Now that we have officially entered the Christmas season, let me say – Merry Christmas to you and your family. I hope that the Incarnation of Our Lord Jesus Christ as an infant will bless your life and the lives of your family and friends this Christmas season.

As I always do with my writing on this website/blog, I try to find good solid Catholic theology to give to my readers. In recent days, I came upon this book in my library that was gifted to me some time ago. The book is a collection of quotes from different Popes on Christmas. It’s titled, Christmas with the Holy Fathers. I hope that you enjoy these quotes and can meditate upon them during this Christmas season –

1. “On this night, the Ancient yet ever new proclamation of the Lord’s birth rings out. It rings our for those keeping watch, like the shepherds in Bethlehem two thousand years ago; it rings out for those who have responded to Advent’s call and who, waiting watchfully, are ready to welcome the joyful tidings which in the liturgy become our song: Today is born our Savior.” – Pope St. John Paul II, Midnight Mass 2000

2. “The message of Christmas make us recognize the darkness of a closed world, and thereby no doubt illustrates a reality that we see daily. Yet it also tells us that God does not allow Himself to be shut out. He finds a space, even if it means entering through the stable; there are people who see His light and pass it on. Through the word of the Gospel, the angel also speaks to us, and in the sacred liturgy the light of the Redeemer enters our lives. Whether we are shepherds or ‘wise men” the light and its message calls us to set out, to leave the narrow circle or our desires and interests, to go out to meet the Lord and worship him. We worship Him by opening the world to truth, to good, to Christ, to the service of those who are marginalized and in whom He awaits us.” – Pope Benedict XVI, 2007

3. “Holy Immaculate Mary, help all who are in trouble. Give courage to the faint-hearted, console the sad, heal the infirm, pray for the people, intercede for the clergy, have a special care for nuns; may all feel, all enjoy your kind and powerful assistance, all who now and always render and will render your honor, and will offer you their petitions. Hear all our prayers, O Mother, and grant them all. We are all your children: Grant the prayers of your children. Amen forever.” – Pope St. John XXIII

4. “Our Savior, Dear Friends, was born today: let us rejoice! For there is no proper place for sadness, when we keep the birthday of the Life, which destroys the fear of mortality and brings us the joy of promised eternity. No one is kept from sharing in this happiness. There is for all one common measure of joy, because as our Lord the destroyer of sin and death finds none free from charge, so is He come to free us all. Let the saint exult in that he draws near to victory. Let the sinner be glad in that he is invited to pardon. Let the gentle take courage in that he is called to life.” – Pope St. Leo I, Sermon on the Feast of the Nativity

5. “Jesus Christ said of Himself: I am the Living Bread descended from Heaven. Therefore, Bethlehem, the place where our Lord was born, has been called the House of Bread; for He who fed our hearts to satiety appeared there in the substance of flesh.” – Pope. St. Gregory I

May Our Lord Jesus Christ in the crib of Bethlehem be with you and yours this day and throughout this entire Christmas Season. 

Merry Christmas!