CHRISTMAS PASTORAL LETTERS (12/22/96)

CHRISTMAS PASTORAL LETTERS

Approaching the Third Millennium

To our Reverend Clergy, Religious and God-loving Faithful:

Peace in the Lord and Our Apostolic Blessing.

The Lord God created man and woman "in his image and likeness" (Gen. 1:26) so that eventually, after a period of obedience, they would be taken by Him to His House, in heaven, where they would enjoy eternal happiness with Him. They, nevertheless, did not remain obedient, for they sinned, thereby disfiguring their own image and likeness of God. Consequently, they lost the life of eternal happiness in heaven.

Our Heavenly Father, nevertheless, "rich in mercy and by reason of his great love for us" (Eph. 2:4), sent His only begotten Son, who "reflects the brightness of God's glory and is the exact likeness of God's own being" (Heb. 1:1), to renew God's image in us and restore us to the dignity of children of God, so that once again we might become "inheritors" of eternal life (Gal. 4:7). Therefore, through Christ and in Christ, we are able to "put off the old man with his works, and put on the new man, renewed in spirit, created in the image of God, in justice and holiness of truth" (Eph. 4:22-24). In this manner, we can be blessed with the reward of heaven. This is the source of our joy and consolation with the approaching Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Everyone, regardless of status in life, anticipates this joyful holy day of the birth of the Son of God and now prepares for its worthy observance. This is especially appropriate, as we stand on the threshold of the year 2000, the Great Jubilee Year of the birth of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ, who came to us almost 2,000 years ago to renew the Earth. This is why our holy father, Pope John Paul II, in his apostolic letter "Approaching the Third Millennium," reminds all Christians to prepare worthily for this memorable jubilee of the granting of God's many graces and blessings.

The mystery of the Incarnation of the Son of God is intimately associated with the rebirth of humanity and our salvation; in that rebirth we see the participation of all three Persons of the Holy Trinity. The Heavenly Father sent His only begotten Son for the redemption of humanity. The Son of God offered Himself in sacrifice of our salvation; and the Holy Sprit, who is "the pledge for our inheritance" (Eph. 1:14) in heaven, sanctifies us and leads us to eternal life. For these reasons, then, the holy father has dedicated the three years preceding the jubilee to the Three Persons of the Holy Trinity.

The vicar of Christ on earth dedicates this coming year, 1997, to a more profound understanding of the Incarnation of the Son of God, who "for our sake and for our salvation came down from heaven, was born of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man" (The Creed). Our preparations, in the course of the coming year, should reflect an unmistakable Christological character and should be inspired by the word of God: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever!" (Heb. 13:8). We must live then, as St. Paul reminds us, "with faith in the Son of God, who loved me and sacrificed Himself for my sake" (Gal. 2:20). We also commemorate the Most Holy Mother of God, who gave birth to the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, and serves as a sanctified example of a "life of faith" (Rom. 1:17), most appropriate for the children of God.

The year 1998 is dedicated in a special way to the Holy Spirit, through whom the Incarnation of the Son of God was accomplished in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, with the words of the Angel, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow; and the Holy One, born of you, shall be called the Son of God" (Lk. 1:35). This same Holy Spirit descended upon Him at His baptism in the River Jordan, and anointed Him to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven (lk. 4:18). Then, the Son of God, having completed His mission of salvation sent us the Holy Spirit in the fullest measure, who renewed in us the image and likeness of God, and restored us to life as children of God. Therefore, "sealed with the Holy Spirit" (Eph. 1:13), each day we are "enriched in the hope" (Rom. 15:13) of our salvation.

As we prepare ourselves for the worthy observance of this Great Jubilee, we must find in our hearts the presence and activity of the Holy Spirit, who is the life-giving source of our hope for eternal life in God, for, as St. Paul reminds us, "we are saved through hope" (Rom. 8:24).

In this year, dedicated to the Holy Spirit, we also turn our thoughts to the Most Holy Mother of God. She having conceived in her womb "by the Holy Spirit" (Mt. 1:20), unreservedly dedicated herself to His word "hoping against all hope" (Rom. 4:18), that "the promise made to her by the Lord be fulfilled" (Lk. 1:45). She is, for us, a living example of how we are to live with faith in God's promise.

The Incarnation and coming to earth of the Son of God is an unmistakable confirmation of God's love for us. The year of 1999, therefore, is dedicated to our Heavenly Father, who "so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not die, but have eternal life" (Jn. 3:16). In these words Christ revealed to us His Heavenly Father and His infinite love for us.

The essential basis for our preparation of the commemoration of the 2,000th anniversary of the Incarnation of the Son of God should be a complete conversion to the Lord God through a conscientious purification of our souls, and virtuous service in His love. This is in accord with the words of the Gospel, for God called us through Christ, that we be "holy and without blemish before Him in love" (Eph. 1:4).

