Dear Friend,

Christmas—my favorite time of year. I don’t know about you, but I have been counting the days until Christmas. This year has been one of great trials and challenges to all of us and we have all taken great inspiration from our Catholic Faith. So many people around the world are weary and desire to find a reason to rejoice. That reason desired by all the world is Jesus Christ Himself.

In a few days, we will celebrate the birth of our savior, Jesus Christ, Emanuel, who brings the light of life into the world. In the Gospel of Matthew (5:16) we too are instructed. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father. So, as we celebrate this Christmas 2021, we need to echo this call to be beacons of Christ’s light beginning by giving thanks to the Christ child for the blessings we and our families have received this year.

It is a time to meditate on the profound meaning of Christmas. God’s love for us was manifested by Him giving His own Son to the world for the redemption of mankind.

Think about this promise for a moment. “Give, and it will be given to you…” This applies to so much more than finances…

The thought of the Christ child coming as the Messiah has given hope and confidence to countless millions of Christians throughout two millennium. So now we once again must enkindle this presence of hope in our souls and share it with the others we find in our lives. Let us meditate on the goodness of the Lord, that we who are made to his image and likeness, may conform ourselves to Him.

He has come to us as a small child, but it is He who came bringing the greatest of gift, the give of eternal love. So, ask Our Divine Savior to embrace us with His tiny arms and pierce our hearts with His sweet cries.  In so doing, we will point to the Light of the World giving a weary world a reason to rejoice.

Finally, there is one Christmas carol that keeps resonating in my head and heart: "O Holy Night." One particular line summarizes 2020 while reminding us of the true meaning of this season. It is communicated in four short words; they are in the last stanza:

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining,

It is the night of the dear Savior's birth;

Long lay the world in sin and error pining,

'Till he appeared, and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,

THE WEARY WORLD REJOICES!

Let us rejoice together and may the Divine Infant Jesus through His Holy Mother and St. Joseph bless you and your loved ones with many graces and blessings this Christmas!

Your friend in Christ,

Thomas J. McKenna
Founder and President
Catholic Action
http://www.catholicaction.org/

P.S. In the midst of all the chaos and uncertainty of 2020, thanks to your generosity and prayers, we have been able to sustain and grow our mission like never before. If you haven’t had a chance to read our Year in Review and Plans for 2021, take a few minute to do so and please consider making a special year-end, tax-deductible contribution to our efforts to restore society back to one that values the ideals of Christian society.  

http://www.catholicaction.org/