The Mythical Legend of Boniface and the Christmas Tree

By / December 7, 2022 / Leave a Comment

In the U.S., my favorite holiday (Thanksgiving) is behind us. Now, the madness of the hyper-commercialized Christmas season is upon us. I confess, the overabundance of hype and secular slant that now dominates, make it difficult for me to enjoy Christmas. I’m most assuredly not joyless but mythical legends like that of St. Boniface and the Christmas tree don’t help.

Unfortunately, madness isn’t confined to secular myths about jolly overweight men in red suits and unbounded commercialism. In recent years, this false legend concerning the origin of the Christmas tree has been widely circulated. The internet era quickens and intensifies the production and repetition of manmade history, both in secular and religious spheres.

The Vatican first displayed a Christmas tree in 1982, a mere 40 years ago and within my own lifetime. I do not oppose Christmas trees. My family recently put our tree up and I’m glad the Vatican does so. This is one Christmas tradition I enjoy. What I am against is false legends that get unknowingly and uncritically consumed by the masses, especially when they are propagated by those who should know better, in support of their exclusivist religious tradition.

Boniface and the Christmas Tree - a mythical story.
St. Boniface is said to have cut down an oak tree sacred to the pagan god Thor. In it’s place, an evergreen fir tree supposedly grew, symbolizing the everlasting nature of Jesus.
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Who Could Have Foreseen How Much Misery…?

By / November 28, 2022 / Leave a Comment

Not just misery but who could have foreseen how much misery, corruption, scandal, blasphemy, ingratitude, and wickedness would result from Luther’s movement? The era of Reformations was chaotic on all sides but did Martin Luther really “bemoan the religious indifference wrought by the movement he began” with these words? Here is an article that discusses proto-Protestants and that makes this claim. The claim finds support in a supposed quote from Luther himself. The end of the article, where this appears, is seen in this screenshot:

False Martin Luther quote as it appears on catholic.com. Who could have foreseen how much misery?
False Martin Luther quote as it appears on catholic.com[1]Catholic Answers. “The Protestants Who Came Before the Protestants.” Steve Weidenkopf, Catholic Answers, 26 Aug. 2022. Web. 27 Nov. 2022.
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References

References
↑1Catholic Answers. “The Protestants Who Came Before the Protestants.” Steve Weidenkopf, Catholic Answers, 26 Aug. 2022. Web. 27 Nov. 2022.

An Allusion to Purgatory in the Apology of Aristides?

By / November 23, 2022 / Leave a Comment

The Apology of Aristides the philosopher is a fascinating text, though any notion of Purgatory in it is rather curious (or spurious), as we’ll see. Aristides, probably writing to Emperor Hadrian between 125 and 140 AD, offers a wonderful glimpse into early Christian apologetics, especially as the faith spread into a Gentile world dominated by pagan religion and philosophy. Notably, Aristides may have influenced Justin [the] Martyr, a better known philosopher/apologist who wrote later in the second century. Aristides’ text is early, short, concise, and truly a joy to read.

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