Giving Thanks to God as I Prepare for Christmas

Nativity in front of the monastery, just above the main road of the village, for all to see...

Dear Friends and Family,

Just 30 hours from now I will be in the midst of offering the Midnight Mass, by candlelight, in Lanherne's historic chapel--in this place where St. Cuthbert Mayne offered the Mass in exactly the same way shortly before his martyrdom. There will be nuns off to one side, veiled behind their grill but chanting God's praises, there will be a number of the little local flock in the pews, eager to adore the newborn King, there will be some visitors--those who may have never attended a Mass before, or not for many years, and above all there will be the holy angels and saints, and the Queen of this night, the Blessed Virgin Mary, adoring the King of Kings as He is rendered present upon the altar.

And I will have the privilege of entering in procession while carrying a statue of the baby Jesus, giving Him a kiss and placing Him in the manger, kneeling to incense Him, then moving to the foot of the altar to begin the Holy Sacrifice, in which the sacred mysteries take place... then the great blessing of bringing Him to each of the Nuns, then to each of the faithful, so that He might enter their hearts and souls. Then all will kneel in adoration of the Word made flesh within them, as the Nuns chant to their newborn Savior. What a night... but one that is not done yet!

As the final blessing is given and the last Gospel--the beautiful prologue to St. John's Gospel--is read, the Nuns will prepare to intone Christmas Carols, and I will prepare to kneel once again before the statue of the baby Jesus, to incense Him, and to bring Him to each of the Nuns, to be kissed, to be adored... then to each of the faithful, young and old, that all might greet Him with a kiss as this Christmas Day begins.

After placing Him back in the manger, and returning to give thanks with the altar boys in the sacristy, all will head to the hall, for hot chocolate, perhaps some cake, and Christmas greetings.  Then, when the clock strikes perhaps 2:30 or 3:00, I'll return to the chapel--where now all will be quiet and still--to kneel before the newborn King, to thank Him for coming among us.

What an amazing privilege... God is so incredibly good to give a poor priest like me such a blessing.

Each of you will be remembered in a novena of Masses that I will be offering here, beginning with the midnight Mass. May Jesus and Mary grant each and every one of you all the spiritual gifts that you need to live well this holy Christmas season.

And to those of you across the Atlantic, who pray for me every night, who offer sacrifices for me, and who also make possible my priestly life and ministry through your donations, may God reward you. If you have two minutes and wish to see a glimpse of the mission territory I am working in, look here: https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/2-in-5-uk-millennials-cant-identify-baby-in-bethlehem-christmas-story . Please pray especially, this Christmas, for a number of families I am in contact with, who have drifted away or have never known the Faith. May God draw them all close to His most Sacred Heart.

Sending you much Christmas love and prayers,
Fr. Pillari