Christmas of the Lord 2024 / Holy Year 2025
Dearest Sisters and young women in formation,
Considering the events unfolding around the world, I must admit I hesitated to write about Christmas this year—a Christmas marred by rockets, drones, and bombs sowing death and destruction, even in the land of Jesus Himself
As witnesses, we are overwhelmed by dramatic scenes and unimaginable cruelties. Helplessly, we watch children perish, and entire communities flee, only to find countries unwilling to welcome them. “No room for them…” just as there was no room for the Child we contemplate today, swaddled in cloth and lying, defenseless, in a manger.
Yet, we cannot allow ourselves to be overcome by resignation or to remain silent. We cannot let the deafening sounds of death leave us voiceless. Once again, this Christmas, we contemplate and proclaim the Life that was “from the beginning” and became flesh, entered history in Jesus Christ, “and pitched His tent among us,” as John writes in his Prologue.
He is the Eternal Word, through whom “all things were made, and without Him, nothing was made that exists” (cf. Jn. 1:1-3). His spark of life is etched into the very core of every human being, every culture, and every nation. This Word took on the fragility of human life, continually moving His tent, the tent of a wanderer, of an exile.
He goes before us and accompanies us. Wherever we set up our tent, He sets up His, rekindling hope and opening the door to new beginnings. He invites us to lift our gaze toward the glory of God shining through what is unseen, to see the world through His eyes, to think with His mind, and to love with His heart.
This Christmas, may Fr. Alberione’s words to us in 1955 find fulfillment:
Creating a Nativity scene is a beautiful act of devotion, but first, we must create the Nativity scene within ourselves. The Incarnate Son of God must be born in our hearts, minds, and entire being.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, dear sisters, on behalf of the entire General Government. Our warmest wishes extend to your families, collaborators, friends, benefactors, and the brothers and sisters of our admirable Pauline Family. Thank you for your lives, love for your vocation, and passion for proclaiming the Gospel daily.
With great affection, united in joy and hope,
Sr. Anna Caiazza
Superior General
