On this Christmas Eve, Pope Francis has opened the Holy Door.
In Spes Non Confundit BULL OF INDICTION OF THE ORDINARY JUBILEE OF THE YEAR 2025, Pope Francis writes,
“Hope does not disappoint” (Rom 5:5). In the spirit of hope, the Apostle Paul addressed these words of encouragement to the Christian community of Rome…
Everyone knows what it is to hope. In the heart of each person, hope dwells as the desire and expectation of good things to come, despite our not knowing what the future may bring. Even so, uncertainty about the future may at times give rise to conflicting feelings, ranging from confident trust to apprehensiveness, from serenity to anxiety, from firm conviction to hesitation and doubt. Often we come across people who are discouraged, pessimistic and cynical about the future, as if nothing could possibly bring them happiness. For all of us, may the Jubilee be an opportunity to be renewed in hope. God’s word helps us find reasons for that hope. Taking it as our guide, let us return to the message that the Apostle Paul wished to communicate to the Christians of Rome.
And for words of wisdom from St. Hildegard’s writings in Scivias,
No unjust impulse takes the blessed angels from the love and praise of God.
This is shown by the great multitude of very bright living lamps;
They are the vast army of heavenly spirits,
Shining in the blessed life and living in great beauty and adornment,
Because when they were created by God
They did not grasp at proud exaltation
But strongly persisted in divine love.
For, receiving fiery brilliance,
They acquired an unclouded splendor…
So in this upcoming Jubilee year of 2025, let’s be very bright living lamps, who along with all the blessed angels, help share the love of God. Then, we can let everyone know what it is to hope, as we do everyday, with the strength given to us in God’s heavenly graces.
Merry Christmas!
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