Mom, do we have to go?

The megachurches crack me up. Their latest stroke of genius? Cancelling Sunday services on December 25th because, hey, it's Christmas.

I tried to find out if my personal favorite, Lakewood, was following suit, but alas. They lacked the pertinent information on their website, so I was in no "unique position to confirm or dis-confirm" my hunch that they had.

By the way, I love their banner splash: "Discover the Champion in You." That's really nice, although I'd probably have gone with something a little less subtle, like "God schmod, we believe in the REAL trinity - me, myself, and I."

Okay, that's enough raggin' on the poor cats, back to the real point of the story.

Sure, "Christmas" for a good chunk of people in this country entails nothing more than an orgy of spending and consumerism, culminating in a morning of shredding wrapping paper. To quote Tupac's variation of a theme, "That's just the way it is; things will never be the same." Fair enough. I fail to comprehend, however, how any self-proclaimed believer in Christ rationalizes foregoing a regularly scheduled worship service because it happens to fall on the day that Christians have, for millenia, celebrated His birth. Not only is it absurd, it really is mind-boggling.

Whatever.

Today we celebrate the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. Our Lady Immaculately Conceived is the patroness of the United States. Plenary indulgances abound. We win.

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.