Christmas caroling is one of those traditions which has a hazy past. No one specifically knows where the custom started or when.  

Dates float around from the 13th and 14th centuries, and some postulate that singing in such a manner was a part of the pre-Christianity world. While it cannot be said that the custom flourishes today, it does continue.

In the week before Christmas, a handful of parishioners of St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church gathered in the parish hall. Since 2017 (it may have been 2018; the resident experts were not exactly sure), members of the Legion of Mary have embarked on a caroling venture. They visit elderly and shut-in parishioners simply to brighten their Christmas season.

Armed with the song list and a schedule of stops, the group of eight headed out to bring good cheer and Christmas blessings to folks who may be most in need of them. 

This year the Legion of Mary members Patty Mone, Mary Jackson, Maria Rietz, Nolan Bailey, Hal and Elizabeth Wiese and Father Nelson Munoz, pastor at St. Peter’s, readied their voices.  

Through six stops, two things became evident. They were simple things which may not appear to be especially noteworthy; however, they are recounted here as they seemed to give a special meaning to what transpired.

At one stop, an elderly parishioner was largely immobile, recovering from serious cancer surgery. She was sitting up and, despite her physical ailments, was as engaging as anyone might be. After greetings and small talk, the group began to sing.

There were four songs sung in the sequence of “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” “Silent Night,”“Jingle Bells” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”

During this particular stop, the recipient of the carols sang along, and throughout the whole time she made eye contact with each singer. Left to right, she caught their eye and held it a few seconds before moving on to the next person in the group. She continued to do so until the singing stopped.

It was as if she was communicating a thank you, and possibly sharing that if the roles had been reversed, she would have been one of the group.

The other noticeable characteristic of the caroling was just how important human contact is. Throughout the visit, Legion of Mary members offered (and provided) hugs and a gentle hand on a shoulder or holding of a recipient’s hand. 

They were all just natural gestures of comfort – the warmth of a human heart.

It was obvious just how appreciated such gestures were. Innocent, sincere, comforting contact. 

The visits were not without old-fashioned fun as well. On the first stop, the event was moved from a small home to an attached garage in order to accommodate some neighbors who were invited over for the caroling.

While at two different stops, a Christmas party was already underway. One party guest explained that he well remembers doing caroling when he was a child. Growing up in a large family, they would simply visit neighbors unannounced and sing carols. 

The advanced age of those being visited last week required some advance notification. It was also not without a windfall, as goodies were in the offering. From glühwein to apple cider and cakes to cookies, there were plenty of sweet treats.    

The music was dominated by the sopranos, but the men did their best to balance it out. Father Nelson, who carries an excellent baritone, punctuated the end of each song with an enthusiastic, “Merry Christmas!”

The group of carolers shared a common sentiment, that it is a privilege to visit those who cannot come to church. Maria Reitz added, “It warms my heart to see the smiles on peoples’ faces.”