Abp. Aymond: Give gifts in gratitude for our greatest gift of all

Dear Young Sisters and Brothers in Christ:

It is my privilege to wish you a very blessed Christmas!

As we know in our Catholic tradition, Christmas is not only a holiday, but a day on which we remember that God gave us the greatest gift that he could ever give – his son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Through Jesus’ birth, our God became one of us.

Jesus, the Messiah, came not only to live among us, but to show us the way, to bring us the truth, and to bring new life to us as his sisters and brothers.

Certainly, the most important part of our Christmas celebration is being able to go to Mass. In the Mass, we hear God’s word and ask that word to touch our hearts, and we also receive the Body and Blood of Christ.

Let us remember during Christmas vacation that it is a vacation from school and the daily routine, but it is not a vacation from family or from God.

In fact, during these days, you will have the opportunity to spend more quality time with your family and, hopefully, include the Lord Jesus – your brother – in prayer as well as in your acts of charity.

Every time we give a gift to someone at Christmas, it is a small sign of our appreciation for the greatest gift that God has given to us, his son, the Lord Jesus.

May you and your family have a very blessed Christmas.

I am a brother in Christ,

Most Rev. Gregory M. Aymond
Archbishop of New Orleans