Meaning of the Christmas Cookie

Christmas is a commemoration of God’s birth, in human form, as Jesus Christ. The sweet bread speaks of the Holy Eucharist (note that it is even on a golden plate symbolic of the paten). During mass we partake of the body and blood of the risen Christ, the unleavened bread eaten during Passover.

This is his birthday cake. Hence, the bread is not iced in white but flesh in color. This bread is his body and flesh, as true God and true man, and the fulfillment of His promise of our salvation. The candle in the middle of the chalice is symbolic of his birthday and Him being the light of the world.

On top is the Hebrew word Saba, which means plenty, abundance, to be satisfied, be sated, be fulfilled, be surfeited.⁶⁰

We celebrate Christmas a week before New Year. The New Year is associated with the start of a new life and we generally wish each other "A Prosperous New Year". When Jesus was born this was the beginning of a new life for all of us. His birth is our New Year. Following our tradition, He grants us the grace of Prosperity. To God, true prosperity is to be filled with grace (internally and externally).

When it's someone's birthday, we generally give the birthday celebrant a gift. In his P.S., God tells us what He really want as His birthday gift — YOU!

Now, say the prayer to receive the grace given:

Spiritual Communion Prayer: My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.

PRAY THREE GLORY BE: Glory Be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; As it was in the beginning is now, and every shall be, world without end. Amen (repeat 3x)

The Sacrament of Confession

In Catholic teaching, the Sacrament of Penance (commonly called confession) is "the method of the Church by which individual men and women may confess sins committed after baptism and have them absolved by a priest. Although it is not mandatory, the Catholic rite is usually conducted within a confessional box, booth or reconciliation room.

In theological terms, the priest acts in persona Christi and receives from the Church the power of jurisdiction over the penitent.

Catholicism classifies sin as either venial or mortal. What is venial and mortal is a matter of gravity or the offense. (Catholic) “Church law requires confession only of grave (mortal) sins at least once a year. If a person has committed no mortal sins, he is not obligated to go to confession. The Code of Canon Law states: After having reached the age of discretion, each member of the faithful is obliged to confess faithfully his or her grave sins at least once a year. (CIC 989)”⁶¹

"For the Catholic Church, the intent of this sacrament is to provide healing for the soul as well as to regain the grace of God, lost by sin. A perfect act of contrition even outside of confession removes the eternal punishment associated with mortal sin but a Catholic is obliged to confess his or her mortal sins at the earliest opportunity"⁶².

"Catholics believe that all of the sacraments were instituted by Jesus Christ himself. In the case of Confession, that institution occurred on Easter Sunday, when Christ first appeared to the apostles after his Resurrection. Breathing on them, he said: “Receive the Holy Spirit. For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained” (John 20:22-23).” ⁶³