Today, we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, when the Son of God humbled himself and came down to earth to dwell among us. May the peace of the infant Christ dwell within your hearts as you share time with family and loved ones. From my family to yours, Merry Christmas!

The Nativity

URBI ET ORBI MESSAGE
OF HIS HOLINESS POPE BENEDICT XVI

CHRISTMAS 2010

“Verbum caro factum est” – “The Word became flesh” (Jn 1:14).

2008 Urbi et Orbi Message | Credit: Getty Images

Dear brothers and sisters listening to me here in Rome and throughout the world, I joyfully proclaim the message of Christmas: God became man; he came to dwell among us. God is not distant: he is “Emmanuel”, God-with-us. He is no stranger: he has a face, the face of Jesus.

This message is ever new, ever surprising, for it surpasses even our most daring hope. First of all, because it is not merely a proclamation: it is an event, a happening, which credible witnesses saw, heard and touched in the person of Jesus of Nazareth! Being in his presence, observing his works and hearing his words, they recognized in Jesus the Messiah; and seeing him risen, after his crucifixion, they were certain that he was true man and true God, the only-begotten Son come from the Father, full of grace and truth (cf. Jn 1:14).

“The Word became flesh”. Before this revelation we once more wonder: how can this be? The Word and the flesh are mutually opposed realities; how can the eternal and almighty Word become a frail and mortal man? There is only one answer: Love. Those who love desire to share with the beloved, they want to be one with the beloved, and Sacred Scripture shows us the great love story of God for his people which culminated in Jesus Christ.

Christmas Break is finally upon us!! On Saturday, December 12th, the seminarians drove away from the seminary and headed home to spend the Christmas season with their families and friends. I  was so thankful to be able to get home and immediately enter a brief period of hibernation. Finishing papers, studying for exams, and actually taking exams really wears you out. The break will not be all sleeping, however. I will be volunteering at the church office for a majority of my time home, something I absolutely love doing!!

For Christmas, I am serving at St. Charles for the 7:00 p.m. Christmas Eve and Midnight Masses. I will also be playing my trombone with the choir at the 10:00 a.m. Christmas Mass. It is going to be an exciting time gathering family and friends together for the celebration of the Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.