Comments on: The Advent of Christmas http://blog.mycatholicfaithdelivered.com/2010/11/29/the-advent-of-christmas/ Time for the Timeless Wed, 05 Jan 2011 08:51:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: leon http://blog.mycatholicfaithdelivered.com/2010/11/29/the-advent-of-christmas/#comment-359 leon Mon, 29 Nov 2010 21:53:07 +0000 /post/The-Advent-of-Christmas.aspx#comment-359 That would be interesting indeed if Christ not only died on March 25th, but was also conceived on that date and was born exactly nine months later, on December 25th! (and six months after the Baptist!) But even if December 25th isn''t really Christ''s actual birthday, for plausible theological reasons one can see why the Church would celebrate it nine months after His sacrifice on Calvary. I think Talley is probably right (as if my opinion makes his thesis more plausible!). Perhaps somebody will pick up a copy for me for Christmas! That would be interesting indeed if Christ not only died on March 25th, but was also conceived on that date and was born exactly nine months later, on December 25th! (and six months after the Baptist!)

But even if December 25th isn”t really Christ”s actual birthday, for plausible theological reasons one can see why the Church would celebrate it nine months after His sacrifice on Calvary.

I think Talley is probably right (as if my opinion makes his thesis more plausible!). Perhaps somebody will pick up a copy for me for Christmas!

]]> By: petebrown http://blog.mycatholicfaithdelivered.com/2010/11/29/the-advent-of-christmas/#comment-358 petebrown Mon, 29 Nov 2010 17:38:50 +0000 /post/The-Advent-of-Christmas.aspx#comment-358 I see maybe you''ve read Thomas Talley''s book (if not you should since he presents more reasons to challenge the consensus that the Christmas holiday was a Christian rejoinder to the pagan feast of Sol Invictus; he says the Unconquered Son was a response to Xmas). Also if one assumes that Zechariah was ministering at the time of the Day of Atonement (which is possible but unproven) and notes that that holiday normally falls in late September, JOhn the Baptist would have been conceived at that time as well. And Elizabeth was 6 months pregnant at the time of Mary''s annunciation which would corroborate a late March date for that event and hence a late December nativity for Jesus. FWIW I see maybe you”ve read Thomas Talley”s book (if not you should since he presents more reasons to challenge the consensus that the Christmas holiday was a Christian rejoinder to the pagan feast of Sol Invictus; he says the Unconquered Son was a response to Xmas). Also if one assumes that Zechariah was ministering at the time of the Day of Atonement (which is possible but unproven) and notes that that holiday normally falls in late September, JOhn the Baptist would have been conceived at that time as well. And Elizabeth was 6 months pregnant at the time of Mary”s annunciation which would corroborate a late March date for that event and hence a late December nativity for Jesus. FWIW

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