Flutterby™! : anti-materialism

While carrying enough gold to sink your average rowboat, The Vatican Information Service reports that Pope Benedict XVI had some harsh words for the materialistic attitudes that threaten to take over Christmas. Benedict is reported to have said "In today's consumer society, this season unfortunately suffers from the 'contamination' of commercialism that risks changing its true spirit, characterized by reflection, sobriety and a joy that does not come from outside, but from within." while wearing enough silk to make tents for pretty much most of the homeless in the San Francisco Bay Area and a good portion of those without shelter in Santa Monica as well.

In decrying the way that this season has been cheapened by the acquisition of things for their own sake, with no thought to how the desire to accumulate stuff actually enriches our lives, he continued:

Immediately after the feast of the Immaculate Conception, many families begin to prepare their nativity scenes, as if to relive, together with Mary, those days filled with trepidation which preceded the birth of Jesus. Bringing the nativity scene into the home can be a simple but efficacious way to present and transmit the faith to children ... A nativity scene can help us understand the true secret of Christmas, because it speaks of the humility and the merciful goodness of Christ, Who 'though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor'.

Whereupon the Chinese ambassador to the Vatican kissed his ring, saying "thank God we're going to sell so many plastic nativity sets this year it'll be obscene!"