subject matter at the Mass for one thing. Secondly if you point out to a priest his errors in liturgy, etc., they get extremely hostile. Christians are constantly told not to judge, but at the same time it seems OK to judge the Christian..
December 16, 2008 at 4:46 am
Hahahaha… What I really need to know now is what DGS must have said that was so egregious to be deleted in this thread full of ridiculous comments. (My own included, obviously!)
And in a rare alignment of opinions, I have to concur with David in offering my congratulations to Patrick and Matthew for a thread of over 80 comments on this apparently very controversial topic of the Santa sermon! A spirited debate from all sides…
~cmpt
December 16, 2008 at 4:57 am
A note to all those who think themselves so clever in their multiplication of The-Cold-Hard-Truth scenarios:
Just because you can’t lie doesn’t mean you suddenly have to answer every question painfully truthfully. “That’s all I’ll say” or “I can’t tell you that” still work, you know.
Moreover, to Foxfier in particular: telling a child that babies “grow in mommy’s tummy because mommy and daddy love each other so much” isn’t a lie. That’s pretty much what goes down, you are just omitting some of the mechanical details. I never said you have to tell the whole truth, just the truth. Of course, you do have to tell the whole truth when the whole truth is owed to the questioning party. But children are rarely owed the whole truth.
~cmpt
December 16, 2008 at 5:08 am
Just because you can’t lie doesn’t mean you suddenly have to answer every question painfully truthfully
DING DING DING DING!!!!!
December 16, 2008 at 5:23 am
Foxfier,
“DING DING DING DING!!!!!”
I hope you realize then, that this argument means that when your children ask where all those presents under the Christmas tree came from, saying “Santa Claus” would be a lie, so the only two possible answers are “us” and “I can’t tell you that.” I’m thinking the latter answer might be a little awkward. Hahaha…
~cmpt
December 16, 2008 at 5:36 am
You’re quite lacking in imagination if you think that “Santa” and “I can’t say” are the only answers.
A smile and a chiding “don’t you know Santa brings presents for the good girls and boys?” is another answer– and one that fits VERY solidly into section two of that link.
Other answers:
They’re Christmas presents.
Read the lables.
Why don’t we find out?
December 16, 2008 at 5:56 am
So be it, but that is a precarious game you seem to play there. Of course, one of my ulterior motives here is that when kids find out that Santa really doesn’t exist, it doesn’t undermine parental authority and credibility. “They’re Christmas presents” seems to work nicely. I still don’t understand why there is such a taboo on just telling the kids “they’re from us.” Why is that not acceptable?
Christmas morning at my house if/when I have kids:
– “Wow, where did all these presents come from?”
– “Well, it’s Christmas, and we love you, so we got you some gifts to celebrate Jesus’ birthday. Wanna come see what they are?”
– “Cool, which one can we open first?”
I can assure you that they will not take a moment’s pause to consider that the presents are not from Santa before ripping into all that wrapping paper. And then I’d teach them to go around debunking Santa for the fraud that he is to all the other little 3rd graders at the parish school, much to the dismay of parents like you and Patrick. Hahaha…
~cmpt
December 16, 2008 at 6:37 am
I’m sure we’re all overjoyed that you are pleased with other solutions.
Or at least we’re glad you’ve stopped calling everyone liars.
December 16, 2008 at 6:51 am
Maybe I’m just another one of those crazy “point scoring” egomaniacal youths, but I side squarely with Christopher Michael on this issue. This blog is one I always read but never comment on though I must say I was truly taken aback by how viciously you treated CM, simply for standing up for the truth. And if all I have to look forward to with middle age, is losing zeal for the defending The Faith (In Christ and His Church, which isn’t a mere fairy tale) than that is a very sad future indeed.
“think more, comment less”
I think CM has thought out his opinion better than anyone else on this seemingly pointless thread. Fr. LAME may be fruitcake, but Christopher is nothing other than logical, thoughtful, and CORRECT.
TOOUUUUCCCCHHHDDDOOOWWNNNN!!!!!!
December 16, 2008 at 7:00 am
Eric,
I can see we are going to be good friends… 😉 I echo your sentiments about losing zeal for the Faith in middle age. Notice that “maturity” is a big code word around here for “willing to make compromises when the finer points of the Faith are inconvenient.” Naturally, I am quite “immature” and I’m afraid you might be too!
~cmpt
December 16, 2008 at 7:08 am
Foxfier,
Do not mistake me: If you tell your children that there exists a man known as Santa Claus who delievers presents each Christmas Eve to all the world’s children, then, yes, you are a liar. That is a finding of fact, not a point for debate. Now, I am not saying that anybody here does that, so I’m not calling anybody a liar. But a liar nonetheless is the one who tells his such children such a thing.
You and I have been engaging in a discussion of how to subtlely avoid this lie while still maintaining the “mystery” of Christmas morning. That does not mean I’ve retracted my previous comments.
~cmpt
December 16, 2008 at 7:23 am
Hey Christopher, I don’t know about you, but when I explain the life of St. Thomas Aquinas to children (of course I call him Santa Aquaman), I ALWAYS mention the “fact” that he rides around the equator of the earth on a giant pickle, wearing scuba gear and handing out free concert tickets to good girls and boys. I know it may be somewhat less-than-true, but you just HAVE to see the looks on their cute little faces!
What? quit spreading lies?
