A Thrill of Hope the Weary World Rejoices!

Dear Friend,

Ah, Christmas – my favorite time of year! I don’t know about you, but I have been counting the days until Christmas. 

This year has certainly been one of great trials and challenges for all of us. Perhaps it is only the encouragement of our Catholic Faith that has given us the strength to get through it. The ongoing pandemic and bizarre responses from government and society have made so many people around the world weary.

That’s the overall effect of our cultural confusion. We are weary. 

We desire to find a reason to rejoice, and that is why Christmas is such an inspiration to us. The reason for rejoicing, the greatest longing of the human heart – desired by all – is Jesus Christ Himself!

In a few days, we will celebrate the birth of our Savior – the great Emmanuel, “God-with-Us” – who not only brings the light of life into the world but is that very light Himself. 

In the Gospel of Matthew (5:16) we are instructed accordingly: “Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”

So, as we celebrate Christmas 2021, we wish to echo this call to be beacons of Christ’s light to others. We begin by giving thanks to the Christ Child for the blessings we and our families have received this year. God loves our grateful hearts. 

And then, we echo Christ’s love for mankind by spreading the light to a darkened world.

Think about the Lord’s promise for a moment. “Give, and it will be given to you…” (Luke 6:38). 

This applies to so much more than just financial giving. The thought of the Christ Child coming as the Messiah has given hope and confidence to countless millions of Christians throughout two millennia of Christian history. In every day and age, he Church enkindles this hope in our souls, and we in turn share it with the others around us.

He comes to us as a small Child. He comes bringing the greatest of gift of all: the gift of God’s eternal, sacrificial love for humanity. So, let us ask Our Divine Savior this Christmas season 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 our weary world a reason to rejoice.

There is one Christmas hymn that keeps resonating in my head and heart: "O Holy Night." One particular line summarizes 2021 while reminding us of the true meaning of the season. We will find it in the four short words 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.

Yes! THE WEARY WORLD REJOICES at the coming of Christ!

Dear friends of Catholic Action, let us rejoice together this Christmas season, and may the Divine Infant Jesus through His Holy Mother and St. Joseph bless you and your loved ones with many graces and blessings now and in the year to come!

Your friend in Christ,

Thomas J. McKenna
Founder and President
Catholic Action for Faith and Family

P.S. In the midst of all the chaos and uncertainty of this past year, we have been able to sustain and grow our mission like never before – all thanks to your generosity and prayers. If you haven’t had a chance to read our Year in Review and Plans for 2022, take a few minutes to do so and please consider making a special year-end, tax-deductible contribution to our efforts to restore society to it values and ideals of the Christian society that our founders intended.