Pope laments Christmas consumerism...

"The greatest detrimental factor in the family and home is the desire for the material. Better that you live in the gardens and fields with the nourishment of manna from Heaven, than to be filled with the abominations of the world." - St. Joseph, March 18, 1973

Breitbart reported on December 9, 2007:

Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday criticized "materialistic" ways of celebrating Christmas, pressing the Vatican's campaign against unbridled consumerism.

His brief comments, delivered from the window of his private studio to pilgrims below in St. Peter's Square, built on his dismay that ever younger boys and girls are caught up in consumer pursuits.

"The way of living out, and perceiving, Christmas unfortunately quite often suffers from a materialistic mentality," Benedict said.

Addressing English-speaking pilgrims, the pope said he was praying that the approaching Christmas celebration "will fill your hearts with redeeming hope."

On Saturday, the pope lamented that children and adolescents were being deceived by "false models" of happiness pushed by adults who lead them down "the dead-end streets of consumerism."

Benedict's predecessor, John Paul II, also cautioned faithful against the consequences of unchecked materialism on morality.

Benedict made the annual Dec. 8 papal visit to a 150-year-old statue of the Virgin Mary just steps from the holiday shopping frenzy on Rome's chic Via Condotti.

En route to pray at the statue, Benedict chatted with the head of a Via Condotti merchants association.

"Man is setting up false idols to worship: money, power, materialism. My children, none of this will have any value to you when you leave this world. You must now gather and store your treasures in Heaven if you want and wish to go there. These are called graces, graces given freely for the asking, graces for cures of the spirit before they come over the veil." - Our Lady of the Roses, July 25, 1977

Directives from Heaven... http://www.tldm.org/directives/directives.htm

D87 - Divinity of Jesus Christ PDF
D145 - Materialism PDF
D266 - Persecution PDF

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The war on Christmas, and Christ, is real
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Pope Benedict: "Birth of Jesus is not a fable, it is a story that really happened"
http://www.tldm.org/Christmas/PopeBirthOfJesusNotFable.htm

Vatican newspaper cites "war on Christmas"; says people today want Christmas to be no more that "a simple festivity of easy pleasure"
http://www.tldm.org/Christmas/VaticanCitesWarOnChristmas.htm

Is there a war on Christmas? You betcha!, Jim Wildmon, December 19, 2006
http://www.tldm.org/Christmas/WarOnChristmasWildmon.htm

95% of shoppers happy with 'Merry Christmas'; 46% ticked by 'Happy Holidays'
http://www.tldm.org/News9/shoppersMerryChristmas.htm

The real meaning of the song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas"
http://www.tldm.org/Christmas/12days.htm

The History of Christmas
http://www.tldm.org/Christmas/Christmas_history.htm

Meditations for the first Sunday of Advent
http://www.tldm.org/christmas/advent1.htm

Meditations for the second Sunday of Advent
http://www.tldm.org/christmas/advent2.htm

Meditations for the third Sunday of Advent
http://www.tldm.org/christmas/advent3.htm

Meditations for the fourth Sunday of Advent
http://www.tldm.org/christmas/advent4.htm

The Story of the Virgin Birth
http://www.tldm.org/christmas/virginbirth.htm

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"My children, My little humble children, I appeal to you as your Mother, go forward on foot, knock on the doors; bring the light to your brothers and sisters. For those who have been given great grace, much is expected of them." - Our Lady of the Roses May 26, 1976

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