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U.S. Catholic ∙ Vol. 74, No. 12 ∙ December 2009

COVER STORY

'Twas the fight before Christmas: A survivor's guide to fairly happy holidays
Juggling far-flung families, annoying uncles, and hurt feelings, many Catholics find the days between Thanksgiving and New Year's more merry-go-round than Merry Christmas. Leslie Scanlon explores the demons of Christmases past and suggests some solutions to our sometimes perilous Christmas present.

SOUNDING BOARD

Manger danger
Is that Rudolph eating out of the manger? And what's Uncle Sam doing in there with the Magi? It's time to clean up that nativity scene, argues attorney David A. Lysik in Sounding Board, and a robust wall between church and state is the Catholic way to do it. In Feedback readers suggest a few windows in the barrier.

EXPERT WITNESS

Mass instruction
It's time to get our facts straight when it comes to the reform of the liturgy, says historian Father Robert Taft, S.J. in Expert Witness. The pope who got the ball rolling, after all, died in 1914.  

FEATURES

Ready or not, here I come . . . again
Some evangelical Christians expect Jesus to return any minute-and mow down the bad guys in an apocalyptic bloodbath. (By the way, if you're Catholic, you're toast in this scenario.) Meinrad Scherer-Emunds explores a more hopeful answer to the question of the Second Coming.

Contagious spirit
Though his ministry ended up being a death sentence, St. Damien de Veuster preferred to stay with the outcasts he served, writes Daniel Murphy, who found in the church's newest saint the courage to step outside his comfort zone.

ESSAYS/OPINIONS

The more days the merrier
Christmas may start in October at Wal-Mart, but it doesn't have to end at 10 a.m. Christmas morning, writes Nick Wagner.There are still 12 more days of Christmas to celebrate.

Miracle on East 14th Street
Even tough guys can learn the real meaning of Christmas, writes Father Patrick Hannon, C.S.C., in this book excerpt. He just can't tell you his buddy's real name-even 35 years later.  

DEPARTMENTS

Editors' Note
You May Be Right - LETTERS
Signs of the Times - NEWS
Catholic Tastes - HUMOR
Glad You Asked: ARE THERE RULES FOR DECORATING CHURCHES?
Culture in context: REVIEWS
At Home with Our Faith
Eye of the Beholder - Jerry Bleem, O.F.M. 

COLUMNS

The Examined Life - Bryan Cones
SEASON'S GREETINGS

Testaments - Alice Camille
THE TROUBLE WITH ANGELS

Culture in Context - Patrick McCormick
THIS LAND IS OUR LAND

Margin Notes - Kevin Clarke
THIS IS YOUR COUNTRY ON DRUGS