Treasured Holiday Memories

Advancement Office

Please enjoy these memories inspired by favorite holiday songs and Christmas carols shared by our sisters, associates, agrégées, and partners in mission.

Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle

In 1960, I heard it sung for the first time when preparing third graders at St. Tarcisius School for a Christmas pageant. The words and music were taught in Italian to the children by the Pastor. My parents came to the pageant that year, and my mother was in tears upon hearing the children. Although this carol was a special part of my mother’s childhood, she had not heard it sung for some time. The children sang the carol in Italian and did it beautifully.      

–  Roseann Amico, CSJ

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day 

Christmas is one of my absolute favorite times of the year. I love the lights, the celebrations, and the music. As I thought about all that is going on in the world today, my mind went to one of my favorite Christmas carols – I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day. I especially like the version by Casting Crowns. The song talks about the despair that Henry Wadsworth Longfellow felt about all the hatred and evil he saw all around him. But, in the midst of that despair, his faith shows forth in these words: God is not dead, nor does He sleep. The wrongs shall fail, the right prevail, with peace on earth and goodwill to men.

When I am tempted to be all upset about the state of our world, those words bring it all back into perspective for me. Whenever I hear the Christmas bells, I give thanks to God for His gift of the Prince of Peace. 

– Mary Ann Baril, Executive Secretary 

Gesu Bambino

The beautiful melody gently flows like a graceful dance of peace, while the image of the radiant Christ child birthing like the rose of love and life, flowering amid the cold, dark night fills my heart with renewed hope and joy.   

As I listen to the song of angels and shephards resounding in praise and glory while all the grateful earth rejoices, my spirit soars, rising in loving oneness with all creation.   

When at last I witness the silent stars voicing their exultation by shining brilliantly, “Oh Come Let Us Adore Him”, I humbly gaze in rapture and bow in thankfulness to my Lord of Love.  The Word  and world again abound in God’s Holy Light, for Christ the Lord remains with us now, desiring to flower in each beloved heart. Oh Come, in oneness, Let us all together sing like peeling bells, kneel and adore Him, Christ the Lord!  

– Janice Young, CSJA 

O Little Town of Bethlehem

In the Christmas carol, O Little Town of Bethlehem, the line that speaks deeply to me is “The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.” This small, insignificant town inauspiciously gave us the greatest and eternal gift in the fragility of an infant who is Son of God, King of Kings, Prince of Peace, Jesus.  

– Carol Fitzsimmons, CSJ

Joy to the World 

Around this time of the year, we begin to hear carols that are very familiar to us. So familiar, that sometimes we forget to listen to the messages they contain. I love the carol “Joy to the World” because it’s something radical and speaks of mission and justice. The words are not old fashioned language but inspire us to “make room” for God’s action, welcome him even though we don’t know the form his appearance will take, and know our hearts are acceptable homes for Christ. The carol reflects the shining beauty of creation. God’s wondrous love is meant to spark joy in my life and then to share this life and love with others joyfully. 

– Carlotta Gilarde, CSJ 

Silent Night

I love this carol because it paints such a beautiful picture of the night Jesus was born. The lyrics are simple, yet beautiful. It has a calming, peaceful melody. I love it because it is such a simple but moving song and perfectly captures the night of Jesus’ birth.  

– Patty Shaughnessy, Finance Dept.

‘O Holy Night’

My most beloved Christmas song is ‘O Holy Night.’

“A thrill of hope…the weary world rejoices…” is timeless and for me continues to speak to the state of our world today, and still we HOPE. The line “Fall on your knees” has always captured for me an impulse I’ve had since childhood, to kneel at the humility of the Creche scene.

“Truly he taught us to love one another. His Law is love. His Gospel peace” captures our charism of unifying love. I love this song prayed through the voice of Leanne Nassise (Executive Secretary) at our annual Christmas gathering.

– Joanne A. Fantini, CSJ Agrégée

Silent Night

My favorite Christmas carol is “Silent Night” by Franz Gruber. I find it to be one of the most emotive, deepest and loveliest Christmas carol. It evokes in me a feeling of safety, security, and a deep peace. In the “silence of the night,” the words and music convey a message of hope for the world.  

– Jean Mulloy, CSJ

O Holy Night

For me, the first Christmas Carol that immediately comes to mind is one filled with memories, and one which always brings me to tears: O Holy Night. The tune and the lyrics are lovely, but more than that, I am immediately reminded of driving my mother to a family gathering each year at Christmas and her spontaneously singing “O Holy Night”!  She had a good voice and without any invitation, she prayerfully and loudly sang the carol.   

“O hear the angel voices, O night divine, O night when Christ was born…”   

It still gives me a ‘thrill of hope’ to hear this song and I have no doubt that Beatrice, my mother, is still singing it up there! 

– Cathy Clifford, CSJ

Sevivon

My favorite Hanukkah song is Sevivon. It has a line about a “great miracle happened there” (2nd century BCE in Jerusalem). As I light my Menorah candles each night of Hanukkah I pray for a miracle. I pray that a small flame of courage and faith goes a long way into the darkness. “After darkness, I hope for light.” 

– Galina Tonkov, Finance Department