Welcoming the Nativity of Christ enlivened by the determination of a sincere conversion

At Christmas, we are not limited to commemorating the birth of a great personality; we do not celebrate simply and in the abstract the mystery of the birth of man or in general, the birth of life; neither do we celebrate only the beginning of a great season. At Christmas, we remember something very concrete and important for man, something essential for Christian faith, a truth that St. John summarized in these few words: "The Word was made flesh."

Dear brothers and sisters, Christmas is a privileged opportunity to meditate on the meaning and value of our existence. It helps us to reflect, on one hand, about the drama of history in which men, wounded by sin, are permanently seeking happiness and a satisfactory meaning to life and death; on the other hand, it exhorts us to meditate on the merciful goodness of God, who has gone out to meet man to communicate to him directly the Truth that saves, and make him participate in his friendship and his life.

Let us welcome the nativity of Christ as an event capable of today renewing our existence. May the encounter with the Child Jesus make us people who do not think only of ourselves, but rather open to the expectations and necessities of our brothers. In this way we too become testimonies of the light that Christmas radiates over the humanity of the third millennium. Let us ask most holy Mary, the tabernacle of the incarnate Word, and St. Joseph, silent witness of the events of salvation, to communicate to us the sentiments they had so that we will celebrate in a holy way Christmas, in the joy of faith and enlivened by the determination of a sincere conversion.

Merry Christmas to all!

(An excerpt of Christmas reflection by Pope Benedict XVI)

Missionary Reflection on Advent

Advent is the season which brings hope into our hearts. As Pauline missionaries, we look forward with deeper trust and greater expectations as we prepare to celebrate once again God becoming human among us, that is, the birth of Jesus. Surely the fact that God has chosen to be so intimately connected with us assures us that we and all that God has created are precious. Indeed this gives us reason for hopefulness.

Our hope does not however leave us passively waiting for God to act, to make everything right. God has chosen by being so closely connected with us, to give us a role and responsibility as co-creators, as active participants in the unfolding life of our world, in the missionary place where He has placed each of us.

Advent is a time for awe, wonder and gratitude for what God invites us to and anticipation of all that is possible. It is a time to ponder our part in this divine and human relationship, to consider how we as Pauline missionaries, can be active in bringing about all that God offers and for which we live in hope. 

To everyone, may you all have fruitful days during this Advent season towards the joyful birth of Jesus!

Mary: our model of hope in this season of Advent

Advent focuses on the coming of the Lord, and this is at the heart of our faith.  Through the incarnation, God has revealed Himself to us.  He has come down to us, in our sinfulness, to save us, and there is salvation in no one and nothing else. 

By the virtue of hope, we trust that God will provide us with whatever means are necessary for our sanctification– the graces, trials and encouragement needed for our personal growth in holiness.  Whatever state of life we are in, whatever situation we find ourselves in, Jesus is leading us to Himself.  So, our Advent hope does not demand anything extraordinary in order to grow.  We only have to turn to Him, in the present moment, for guidance and strength.

Advent is very pertinent to the times in which we live, for we are in an age that trusts in itself and its own abilities.  In many ways, we have lost our hunger for God, and feed off of the world instead.  But the hope of Advent is that Jesus has come and will come again.  In this liturgical season, we invite Him into our hearts yet again, to renew our trust and confidence in Him as Savior. 

For us Pauline missionaries, Mary is our model of hope; her response to the Archangel Gabriel was to “Let it be done to me according to your word.”  She trusted in the Lord, offering herself totally to God and His plan for her life.  She shows us how to renew our hope in God by submitting to His plan in our lives and trusting in His word that His life may be born anew in us.  Mother Mary, pray for us!