Dear friends in Christ

One of the preludes to the Nativity is the visit of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth. We meditate on this during the Second Joyful Mystery of the Rosary and it is present before our eyes in the reredos of our church, to the left of the Tabernacle. We ponder here the charity that motivated Our Blessed Lady to go with haste to visit her cousin Elizabeth. It is so beautiful that John the Baptist—in the womb of Elizabeth—leaps with joy at his proximity to Jesus in the womb of Mary. This exquisite finesse of the two women teaches us how to live in the presence of the Incarnate Word. Very soon we shall be celebrating again the Birthday of Our Saviour. We want to do this with Christian faith and devotion, even if the majority of people around us may not even be aware of the significance of this Mystery we celebrate. Let us make that room for Jesus, even if since the first Christmas night He has found it difficult to find a place to welcome Him. Let us come to Christmas Mass with the simplicity of Mary and Joseph, so conscious of the meaning of this Birth; so aware also of how much it has changed the world and our lives. The Incarnation has made it possible for us to live on earth as the children of God. Mary and Elizabeth remind us of this—in the Visitation—and together they teach us the lessons of divine love.

God bless you all in this final week of Advent and for the forthcoming celebration of Christmas!

Msgr Kevin Hale