♔ The Birth of Christ - A Masterpiece of Love! ♔ - by Servant of God Sister Lucia of Fatima

We recall the Birth of Jesus Christ, God made man. This is a masterpiece of love! God descends from Heaven to the earth, to save His poor creatures. Yes, He came from Heaven; He became man, embracing the humble existence of His creation! He, who is eternal God as the Father, equal to the Father in power, wisdom, and love! Born as a man, but is eternal as God!

He came into the world and was made man and was manifested as Light, Light that shines in the darkness: Present among us today as then, but now his humanity is veiled; is present in His Word and by His Works, in the Eucharist and in the Sacraments, the Church and in the person of each of our brothers and sisters. For those who follow Christ, find in Him the Light and Life.

This is how the Birth of Jesus Christ took place: «Joseph, leaving the city of Nazareth, in Galilee, went to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his wife, who was with child. And, while they were there, she gave birth to her first-born and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

In the same region, there were shepherds (...) The Angel of the Lord appeared to them and said to them: “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all people; this day, in the city of David, a Savior was born for you, who is Christ the Lord”» (Lk 2, 4-12).

St. Luke then refers to the shepherds, who saw and heard what was said to them and they believed and praised God. In the same way, we should also revive our faith in the revelation which God gives us here; we must believe and say: «My God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I love You. I ask pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love You».

And, like Our Lady, we must keep all these truths in our hearts, with faith, hope and love.

VISION OF ST JOSEPH: OCTOBER 13, 1917, FATIMA

Sister Lucia dos Santos: After Our Lady had disappeared into the immense distance of the firmament, we beheld St. Joseph with the Child Jesus and Our Lady robed in white with a blue mantle, beside the sun. St. Joseph and the Child Jesus appeared to bless the world, for they traced the Sign of the Cross with their hands. When, a little later, this apparition disappeared, I saw Our Lord and Our Lady; it seemed to me that it was Our Lady of Dolors. Our Lord appeared to bless the world in the same manner as St. Joseph had done. This apparition also vanished, and I saw Our Lady once more, this time resembling Our Lady of Carmel.

AD TE BEATE IOSEPH - TO THEE O BLESSED JOSEPH

PRAYER OF POPE LEO XIII TO ST JOSEPH 

To thee, O blessed Joseph, do we come in our tribulation, and having implored the help of thy most holy Spouse, we confidently invoke thy patronage also. 

Through that charity which bound thee to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God and through the paternal love with which thou embraced the Child Jesus, we humbly beg thee to graciously regard the inheritance which Jesus Christ has purchased by his Blood, and with thy power and strength to aid us in our necessities.

O most watchful Guardian of the Holy Family, defend the chosen children of Jesus Christ; O most loving father, ward off from us every contagion of error and corrupting influence; O our most mighty protector, be propitious to us and from heaven assist us in our struggle with the power of darkness; and, as once thou rescued the Child Jesus from deadly peril, so now protect God's Holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity; shield, too, each one of us by thy constant protection, so that, supported by thy example and thy aid, we may be able to live piously, to die holy, and to obtain eternal happiness in heaven. + Amen.