Poinsettia: The Christmas Star

Many people think that the large red leaves of the beautiful poinsettia plant are the flowers.  Actually the flowers are quite tiny and are a yellowish-white color.  The leaves are sometimes also colored pink, white, yellow or green.  The plants, which bloom in December, are also known as “the Christmas Star,” “the lobster flower,” “the Mexican flame leaf,” and “las Flores de Noche Buena.” Since the early nineteenth century, poinsettias have had a close association with the Christmas holiday in the United States.

Poinsettias are indigenous to Mexico and Central America so it makes sense that the first known mention of poinsettias is in Aztec sources. The flowers were used as a source of a red dye to color clothing.  The Aztecs saw the intense red color as a symbol of purity.

There are two very similar Mexican legends about the origins of the plant, both involving children.  In both legends, poor children could not afford to buy flowers so they lovingly collected weeds to place on the Christmas nativity crèche at their church.  As the congregants prayed, the offering was blessed as the weeds turned into a blazing red display.

Franciscan priests in Taxco, Mexico in the seventeenth century used poinsettias in their celebration of the Feast of Santa Pesebre.  A pesebre is a nativity scene similar to a crèche.

The earliest name for the plants was the Aztec cuetlaxochitl.  The most common modern name comes from Joel Roberts Poinsett (1779-1851), who brought the plants to the United States in 1825.  Poinsett was the first United States Minister to Mexico.

The Aztec understanding of the meaning of the poinsettia speaks to me: purity, especially since some Christians have come to associate the intense red color of the plants with the Blood of Christ.  It is sometimes forgotten that the most important Christian holiday is not Christmas, but Easter, which commemorates the death and resurrection of Jesus.

The poinsettia image is from Andre Karwath, a contributor to the Wikimedia Commons Project, and is used under the Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike 2.5 Generic provision.

Mother Teresa About Animals

"(Animals) too are created by the same hand of God which created us.  As we humans are gifted with intelligence, which the animals lack, it is our duty to protect them  an to promote their well-being.  We owe it to them as they serve us with such docility and loyalty." Mother Teresa, quoted in a 1972 letter from a Kentucky woman who had written to her.  The letter appeared in St. Anthony Messenger (2003).  The letter is referenced in the 2009 book, Will I See My Dog in Heaven?  God's Saving Love for the Whole Family of Creation, by Jack Wintz, a Franciscan.

Book Comment: Will I See My Dog in Heaven?

Father Jack Wintz is a Franciscan and, so, he is in the tradition of the respect for animals expressed by St. Francis of Assisi.  Wintz's book, Will I See My Dog in Heaven? God's Saving Love for the Whole family of Creation examines the question.

I am not convinced of the effectiveness or necessity of rituals such as the "Blessing of the Animals" as is practiced in some religious traditions, but these rituals are certainly not harmful or unbiblical.  It seems to me to be more for the humans than for the animals, since the animals are incapable of understanding what is being done for them.  They do understand the kindness and love with which they are treated.

One question which Father Wintz asks is "...does God's plan of salvation include only humans, or does it include animals too?  In even broader terms, does God intend the whole created world to be saved?"

Yes.

"And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven." Colossians 1:20

 

Christians

At some time during their lives, the following people have publicly identified themselves as Christian.   Inclusion in this list does not indicate approval or disapproval of the person, of their orthodoxy or lack of it, or of their actions.  Readers are encouraged to suggest persons who should be included on this list.  This is a recurring segment in this blog.

Jerome Riester: (b.1919, New York, USA – d.2011, aka: Brother Julian) Franciscan friar; carpenter, gardener, and handyman at Bonaventure University. Twin brother of Irving Reister; both died on the same day.  He should not be confused with the same-named Julian Reister (b.1986), a German professional tennis player. Their father had five daughters, asked for a son, and got twin sons. Roman Catholic.

Irving Riester: (b.1919, New York, USA – d.2011, aka: Brother Adrian) Franciscan friar; carpenter, gardener, and handyman at Bonaventure University. Twin brother of Jerome Reister; both died on the same day. Their father had five daughters, asked for a son, and got twin sons. Roman Catholic.

Laurece Davis: (b. 1965, Illinois, USA; aka: Rece Davis) ESPN sports television journalist, television anchor.

Jay Barker: (b. 1972, Alabama, USA) College and professional American football quarterback, radio sports commentator.  Evangelical. Husband of country music performer Sara Evans.

Sara Lynn Evans : (b. 1971, Missouri, USA) Professional country music singer, songwriter, quitarist, author. Evangelical.  Wife of Jay Barker.

Saint Francis of Assisi on Preaching

"Preach the gospel at all times; if necessary, use words." Giovanni Francesco Bernardone (aka: St. Francis of Assisi, 1182-1226)