The two sides of Christmas

The Adoration of the Kings, and Christ on the Cross; c. 1465-1475, attrib. Benedetto Bonfigli
The Adoration of the Kings, and Christ on the Crossc. 1465-1475, attrib. Benedetto Bonfigli
Diana Macalintal

Diana Macalintal is the Director of Worship for the Diocese of San Jose in California and holds a Master of Arts in Theology, cum laude, from Saint John's University, Collegeville, Minnesota. She has served as a liturgist, music, and catechumenate director in campus, parish, and diocesan ministries for over 25 years and has authored numerous articles on liturgy, music, and the catechumenate. She was a contributing author for <em>The Catholic Connections Handbook for Middle Schoolers</em> and wrote <em>The Eucharist Catechist's Guide</em> (both Saint Mary's Press, 2009). She is an adjunct faculty member of the Institute in Pastoral Ministries of Saint Mary's University of Minnesota (Winona) and serves as a team member of the North American Forum on the Catechumenate. She founded and maintains a blog for the Diocese of San Jose called "Work of the People" and is a co-founder of TeamRCIA.com.

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6 responses to “The two sides of Christmas”

  1. Gregg Smith

    We just sang “Wood of the Cradle” by Francis Patrick O’Brien at our Christmas liturgies…this painting ties it all together…

    Reply
  2. Diana Macalintal

    I do wish hymnal publishers would include the alternative texts for “What Child Is This?” But I guess people don’t really want to sing about nails and spear or crosses being raised at Christmas.

    Reply
  3. Paul Inwood

    We have Dix’s original text in England, complete with passion and death. Incarnation linked to Resurrection. Sang it this morning, in fact.

    Reply
  4. Gregg Smith

    We need more of these texts. Some don’t want to hear these words at Christmas because spiritually, they don’t want to face the cross. But, you can’t have one without the other.

    Reply
  5. Ron Jones

    Go to this link to get all the old versions of What Child Is This, complete with the nails, spear, and cross…
    http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/what_child_is_this_version_1.htm
    My favorite from that link is the pages from Sheet Music by Dix from Henry Ramsden Bramley and John Stainer, Christmas Carols New and Old (London: Novello, Ewer & Co., ca 1871). The picture with the carol is wonderful.
    I also love “Wood of the Cradle” by F.P. O’Brien. We sing it every year for Christmas liturgies.
    Along an even more comtemporary vein (not intended for liturgy) and a great tool for evengelism…
    “About The Cross” (recorded by Go Fish)

    Verse 1:
    It’s not just about the manger
    Where the baby lay
    It’s not all about the angels
    Who sang for him that day

    It’s not just about the shepherds
    Or the bright and shining star
    It’s not all about the wisemen
    Who travelled from afar

    Chorus:
    It’s about the cross
    It’s about my sin
    It’s about how Jesus came to be born once
    So that we could be born again

    It’s about the stone
    That was rolled away
    So that you and I could have real life someday

    It’s about the cross

    Verse 2:
    It’s not just about the presents
    Underneath the tree
    It’s not all about the feeling
    That the season brings to me

    It’s not just about coming home
    To be with those you love
    It’s not all about the beauty
    In the snow I’m dreaming of

    Repeat Chorus
    Bridge:
    The beginning of the story is wonderful and great
    But it’s the ending that can save you and that’s why we celebrate

    It’s about the cross
    It’s about my sin
    It’s about how Jesus came to be born once
    So that we could be born again

    It’s about God’s love
    Nailed to a tree
    It’s about every drop of blood that flowed from Him when it should have been me

    It’s about the stone
    That was rolled away
    So that you and I could have real life someday
    It’s about the cross
    It’s about the cross

    And a wonderful round by Jack Miffleton,
    Bethlehem,House of Bread,
    Bring forth Jesus, Bread of life.

    Reply
  6. Steve Adams

    A great image, Diana…thank you for sharing.

    I, too, wish the publishers here in the USA would publish the original text.

    Any hymnal companies listening?!

    Reply

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