Urbi et Orbi- 2010

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 2010.

The Pope's theme for this Urbi et Orbi message is "Verbum caro factum est" (the Word became flesh). The Pope first speaks about this theme as a historical reality. Christ is not some faceless philosophy, but a real face. He had flesh and was in this world. People saw Christ face-to-face with their eyes. He was real and is real and will ever be real.

Pope Benedict asks the question "Before this revelation [that the Word became flesh] we once more wonder: how can this be?" The Pope sums it up nicely when he says that it is love. Christ wants to be with us, and He became flesh and dwealt among us. His Holiness points out that G-d does not change, and in this way His love is constant. Christ always loves us, and is always with us (especially in your local Catholic tabernacle).

When we open ourselves up to the love of Christ, we are enveloped in His light and the light of Christmas. "The Incarnation of the Son of God is an event which occurred within history, while at the same time transcending history. In the night of the world a new light was kindled, one which lets itself be seen by the simple eyes of faith, by the meek and humble hearts of those who await the Saviour." Christ became flesh and in this way was a real, historical person in a specific historical time and place. But at the same time, like a light shining from that historical time, Christ transcends time.

Christ became flesh because of love for us. He is literally body, blood, soul, and divinity in the Eucharist because of love for us. Christmas is a time of love because it came about from the amazing love of Christ for us.

On this Christmas Eve, let us look forward to Christ's second coming as an act of love. When you approach the Eucharist tonight, do so remembering that it is Christ's love for us that He is in the Eucharist. When you see others- friends, family, and anyone else- remember that Christ came in the flesh for them, died in the flesh for them, and comes in the Eucharist for them.

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