English archbishops and a Scottish cardinal offer their Christmas greetings to readers of the Herald
ARCHBISHOP VINCENT NICHOLS OF WESTMINSTER
I send my warmest greetings to the readers of The Catholic Herald, and to all those who are involved in the writing and production of the newspaper, as we celebrate the birth of Our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Christmas is a time when we pause to reflect on the mystery of God made flesh and the joy this gives us. This is the wondrous exchange, this transformation of our existence, this revelation of truth, of meaning, of enduring hope which gives rise to true joy as our hearts sing in thanksgiving and praise.
Let us remember this joy as we gather together as a family, not only with loved ones but also as the Catholic community.
As we face a time of economic difficulty, let us recall the family that stayed in the lowly manger and take hope in the love and support our families give to us, a love that reflects the hope of the incarnation we celebrate on Christmas Day.
This is also a time to look back on a year that saw the first ever state papal visit to the United Kingdom.
Pope Benedict XVI’s visit made clear that faith in God is important to all. In Hyde Park the Holy Father said: “By letting the light of faith shine in our hearts... we ourselves become light to those around us... we draw people one step closer to the Lord and his truth.” I hope the words of the Pope give us the strength and conviction to enter 2011 renewed in our faith and ready to let the “light of faith shine in our hearts”.
I pray that you will all have a joyous, peaceful Christmas as we welcome Our Lord and wish you a blessed and happy New Year.