The Basilica of St. Anastasia

 

The Associated Press reports:

"Italian archaeologists last month unveiled an underground grotto that they believe ancient Romans revered as the place where a wolf nursed Rome's legendary founder Romulus and his twin brother Remus.

A few feet from the grotto, or "Lupercale," the Emperor Constantine built the Basilica of St. Anastasia, where some believe Christmas was first celebrated on Dec. 25."

We talked in class about how Catholics co-opted some pagan festivals. In this case, it was the festival of the sun god - remember, the winter solstice is when days start to lengthen. Light comes to the world...sounds like as good a time as any to celebrate the birth of Christ.

But as Sister Mary Martha points out, Christmas wasn't really that big of a deal to Catholics (even though it's been a Holy Day of Obligation since the 5th Century). It was (and is) EASTER that's the big deal. St. Augustine wrote, "We are Easter people, and alleluia our song." Why? Because without the resurrection, Christ's birth means much less.