December 25, 2004

My brother priests, deacons, sisters and brothers in consecrated life and members of the lay faithful,

There are some stories we never get tired of hearing or telling. This is especially true of the Christmas story.

But Christmas is far more than a story, although it records the story of God’s love. At the heart of Christmas is a Person! God’s Only-begotten Son, Whom we call Jesus because He saves us from our sins and from eternal death, so much does He love us!

However, God intends that we do more than hear or tell the story of Christmas. God desires that we relive the Birth of His Only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ. How are we to relive the reality of Christmas? By our willingness to let Christ be formed in us. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church so beautifully states, "Only when Christ is formed in us will the mystery of Christmas be fulfilled in us" (526).

So, my prayer for each of us is this: may we eagerly allow Christ to be formed in us and to make His home within us. We do this in every prayer we offer and in every Mass in which we take part. Especially during this Year of the Eucharist, may we experience Christ’s real Presence within us more deeply and more completely.

This Christmas, like the shepherds, we too come in haste and find Mary and Joseph, and the Holy Infant lying in the manger. As we gaze upon Him, lying in the manger and truly present on the altar, we offer Him the love of our hearts and ask Him to come and live in us, to come and be formed more deeply within our beings, so we can more and more become His people, eager to do good.

Yes, this Christmas, we shall do more than hear and tell the Christmas story. With God’s grace, we shall relive the Christmas reality by letting the Lord Jesus be formed in us and live in us — today, tomorrow and every day until we see Him face to face in heaven.

You will be particularly remembered in the Masses I celebrate this Christmas, as I ask the Infant Savior to fill your entire being with His enduring Presence. I entrust each of you and all those you love to Our Blessed Mother, "Woman of the Eucharist." A blessed Christmas to all!

Faithfully in Christ,

Most Reverend Paul S. Loverde

Bishop of Arlington