OH GROW UP CHRISTOPHER!! Don’t you know that St. Thomas really lived a real life, so obviously my story is a useful learning tool for these youngsters.
TTTTOOOUUUCCCHHHDDDOOOWWWNNN!!!!!
(that satisfied my ego sooooo nicely thank you)
December 16, 2008 at 7:37 am
cmpt-
You’ve made it quite clear that nothing– not love of your brother, not appeal to reason, not polite appeals, not quotes of the same source you pull from, not rational arguments and not even your OWN argument– “doesn’t mean you suddenly have to answer every question painfully truthfully”– will reach you.
Your mind is set. We get it. Alright already.
Enough with the broken record.
December 16, 2008 at 7:47 am
Eric,
How dare you? What gives you the right to spill the beans on Santa Aquaman? Now my children’s lives are completely ruined because you’ve told them the truth. You must be one of those Mr. LAME types. I can see your kind coming from a mile away: ruthlessly committed to the truth, unwilling to lie at all, defending the dignity of Priests. You’re a disgrace, you are. I hope you’re happy with yourself: all the joy has gone out of my children’s lives now. What will they do with all their presents from me now every March 7th on the Feast of Santa Aquaman?
By the way, you must be a heretic who denies the communion of Saints, since you don’t actually believe that Santa Aquaman is the exact same thing as Saint Thomas Aquinas.
~cmpt
December 16, 2008 at 8:01 am
Foxfier,
Sadly, I have spent the better part of my free time today simply trying to make careful distinctions (since of this all debate truly consists) about my argument against Patrick’s post. Now this:
‘You’ve made it quite clear that nothing– not love of your brother, not appeal to reason, not polite appeals, not quotes of the same source you pull from, not rational arguments and not even your OWN argument– “doesn’t mean you suddenly have to answer every question painfully truthfully”– will reach you.’
This makes it painfully clear that you haven’t picked up on a single one of those careful distinctions. It is akin to a small child throwing buckets of paint all over an exquisitely detailed painting. I hope you can understand my frustration…
~cmpt
December 16, 2008 at 8:25 am
. It isn’t Father’s job to amuse your children, but to save them…
I don’t condone beating up on Father for letting the truth slip in a sermon.
Technically, laymen never have any right to publicly rebuke a Priest.
everybody here already hates me anyway, I should point out the obvious about the Santa Claus myth: Telling your children that there exists a Santa Claus who delivers presents to every child in the world each Christmas Eve is – oh, what’s the word – a lie.
But it is always better to err on the side of utmost respect for the dignity of a Priest
Looking for your careful distinctions…. lots of bold assertions, sure, but lacking in the careful distinctions; in fact, when someone offers a polite and careful distinction, you either ignore it or yell “liar!” or “Augustine!”
December 16, 2008 at 10:43 am
Foxfier,
I take it as a great compliment that you seem to think I’ve done little more than yell “Augustine!” in response to your posts. If only more people did the same.
And if I’ve ignored anything, it is on account of my inability to dialogue simultaneously with all of my detractors.
“It isn’t Father’s job to amuse your children, but to save them…”
You don’t think this is a correct and worthwhile distinction? It is. A Priest is not there to be your friend, (though he certainly may be) he is there to save you from eternal damnation. Or do you deny this?
“I don’t condone beating up on Father for letting the truth slip in a sermon.”
As I’ve said before, Father debunking Santa is not a good reason to be furious with him or to call him “Father LAME.” Why? Because Santa Claus just is not important. He doesn’t matter. Nobody should care about Santa Claus. People should care about making sure they go to Heaven.
“Technically, laymen never have any right to publicly rebuke a Priest.”
I shouldn’t have said “never.” Only in the most profoundly dire and rarest circumstances is it permissible. The role of Saints Catherine of Siena and Bridget of Sweden in ending the Avignon Papacy is an example.
“Telling your children that there exists a Santa Claus who delivers presents to every child in the world each Christmas Eve is – oh, what’s the word – a lie.”
It is a lie. As I’ve already said, this myth is taught to children with the intent to deceive, which is textbook definition of lying. You don’t like this distinction because you don’t wish to think that parents who teach their children that Santa Claus is real are lying to them. But they are. There is no way around this fact. Anything you say to the contrary is merely an attempt to make the lie okay. That’s fine. But don’t try to say that it isn’t a lie.
“But it is always better to err on the side of utmost respect for the dignity of a Priest.”
Read Saint Alphonsus Liguori’s The Dignity and Duties of the Priest and get back to me. Why would you not err on the side of utmost respect for the dignity of a Priest? You are Catholic, no?
~cmpt
December 16, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Please don’t tell me you people were up all night with this. We’re now approaching one hundred comments. If this were a telethon, we would have hired Jerry Lewis by now.
Come to think of it, that’s still not a bad idea.
December 16, 2008 at 3:13 pm
I’d be interested to know if anyone can find a reference from, say, 50 years ago, of a Catholic priest who says that the Santa Claus myth is “a lie” and those who continue to spread it are “liars.” Why 50 years ago? Because it is before weirdness had spread all over the Church and the Church divided into the “anything goes” and “nothing worldly gives glory to God” camps. And why from a priest? Because the opinions of laymen, however well-informed, are just that – opinions, not authoritative at all.
I’d also be interested in the distinction between the Santa Claus myth and the myth that St. Nicholas comes on his feast day and leaves candy in children’s shoes.