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 2009.
Pope Benedict XVI continues his theme of light in this message. His Holiness quotes from the Entrance Antiphon for the Christmas Mass at Dawn: "A light will shine on us this day, the Lord is born for us."
The Pope brings to mind, at least my mind, an image of a special light bursting forth from the manger. This light focuses on St. Peter's, illuminating it and filling its halls with a brilliant light more powerful than the sun. This light continues towards all Catholics everywhere, and beams forth from them.
This light that pours forth from us, which finds its source in Christ in the manger, shines towards others and invites them to come to Christ. "Wherever there is an 'us' which welcomes God’s love, there the light of Christ shines forth." We go out from the manger and from the Church into the darkness, pushing away the darkness as we go.
We must offer Christ's light to others. That is the very duty of the Church. "The Church, like the Virgin Mary, offers the world Jesus, the Son, whom she herself has received as a gift, the One who came to set mankind free from the slavery of sin." Without fear, without worry, with light as our sword we go forth and bring forth the light of Christ that has shinned on this Christmas day.
The Pope mentions a few geographical areas towards the end of his Urbi et Orbi messages, and sometimes even mentiones a country. In this message, the Pope speaks to us in the U.S. (grouped with the rest of North America). "In Europe and North America, the 'us' of the Church urges people to leave behind the selfish and technicist mentality, to advance the common good and to show respect for the persons who are most defenceless, starting with the unborn." The Pope calls us out! He tells us to advance the light of Christ, especially in defense of the unborn.
We, the Church, must bring the light to all peoples. As a part of the Church, we are a part of the light of Christ. We must reach out and invite others to share in this light- the light that first burst forth from the manger and, at first, only touched a few select individuals. "Dear Brothers and Sisters, how great a gift it is to be part of a communion which is open to everyone! It is the communion of the Most Holy Trinity, from whose heart Emmanuel, Jesus, 'God with us,' came into the world. Like the shepherds of Bethlehem, let us contemplate, filled with wonder and gratitude, this mystery of love and light! Happy Christmas to all!"
Day I (2005), Day II (2006), Day III (2007), Day IV (2008), Day V (2009), Day VI (2010), Day VII (2011)
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