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Archpastoral Message on the Feast of Nativity from Archbishop Irénée

December 25, 2018

Christ is born! Glorify him!

Beloved Fathers, Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

In these difficult times, "just when everything is bearing down on us to such an extent that we can bear it only with difficulty, the Christmas message comes to tell us that all our ideas are wrong, and that what we perceive as evil and dark is really good and light because it comes from God. Our eyes are at fault, that is all. God has come down to us and is laid in the manger, wealth in poverty, light in darkness, succor in abandonment. No evil can befall us; whatever men may do to us, they cannot but serve the God who is quietly revealed as love and rules the world and our lives." (Deitrich Bonhoeffer)

As we enter the period of the winter Pascha, let us keep in mind these words of hope and let the message of light which comes from our Saviour Jesus Christ permeate our whole being. Let us share this love with all those around us. The joy of Christ’s Birth and His Theophany brings us peace with God, peace with others and peace to our own hearts.

To all a most blessed feast!

+ IRÉNÉE
Archbishop of Ottawa and the Archdiocese of Canada

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