Sentiment vs. Sentimentality | The True Mystery of Christmas ~ Fr. Perricone

About this sermon

What is the difference between sentiment and sentimentality, and why does it matter for Christmas? In this profound Catholic Christmas reflection, we are invited to move beyond shallow emotionalism and enter into the true mystery of the Incarnation. Sentiment, rightly ordered, lifts the soul toward God—but sentimentality clouds the majesty of Christmas and places emotion above truth. Drawing from the wisdom of the Church Fathers, including St. Athanasius and St. Augustine, this sermon reminds us that Christmas is not merely comforting—it is transformative. The Christ Child calls us to tear ourselves away from self-indulgence, compromise, and narrow thinking so that we may truly put on the mind of Christ. “He became what we are, that He might make us what He is.” As we approach the manger, we are called not to remain unchanged, but to allow the mystery of Bethlehem to reshape our hearts, our sacrifices, and our lives. This meditation is ideal for: Christmas Midnight Mass preparation Advent and Christmastide reflection Catholics seeking depth beyond sentimentality Anyone longing to rediscover the awe of the Incarnation 🎄 Merry Christmas. 00:00 – In the Name of the Father 00:23 – Why Sentiment Is Good but Sentimentality Is Dangerous 00:50 – Emotion Must Be Governed, Not Worshiped 01:15 – The Mystery and Beauty of Christmas 01:46 – “He Became What We Are” (St. Athanasius) 02:19 – Approaching the Crib with the Mind of Christ 03:01 – The Necessary Tearing Away from Self-Indulgence 03:42 – Sacrificial Generosity and True Conversion 04:10 – What Separates Us from the Christ Child 04:18 – St. Augustine on the Incarnation 05:29 – When Christ Was Born, the Cosmos Trembled 05:46 – The Legend of the Speaking Oxen 06:20 – Merry Christmas https://www.youtube.com/@MyDearCatholicFriends https://www.fatherperricone.com/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 Support Catholic Businesses here - https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ Sensus Fidelium Press - https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ Sensus Fidelium Apps - https://sensusfidelium.tv/ Support Sensus Fidelium - https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 🙏🏻PLEASE HELP OUR CHANNEL GROW 🙏🏻 ▶️ 1. Become a Channel Patron: https://www.patreon.com/SensusFidelium ▶️ 2. Visit the website https://www.sensusfidelium.com for Gueranger, Saint of the Day, Apologetics, Meditation by the Saints, Scripture Study and more. ▶️ 3. Subscribe to Other Video Platforms 🔴 SensusFidelium.TV - https://sensusfidelium.tv/@SensusFidelium 🔴 BitChute --- https://www.bitchute.com/channel/Sensus_Fidelium/ 🔴 Rumble --- https://rumble.com/c/c-298311 🔴 My Catholic Tube - https://mycatholictube.com/videos/sensus-fidelium-channel/ 🔴 LBRY.tv --- https://lbry.tv/@SensusFidelium:c 🔴 ODYSEE - https://odysee.com/@SensusFidelium:c 🔴 UGETube - https://videos.utahgunexchange.com/@Sensus%20Fidelium 🔴 BrandNewTube - https://brandnewtube.com/@SensusFidelium 🔴 GabTV - https://tv.gab.com/channel/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 GloriaTV - https://gloria.tv/Sensus%20Fidelium 🔴 Brighteon - https://www.brighteon.com/channels/sensusfidelium ▶️ 4. Paypal, Bitcoin, Anedot, Stripe, Square & PO Box donations - https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ ▶️ 5. YouTube: Click Subscribe, then Click "Notification Bell" = 🔔 Please "Like" our videos so that Youtube shares it to others by clicking the "Like" thumbs-up under the video = 👍🏻 ▶️ 6. Please share this video 📲, and help others find Christ inside the Catholic Church! Please share this video on Facebook and Twitter using the share button. ▶️ 7. Follow on Social Media: 🔴 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SensusFidelium/ 🔴 Twitter: https://https://twitter.com/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 YouTube: Click Subscribe, then Click "Notification Bell" = 🔔 🔴 Parler: https://parler.com/profile/Sensusfidelium/posts 🔴 SP3RN: https://www.sp3rn.com/community/pages/14-sensus-fidelium 🔴 GAB: https://gab.com/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 Bastyon: https://bastyon.com/sensusfidelium 🔴 GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/sensus_fidelium 🔴 INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/sensusfidelium/ 🔴 Telegram: https//t.me/RealSensusFidelium 🔴 Truth Social - @SensusFidelium ▶️ 8. Follow on iTunes: 🔴 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sensus-fidelium-catholic-podcast/id1477010758 #CatholicChristmas #ChristmasSermon #Incarnation #ChristChild #CatholicFaith #TraditionalCatholic #ChristmasReflection #CatholicTheology #StAugustine #StAthanasius #MidnightMass #AdventAndChristmas #ChristIsBorn

Topics

• Christmas