The Church of the Nodding Angel - #3 of 52

Thinking of Christmas

Just got back from church. I think I'll add go to church more to my list of 52 things to do when I'm 52. I've been a Christmas Catholic the last few years and tonight at church I was thinking perhaps I have been missing something in my life.

Christmas growing up always meant going to midnight mass. The church in Wheatley was decorated to the nines and the pews were filled with folks in their finery. Baby Jesus was in the manger surrounded by statues depicting the Christmas miracle. But off to the side on the first step of the altar was a table with an angel on it. My favourite Christmas story as told by my younger brother is about this angel.

Each Christmas we would be given a quarter to give to the angel. This was a special angel because when you dropped your coin in the slot between her hands, the head would nod back and forth as if it was thanking you for your donation. Kids would line up to give their coins to the angel and the angel would silently give thanks by nodding it's head. When we were kids 25 cents could buy you some cool candy at Fudd's mini-mart, so my brother, as he tells the story, was thinking ahead. Hmmm, he thought, I wonder what would happen if I kept the quarter and put in a penny instead. So before church he put a penny in his pocket. Sure enough after mass, all the kids lined up to wait their turn. He saw the angel nod in thanks as the other kids in line deposited their alms for the poor. My brother slipped his hand in his pocket, dropping the quarter in and taking out the penny with no one the wiser (so he thought). He walked up to the angel and put the copper in the slot and waited. In what seemed like an eternity, the head remained motionless and then the angels' porcelain eyes caught his and the angel shook her head side to side in disapproval.

He never says if he put the quarter in and it doesn't really matter. The angel no longer adorns the altar at the Blessed Sacrament church, rumour has it that it was tossed during renovations along with some of the other statues in an attempt to modernize the church. I am reminded of this story every time I see the Salvation Army kettle and I reach into my pocket and think for a moment about how much change I should give and then grab whatever is in my pocket and plunk in it the slot. I never know if the person with the kettle is really that angel in disguise. You just don't mess with Angels as my brother says.

Now being Christmas Eve, I'd like to wish everyone the best of the season. I have to perform another Christmas tradition, which is wrapping my wife's presents now that she has gone to bed.

Cheers
Mit.

P.S. As I refilled my coffee I noticed one of our fridge magnets had an angel on it. It says "Cherish angels wherever you may find them and you will find them everywhere" Sort of sums it up nicely!