Urbi et Orbi- 2008

In the spirit of Christmas, I thought it would be fun to look at the Urbi et Orbi Christmas messages over the past 6 years (the reign of Pope Benedict XVI). We'll look at one a day, leading up to the Urbi et Orbi for Christmas 2011.


Urbi et Orbi translates into "to the City (of Rome) and to the World." Best of all, there is a plenary indulgence attached to the message and blessing.


The Urbi et Orbi message for today comes from 2008.

If one reads the first line of the Pope's Urbi et Orbi messages, one can almost always what the substance of the message will be. In this case, the Pope quotes from Titus 2:11 (as opposed to the past few years which have quoted the Christmas Mass texts), and says "The grace of God our Saviour has appeared to all."

And appear it has! "It 'appeared', it was manifested in the flesh, it showed its face. Where? In Bethlehem. When? Under Caesar Augustus, during the first census, which the Evangelist Luke also mentions. And who is the One who reveals it? A newborn Child, the Son of the Virgin Mary."

This links with the Pope's Urbi et Orbi message from 2007. What has appeared? A light, a lux magna (great light). It has not appeared as some abstract or philosophical idea. Instead, the light has appeared as a real, physical, historical, and true being- Jesus Christ!

And Christ has appeared for all. Not just for a few, or for only a specific time in history, or only for the marginalized, or for a geographical area. NO! Christ has appeared for ALL.

The light has appeared! Christmas is a celebration of a historical event, not just a concept or ideal. 2000ish years ago, a light truly appeared. And Christ "appears" at every Mass in the Eucharist. The song that appeals to us to come and adore Christ is not just a hymn for Christmas, but for every Mass. He has appeared to us, now we must bring that light to others so that He may appear to them.

"Let us adore him, this very day, in every corner of the world, wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a lowly manger. Let us adore him in silence, while he, still a mere infant, seems to comfort us by saying: Do not be afraid, 'I am God, and there is no other' (Is 45:22). Come to me, men and women, peoples and nations, come to me. Do not be afraid: I have come to bring you the love of the Father, and to show you the way of peace."

He has appeared, and we need to seek Him out. The shepherds went to the manger, the magi to the young Christ's home. We can find him in the tabernacle of your local Catholic Church.

Day I (2005), Day II (2006), Day III (2007), Day IV (2008), Day V (2009), Day VI (2010), Day VII (2011)