The theological virtue of love, which should be the basis of the moral life of every Christian, flows from the eternal source of the love of God, for, "God is love" (1 Jn. 4:16). The first and foremost commandment for us all, then, is the commandment to have undivided love for God, and the second is similar to it: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Mt. 22:39). This theological virtue of love is the "bond of perfection" (Col. 3:14), which finds its realization in the Gospel of Christ.

It was with love that the Blessed Virgin Mary, as the chosen daughter of the Heavenly Father, consented to become the mother of the future Savior, "Behold: I am the handmaid of the Lord" (Lk. 1:13). As the perfect example of the love of God and neighbor, she remains for us the constant example and inspiration to return to the house of our Heavenly Father, with this maternal reminder, "Do whatever He tells you" (Jn. 2:5).

The holy father has designed a program for the observance of this special jubilee, with this threefold emphasis. The main thrust of the celebration is the adoration of the Most Holy Trinity, from which all the world has come, and all in the world seek to return. Our immediate preparation for the jubilee is marked by this threefold mystery, that is, through the Son of God, in the Holy Spirit, to God the Father.

An international Eucharistic Congress will be held in Rome at the conclusion of this extraordinary jubilee celebration, for the Divine Savior, born of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is continually born again in our churches and sacrificed on our altars in the Most Holy Eucharist to be given to the faithful as nourishment as the inexhaustible source of divine life, as He commanded, "Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day" (Jn. 6:54).

These are the main themes that our reverend clergy will develop in their parishes over the last three years of this century to prepare us for the celebration of the 2,000th anniversary of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in a worthy manner. All of us are thereby called, during this time, to be living witnesses to the Gospel of Christ by living virtuous Christian lives, strengthen by our faith in the life of the world to come.

We greet you, then, on this joyous Day of the Nativity of Christ, and as an assurance of God's blessings, we impart to you, beloved in Christ, the apostolic blessing: "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you!"

Christ is Born! - Glorify Him!

ÝStephen, Metropolitan
ÝWalter, Auxiliary Bishop

Given in Philadelphia at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Mother of God on the 2nd day of December in the year of Our Lord 1996.

Preparing for the Great Jubilee

Very Reverend and Reverend Fathers, Deacons, Venerable Sisters, Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

Christ is Born!

Let us Glorify Him!

"In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. ... And Joseph too went up from Galilee ... to the city of David that is called Bethlehem ... to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with Child. While they were there ... she gave birth to her first-born Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn" (Lk. 2: 1-7).

Every year we celebrate the birth of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and this has been happening for almost 2,000 years. This year can be the same for us as every other year or else it can be much different. The choice is ours. Our holy father, John Paul II in his apostolic letter of November 10, 1992, titled "As the Third Millennium Draws Near," calls all of us to prepare for the "Great Jubilee" in the year 2000. It was a decree from our present-day "Caesar Augustus" that the whole world should prepare for the 2,000th birthday of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Will we listen as did Joseph and Mary or will there be "no room" for Him in our plans? The choice is ours.

The core of His Holiness John Paul II's plan for the new millennium is the three-year span of immediate preparation (1997, 1998, 1999) followed by the Great Jubilee Year, 2000.

During 1997 our focus will be on our faith in Christ. It will be a year of faith in which Christians will seek to renew their appreciation of the Holy Mystery (Sacrament) of Baptism and their relationship to Christ, the Son of God. Mary, the Mother of Jesus, the Theotokos (God-bearer), will be involved as a model of faith.

During the second year, 1998, a year of hope, our focus will be on the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is within the Church, within each one of us. Are we aware of Him? What are the gifts and the fruits of the Holy Spirit? How does the Holy Spirit affect our daily lives?

During the third year, 1999, a year of love, our focus will be on God the Father. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life" (Jn. 3:16). "God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God is in Him" (I Jn. 4:17). It will be a year of love and it will be a time to measure our love, for God by living our love of neighbor.

The Year 2000 - the Great Jubilee - will be a year of celebrations. It will be a year of celebrations if we all prepare for it worthily. Let us begin this Christmas. How? For starters, study carefully the catechism of the Catholic Church at home and in your parishes. Secondly, live the Beatitudes, the blueprint of Christian living. Thirdly, pray daily at home and in your parish churches, alone and as a family. Finally, receive the Holy Mysteries (Sacraments) of Reconciliation and Holy Communion regularly. Jesus said: "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever, and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world" (Jn. 6:51).

May the newborn Child of Bethlehem bring to you and to all your dear ones the joy and peace that He had brought to the shepherds on that Holy Night in the city of David nearly 2,000 years ago!

Ý Michael Wiwchar, CSsR
Ý Innocent Lotocky, OSBM