"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!....
"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."
--Pope Francis, Homily, December 24, 2015
"In the lovely painting venerated in this basilica [Leon, Mexico], the Blessed Virgin holds her
Son in one hand with immense tenderness while extending her other hand to
succour sinners. This is how the Church in every age sees Mary. We praise her
for giving us the Redeemer and we put our trust in her as the Mother whom her
divine Son bequeathed to us from the Cross. For this reason, we invoke her
frequently as 'our hope' because she has shown us Jesus and passed
down to us the great things which God constantly does for humanity. She does so
simply, as a mother teaches her children at home."
--Benedict XVI, Homily, March 25, 2012
"What then is apathy? It is a great enemy of the spiritual life and also of
Christian life. Apathy is a type of laziness that makes us slide into sadness,
it takes away zest for life and the will to do things. It is a negative spirit
that traps the soul in apathy, robbing it of its joy. It starts with sadness
sliding downwards so that there is no joy. The Book of Proverbs says: “With all
vigilance guard your heart, for in it are the sources of life” (4:23). Guard your heart: that means to be vigilant! Stay awake and guard your
heart."
--Pope Francis, Angelus, November 28, 2021
