Christmas 2004

May We All Draw Even Closer to Our Lord, Hidden But Truly Present In Eucharistic Mystery

(On December 16, 2004, The Most Reverend Bishop Gregory Mansour, Bishop of the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn, sent the following Christmas message to all Maronite faithful assuring them of his prayers and wishing them a blessed and holy Feast)

Dear brother priests, brothers and sisters in Christ,

I have always loved Christmas – our beautiful liturgical Season of Announcement and our Christmas Novena of Eucharistic devotion make it even more special. There is always the commercialism of the feast that batters us from outside, but inside our churches and our homes there is the glow of the true meaning of Christmas – God with us!

Catholics have the special grace of celebrating in communion with the Holy Father the fullness of Christ’s Mass – not because we are better than others, but because we are blessed. What an awesome gift and responsibility to participate in the Mass, and to witness to the fullness of God’s self-giving to us.

At Christmas Mass, during this special year devoted to Christ in the Eucharist, I will offer the Sacrifice for your intentions. I pray that we may all draw even closer to our Lord, hidden but truly present in Eucharistic Mystery.

I join with Archbishop Francis M. Zayek and Bishop Stephen Hector Doueihi to wish you and your loved ones a blessed and holy Feast. May the child born of Mary and the Holy Spirit be for all of us the Light and Life of the World.

Merry Christmas.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

+Gregory John Mansour