May the coming days of Christmas,

days which remind us of

Jesus’ first appearance on earth,

be more than ever

days of great inner and outer joy,

an echo of the angels’ song and of

the shepherd’s gladness!

May we live them so that Jesus,

now ascended into heaven,

when he looks down on earth

and on all the places celebrating

this Christmas,

will rest his gaze with particular satisfaction

on the place where we are staying,

so he can admire

a marvellous,

living Christmas,

built and re-built,

hour by hour,

out of love for one another,

which makes him

really present among us. 

Amen