It all began in the month of October, 1843, one-hundred and seventy-one
years ago. He was a crusader for the poor and uneducated of his era. The decision
to write this “Ghostly little book” happened as Charles Dickens made his return
train ride from Manchester to London. The most read and famous book in the
world is the Bible. A Christmas Carol, 30,000 words long, can be compared to the
global popularity of the Bible. This writing is as popular today as it has been each
year for the past one-hundred and seventy-one years. With the passage of time
there is a greater demand to share in this writing than in the nineteenth century.
Why, despite the passage of a century and one-half does A Christmas Carol remain
so popular?
At the very beginning of the book, Charles Dickens answers this question
with the following hand written words: “I have endeavored in this Ghostly little
book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which will not put my readers out of humor
with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me. May it haunt their
houses pleasantly, and no one wish to lay it (put it down). Their faithful friend and
servant. C.D.” To paraphrase Charles Dickens’ words A Christmas Carol is — “A
Ghostly little — story which — raises the Ghost of an Idea.” Dickens tells his
readers that this yuletide tale is more than an entertaining Christmas story. This
yuletide tale of a covetous old sinner who has lost touch with his humanity because
of his obsession with money contains a message for all of us. This message about
a conversion has moved generations of readers worldwide.
One reason for the attraction is that A Christmas Carol delivers a timeless
message of — a conversion based on Mercy and Hope. It is more than a
“Victorian Celebration.” It is a story about how each one of us can be converted
from a life motivated by obsessions with money, possessions, power, pleasure, etc.
It is a story about how we, like Scrooge, with the help of the supernatural, the
assistance of our friends, family, and loved ones can redeem ourselves.
It is amazing that in the midst of our abundance, contemporary men and
women are experiencing despair about their future and the future of their children?
One reason for this despair is the violence we see in our world. As a nation we
have been at war for ten continuous years. Yet, our despair is more than military
combat and terrorism. In addition to this violence is the disruption we experience
in our lives, such as, the sudden loss of jobs, income, homes, opportunities. This
loss has almost extinguished the spirit of hope and mercy in our lives. We are
becoming cynical and despairing. This chaos can eliminate the spirit of joy in our
lives.
Charles Dickens experienced this despair in his life, when his family was
suddenly forced to live in a poor house. We are reminded of Dickens’ family
experience when Ebenezer responds to a request for a charitable donation, “Have
we no poor houses!” The despair and cynicism of Scrooge is described in the
scene, when Ebenezer responds to his nephew’s praise of joy created by Christmas,
“A time when women and men open their hearts to each other.” Scrooge response
with words filled with cynicism and despair, “Bah, Humbug!!”
Pope Francis like Charles Dickens has expressed his concern about the
negative effects of the “globalization of capitalism.” Like Dickens, this son of
Italian immigrants, lived in the midst of the degradation and murder of human
beings in Argentina. He has witnessed the effects of unregulated capitalism on the
life of families and ordinary women and men.
The pontiff’s desire to minister to the needy is certainly a goal with merit.
The Francis has the statistics on his side to prove his point. In early 2014, Oxfam,
the controversial antipoverty organization operating in more than ninety countries,
revealed a near-unbelievable fact: The eighty-five richest people in the world have
more money than all of the 3.5 billion poorest people on the planet combined.
That means that the 1 percent off the richest people in the world control 46 percent
— nearly half — of the world’s wealth.
Pope Francis has said that, “It is vital that government leaders and financial
leaders take heed and broaden their horizons, working to ensure that all citizens
have dignified work, education, and healthcare.” In early 2014, Francis urged
global leaders gathered in Davos, Switzerland, to consider their broader roles in the
world order: “I ask you to ensure humanity is served by wealth, and not ruled by
it.”
During that return trip to London, Dickens decided to write A Christmas
Carol in order to change the societal attitudes of his fellow woman and man. He
invented Ebenezer Scrooge so that he could hold up a mirror to ourselves. He
invented the apparitions from another world so that we might realize that we need
the assistance of God to change our lives. This is the reason we celebrate the Birth
of Jesus into our lives. His life has revealed to us that by means of the divine gift of
mercy and hope we will combat the global evils of ignorance and want. Pope
Francis like his predecessors has emphasize this same message. If we want peace
combat ignorance and want in our global society. So as we celebrate this
wonderful gift of the entrance of God into our lives, the birth of Jesus of Nazareth,
let us pray that we will make the following New Year’s resolution: That we will
pray for a growth of hope and mercy in our lives. And we will work to end want
and ignorance in the world around us. Happy New Year!
