Dear Brothers and Sisters  in Christ: 

“ ‘The Word became flesh.’ Before this revelation we once more wonder, How can this be? . . . How can the eternal and almighty Word become a frail and mortal man? There is only one answer, Love.”Pope Benedict XVI spoke these words last Christmas from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica as part of his annual Urbi et Orbi Christmas message.  They struck me when I first read them, and they have become the core of my Christmas greeting this year. 

The coming of Christ among us is all about God’s love for each and every one of us! There is no other explanation; there is nothing more to say! God loves us and wants us with and in the Holy Trinity, in communion, for all eternity. We are all made for God!

It is my prayer that each of us during this holy season of the Incarnation, the remembrance of the birth of Jesus, will be able to spend time in prayer not only in the Christmas Eucharist in our parishes, but also in silent adoration with our families before the manger scene at home, thanking our God who loves us so much as to give us Jesus as our Savior.

A blessed Christmas to you and to yours.

+John F. Kinney
Bishop of St. Cloud