I am indebted to Gregory DiPippo over at Novus Motus Liturgicus for clearing up a few points of irritation I have had with the whole notion of the Octave of Christmas. It has become fashionable to say that it only acquired the name of circumcision later and that traditionally it was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. This would seem to vindicate at least in part NOChurch practice.
In a surprise move, Donald Trump 2-3 days ago announced that the U.S. was pulling out of Syria, completely out of the blue.
It is difficult to know whether this is Donald Trump realising that the U.S. attempt to use Islamists in Syria to oust Bashar A-Assad has failed, or whether it is part of a grander scheme. The American and European establishments are against the move, predictably so.