From the desk of Monsignor Bride
Tomorrow is Christmas Day. The great feast of the Birth of Christ is again commemorated throughout the world. But like the Shepherds of 2000 years ago, once again we come to observe the stable. Once again, the simplicity of the stable, the starkness of the scene opens our minds and hearts to the wonderment of this great feast.
It is almost incomprehensible for us to imagine that the Son of God, leaped down from his heavenly, powerful, all knowing throne to take human flesh in the womb of a maiden Virgin in Nazareth and subsequently was born in a stable in Bethlehem.
We look there and see the poverty, the humility, the manger, the animals, the persons of Mary and Joseph and the Infant. There, in that little eyelet of civilization, all humanity takes its meaning and its direction.  The world will never be the same again.
The symbolism, the incredible humiliation that is portrayed here gives the whole “story” its significance. The Son of God accepted this willingly, lovingly, knowingly because of his love for us AND because of our need for salvation that this story will bring to the world.
When Jesus Christ accepted our human nature, he accepted its weaknesses, its lowly sinful existence.
Our world is often characterized by selfishness, by self-centeredness, by self-love.  But on this day, in a stable of Bethlehem, comes the message and deeds of the Savior of the World.
The psalmist wrote, “What is man that God should be mindful of him?”  We need to paraphrase that statement today, “What did we ever do to merit such a redeemer, such mercy, such condescension by the Creator towards his creatures?”
We have done nothing to merit this but the Son of God has not asked for anything. The love, the redemption, the salvation that this scene merits, is freely given, freely offered, freely bestowed to all those who are willing to accept it. Do we accept it? Do we embrace it? That is the 2006 Christmas question!
                                     Monsignor Bride  
                         
  Merry Christmas to each and every one of you and your families.
Let us reach out to others and share the joy and peace of this wonderful season with everyone.

        
THERE WILL BE NO CRUSADE OF PRAYER ON
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29th.

                       Announced Masses

Tuesday,  December 26th      St. Stephen              
7:30 A.M.  Deacon Ron   (Msgr. Bride)
Wednesday, December 27th    St. John, the Apostle              
7:30 A.M.  Frances Bride
Thursday, December 28th   Feast of the Holy Innocents      
7:30 A.M.  Parishioners of OLPH
Friday, December 29th     Fifth Day in Octave of Christmas   
7:30 A.M.  John & Frida Bohlken   (Chris Schuh)