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| The Church of Saint Dominic, Southington, CT |
A Child is born... Let us rejoice and be glad . . .
 There was no room at the inn. They lay Him in a Manger [The outdoor creche at St. Dominic, early Christmas morning] |
St. Dominic Altar Creche December 25, 2015
And at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome
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| Pope Francis delivers homily at Christmas Midnight Mass |
Vatican City • The
following is the Vatican's official English translation of Pope Francis'
Christmas Eve Mass homily, which he delivered in Italian:
"Tonight, 'a great
light' shines forth (Isaiah 9:1); the light of Jesus' birth shines all about
us. How true and timely are the words of the prophet Isaiah which we have just
heard: 'You have brought abundant joy and great rejoicing' (9:2)! Our heart was
already joyful in awaiting this moment; now that joy abounds and overflows, for
the promise has been at last fulfilled. Joy and gladness are a sure sign that
the message contained in the mystery of this night is truly from God. There is
no room for doubt; let us leave that to the skeptics who, by looking to reason
alone, never find the truth. There is no room for the indifference which reigns
in the hearts of those unable to love for fear of losing something. All sadness
has been banished, for the Child Jesus brings true comfort to every heart.
Today, the Son of God is
born, and everything changes. The Savior of the world comes to partake of our
human nature; no longer are we alone and forsaken. The Virgin offers us her Son
as the beginning of a new life. The true light has come to illumine our lives
so often beset by the darkness of sin. Today we once more discover who we are!
Tonight we have been shown the way to reach the journey's end. Now must we put
away all fear and dread, for the light shows us the path to Bethlehem. We must
not be laggards; we are not permitted to stand idle. We must set out to see our
Savior lying in a manger. This is the reason for our joy and gladness: this
Child has been 'born to us'; he was 'given to us', as Isaiah proclaims (cf.
9:5). The people who for two thousand years has traversed all the pathways of
the world in order to allow every man and woman to share in this joy is now
given the mission of making known 'the Prince of peace' and becoming his
effective servant in the midst of the nations.
So when we hear tell of
the birth of Christ, let us be silent and let the Child speak. Let us take his
words to heart in rapt contemplation of his face. If we take him in our arms
and let ourselves be embraced by him, he will bring us unending peace of heart.
This Child teaches us what is truly essential in our lives. He was born into
the poverty of this world; there was no room in the inn for him and his family.
He found shelter and support in a stable and was laid in a manger for animals.
And yet, from this nothingness, the light of God's glory shines forth. From now
on, the way of authentic liberation and perennial redemption is open to every
man and woman who is simple of heart. This Child, whose face radiates the
goodness, mercy and love of God the Father, trains us, his disciples, as Saint
Paul says, 'to reject godless ways' and the richness of the world, in order to
live 'temperately, justly and devoutly' (Titus 2:12).
In a society so often
intoxicated by consumerism and hedonism, wealth and extravagance, appearances
and narcissism, this Child calls us to act soberly, in other words, in a way
that is simple, balanced, consistent, capable of seeing and doing what is
essential. In a world which all too often is merciless to the sinner and lenient
to the sin, we need to cultivate a strong sense of justice, to discern and to
do God's will. Amid a culture of indifference which not infrequently turns
ruthless, our style of life should instead be devout, filled with empathy,
compassion and mercy, drawn daily from the wellspring of prayer.
Like the shepherds of
Bethlehem, may we too, with eyes full of amazement and wonder, gaze upon the
Child Jesus, the Son of God. And in his presence may our hearts burst forth in
prayer: 'Show us, Lord, your mercy, and grant us your salvation' (Psalms
85:8)."
From The Vatican
Publishing House
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