Names tell us what things are. The Rabbinic understanding in the 2nd chapter of Genesis was saying what each thing was according to its nature, not just what he called it. To the Jews, then, names tell us what something is, it gives us an idea of that thing's essence. So a name is fundamental to understanding what a thing is. Take the name Jesus, for example. It means "Savior."

"The Word Became Flesh" is the central mystery of our faith. The first two Masses for Christmas day (the Mass at Midnight and the Mass at Dawn) told about the birth of our Savior according to the flesh, born in a stable in Bethlehem. But in the Mass of Christmas Day, Holy Mother Church wants to make sure that we understand the significance of that event, the Word became flesh.

The devil knows he has lost one who perseveres in mental prayer. So mental prayer is something we want to persevere in. St. Alphonsus says, "Those who pray are certainly saved, and those who do not pray are certainly damned."

When Joseph or Mary told the child Jesus something, He listened to them. They stood in the place of God. Parents can make Saints by imitating Mary and Joseph and creating a virtuous household. They must keep out immodest clothes and all forms of materialism and luxury, employing prayer and penance. They must ban bad books, bad television, and bad magazines. Habitual prayer, especially as a family, is the most important thing for creating a virtuous Christian home.