Brothers and Sisters,
A very Merry Christmas to all!
This Christmas I had the great privilege to hear Midnight Mass in Savannah's historic Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist. Bishop Kevin Boland presided and gave the homily. I was particularly struck by His Excellency's concern for two groups of Catholics: those who have fallen away and those who are persecuted.
Regarding fallen away Catholics, he recalled the now-famous "Catholics Come Home" campaign, in which the Diocese of Savannah is participating. He observed that there are (according to a recent study) several reasons that Catholics have left the Church, but none so frequent as the fact that many are frankly too lazy to attend mass on Sunday mornings (although, with the advent of Saturday Vigil masses and Sunday evening masses, this should no longer be a problem). He reminded his listeners that the practice of our faith always comes at a price, be it great or small. For us in the United States, where we are blessed with religious freedom and peace, the price is comparatively small.
For persecuted Catholics in such places as Iraq and Pakistan, however, the price is great. Many, such as those martyred in the All Saint's Eve attack on Our Lady of Salvation Syriac Catholic Cathedral in Baghdad, have paid with their lives. The violence, instigated by Muslim jihadists, has caused Iraqi Christians to cancel their Christmas festivities this year. Let us not forget during this season of peace that many of our brothers and sisters in the faith still live under a pall of fear. Let us pray for the relief of the persecuted and for the conversion of the persecutors, begging the intercession of the Martyrs of Baghdad.
Ultimately, Bishop Boland said, the mission of the Church remains the same as in centuries past: that Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, be born in every human heart. Only then can there be true and lasting peace on earth. Let's get busy.
Here is the well-known tv spot encouraging Catholics to "come home":
And here is a beautiful "Hail Mary" sung in Syriac:
May the Infant Jesus, Word made Flesh and Prince of Peace, be born again in your hearts this Christmas season.
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