Rev Bernard J Campbell OFM, Cap.
years ago. He was a crusader for the poor and uneducated of his era. The decision
to write this “Ghostly little book” happened as Charles Dickens made his return
train ride from Manchester to London. The most read and famous book in the
world is the Bible. A Christmas Carol, 30,000 words long, can be compared to the
global popularity of the Bible. This writing is as popular today as it has been each
year for the past one-hundred and seventy-one years. With the passage of time
there is a greater demand to share in this writing than in the nineteenth century.
Why, despite the passage of a century and one-half does A Christmas Carol remain
so popular?
At the very beginning of the book, Charles Dickens answers this question
with the following hand written words: “I have endeavored in this Ghostly little
book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which will not put my readers out of humor
with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me. May it haunt their
houses pleasantly, and no one wish to lay it (put it down). Their faithful friend and
servant. C.D.” To paraphrase Charles Dickens’ words A Christmas Carol is — “A
Ghostly little — story which — raises the Ghost of an Idea.” Dickens tells his
readers that this yuletide tale is more than an entertaining Christmas story. This
yuletide tale of a covetous old sinner who has lost touch with his humanity because
of his obsession with money contains a message for all of us. This message about
a conversion has moved generations of readers worldwide.
One reason for the attraction is that A Christmas Carol delivers a timeless
message of — a conversion based on Mercy and Hope. It is more than a
“Victorian Celebration.” It is a story about how each one of us can be converted
from a life motivated by obsessions with money, possessions, power, pleasure, etc.
It is a story about how we, like Scrooge, with the help of the supernatural, the
assistance of our friends, family, and loved ones can redeem ourselves.
It is amazing that in the midst of our abundance, contemporary men and
women are experiencing despair about their future and the future of their children?
One reason for this despair is the violence we see in our world. As a nation we
have been at war for ten continuous years. Yet, our despair is more than military
combat and terrorism. In addition to this violence is the disruption we experience
in our lives, such as, the sudden loss of jobs, income, homes, opportunities. This
loss has almost extinguished the spirit of hope and mercy in our lives. We are
becoming cynical and despairing. This chaos can eliminate the spirit of joy in our
lives.
Charles Dickens experienced this despair in his life, when his family was
suddenly forced to live in a poor house. We are reminded of Dickens’ family
experience when Ebenezer responds to a request for a charitable donation, “Have
we no poor houses!” The despair and cynicism of Scrooge is described in the
scene, when Ebenezer responds to his nephew’s praise of joy created by Christmas,
“A time when women and men open their hearts to each other.” Scrooge response
with words filled with cynicism and despair, “Bah, Humbug!!”
Pope Francis like Charles Dickens has expressed his concern about the
negative effects of the “globalization of capitalism.” Like Dickens, this son of
Italian immigrants, lived in the midst of the degradation and murder of human
beings in Argentina. He has witnessed the effects of unregulated capitalism on the
life of families and ordinary women and men.
The pontiff’s desire to minister to the needy is certainly a goal with merit.
The Francis has the statistics on his side to prove his point. In early 2014, Oxfam,
the controversial antipoverty organization operating in more than ninety countries,
revealed a near-unbelievable fact: The eighty-five richest people in the world have
more money than all of the 3.5 billion poorest people on the planet combined.
That means that the 1 percent off the richest people in the world control 46 percent
— nearly half — of the world’s wealth.
Pope Francis has said that, “It is vital that government leaders and financial
leaders take heed and broaden their horizons, working to ensure that all citizens
have dignified work, education, and healthcare.” In early 2014, Francis urged
global leaders gathered in Davos, Switzerland, to consider their broader roles in the
world order: “I ask you to ensure humanity is served by wealth, and not ruled by
it.”
During that return trip to London, Dickens decided to write A Christmas
Carol in order to change the societal attitudes of his fellow woman and man. He
invented Ebenezer Scrooge so that he could hold up a mirror to ourselves. He
invented the apparitions from another world so that we might realize that we need
the assistance of God to change our lives. This is the reason we celebrate the Birth
of Jesus into our lives. His life has revealed to us that by means of the divine gift of
mercy and hope we will combat the global evils of ignorance and want. Pope
Francis like his predecessors has emphasize this same message. If we want peace
combat ignorance and want in our global society. So as we celebrate this
wonderful gift of the entrance of God into our lives, the birth of Jesus of Nazareth,
let us pray that we will make the following New Year’s resolution: That we will
pray for a growth of hope and mercy in our lives. And we will work to end want
and ignorance in the world around us. Happy New Year!
Rev Bernard J Campbell OFM, Cap.
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