Bishop: A Christmas Message for Catholics

By Bishop Libasci

MANCHESTER, NH - In preparation for Christmas this year, I directed the people of our Diocese to display the image of the Holy Infant Jesus in every one of our homes, churches, schools, institutions, rectories and convents. I wanted people to have before them the image of the One whose holy birth we were preparing to celebrate; to see the One who will judge us as we stand before Him at the end of our life and at the end of the world.

By placing the image of the Holy Infant Jesus before us during Advent we were to remind ourselves of how fragile and precious the gift of life really is. Look at Him; His tender life was in the hands of people who could either welcome and care for Him together with Mary and Joseph, or tell them that there was “no room for them in the Inn.” We are to remind ourselves that hardness of heart is a sin against God; a sin for which we will be judged: “For I was hungry and you gave me no food…a stranger and you did not welcome me” (Mt 25: 42-43). How could we look upon the Child and not remember those words He spoke as the Lord: “As often as you neglected to do it for these least ones, you neglected to do it for Me” (Mt 25: 45)!

On Dec. 8, 2015, Pope Francis opened a Holy Year of Mercy. The words of Jesus, “Be merciful like the Father,” is the motto Pope Francis chose for the observance of this Holy Year. Holy Doors have been opened in churches throughout our diocese and the world, but Pope Francis is asking us to open the door of our hearts this year. For it is Christ Himself, ‘one like us in all things but sin’ (paraphrasing Hebrews 4:15), who tells us to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, visit and tend to those who are sick and imprisoned, welcome the stranger and shelter the homeless.

At Christmas, now, take the image of the Holy Infant Jesus from its place chosen for Advent to bring it, according to custom, to the manger. I encourage you to say a silent prayer: “As you made this humble shelter holy by your presence, grant me the Grace to confess my sins, amend my life and welcome you to reside in my soul so that I, too, may be made holy. Then, O Lord Jesus, let me share with you what your mercy can accomplish for the salvation of the world. Amen.”

The Diocese of Manchester is the Roman Catholic Church of New Hampshire, serving the needs of more than 275,000 Catholics. For more information, please visit catholicnh.org.