It’s that time of year when most of us indulge in the Holiday Spirit.

To some, they indulge ( a bit too spiritually) in the consumption of Holiday SpiritS (s capitalized on purpose).

And while they may have sung the appropriate Christmas Carols with flair and gusto, it’s safe to assume that they have not learned their lesson from Christmas Past and will indulge, once again, in the libations that they may have sworn off for the coming yuletide season.

Carols, to be sure, are easier to learn than their spiritual counterpart.

Lessons, whether they be mathematics, chemistry, or history, just don’t get us in the holiday mood. And even though a Nativity scene and even Midnight Mass might offer some respect for the holy and religious lessons of the Incarnation, their effects are short-lived at best.

Even when we think of the most mundane of lessons, you can almost hear your mother or teacher or, perhaps, Sister Irene Mary, the principal of your grammar school, utter those fateful words, “Well, I certainly hope you learned your lesson!”

Of course, we always nodded in the affirmative despite knowing full well that there was no learning of lessons on this particular day.

I admit, there was many a time that I had taken the pledge and swore that I did indeed learn my lesson. But truth be told, I really didn’t.

I guess that is why I went to Confession…to confess the sins of not learning my lessons.

Since grammar school, I have tried to be cognizant of the importance of Lessons.

I read the bible. I went to mass. I received the Sacrament. I did all the things I thought a good Catholic young man should.

I do confess that I no longer confess, but I think God ( all Three Persons therein) and I have an arrangement, and while it’s not exactly love, never meaning you have to say you’re sorry, I confess directly to the Trinity who already knew of my transgression(s) and repentance.

The Lessons that I have always deemed most applicable to leading a good life were given to us in the Beatitudes and the two Great Commandments.

Make an effort to discern these lessons and what they purport to teach, and you will make the Holiday Season last a lifetime,

Merry Christmas To All, and To All, A Good Night!