By Fr. Gerard Hatton
When thinking of an English Christmas, there are some quintessential food items that people here cannot live without, such as Brussels sprouts and sauce made out of stale bread (it’s nicer than it sounds)! But nothing here in Merry England marks this festive season like the Mince Pie. I even hear rumours that the mincemeat pie was becoming popular in America until health concerns dissuaded people. Paul Hollywood would do well to take note of that buttery, crumbly pastry filled with spiced fruits and nuts and a good measure of alcohol without a soggy bottom. Some people hate mince pies, but for those who love them, nearly 800 million of them are sold each year for their consumption, not to mention the home-baked wonders.
But did you know that the humble mincemeat pie has a connection with our Faith? With England being a Catholic country before the Reformation, these Christmas mince pies were made in an oblong form, representing the manger in which Christ was born. Sometimes a little figure of the infant Jesus was placed in a slight depression in the crust. Thus, the pie was served as an object of devotion as well as part of the Christmas feast. That’s why the Puritans claimed that the custom of eating Christmas pies was “an abomination, a cause of idolatry and superstition, and a popish observance.” Consequently, it was condemned at the same time as the Puritans condemned Christmas itself. Needless to say, the condemnation didn’t last long, and the mince pie still has pride of place. It’s a little story that we can all use to put Christ back into Christmas. The simplest of things can teach the faith, like a mince pie.
A simple image can explain profound truth, as I recently found a unique image of the Holy Family through the connection of each person of the Holy Family which should not only be with us for Christmas, but through our life. The image is of a donkey and strapped onto it a Tabernacle. The painting is clear that the Blessed Virgin Mary, as the first Tabernacle with her womb, which held Our Saviour Jesus Christ who is the Most Blessed Sacrament within, and St Joseph protecting them both is the Tabernacle Veil. Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem was nothing unusual or even spectacular, as everyone else who was doing the same. The life they had was not different to others, yet their outlook was totally different as they were in perfect union with the Will of God the Father, bearing His Son not only the Light of the World, but our only Hope.
A blessed Christmas to you all in Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!
