A principal reason why the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s was so successful both morally and practically was that it was led largely by people with a strong religious sensibility. The most notable of these leaders was, of course, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. To appreciate the subtle play between King’s religious commitment and his practical work, I would draw your attention to two texts – namely, his “Letter from the Birmingham City Jail” and his “I Have a Dream” speech, both from 1963.
When does Christmas end? For many in the secular world, Christmas ends on Dec. 26. But in the Church the celebration is just beginning. We have the Octave of Christmas culminating with the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. Then there are the Twelve Days of Christmas leading up to Epiphany. Liturgically, the last day of the Christmas season is the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, after which begins Ordinary Time, although some parts of the world continue to observe Christmas right up until the Feast of the Presentation on Feb. 2.