POPE ON CHRISTMAS LITURGY: At his last Wednesday Audience before Christmas,
Pope Benedict says the mystery of Christ’s coming transcends time and permeates all
history..... BACKGROUNDER ON BETHLEHEM: We find out more about
the current situation in the town where Jesus was born and learn that despite the
economic difficulties and restrictions on movement, pilgrims are flocking there to
attend this year’s Christmas celebrations.... CHARITY AT CHRISTMAS:
We bring you two Christmas messages, the first from the President of Caritas Internationalis
and the second from a spokesperson for Aid to the Church in Need who both reflect
on our Christian duty to reach out to our suffering brothers and sisters. ADVENT
REFLECTION ON "XMAS:": In his final Advent reflection, Scottish Jesuit priest
Chris Boles looks at the modern commercialisation and secularisation of Christmas
by recalling a short story written by the author CS Lewis that pokes fun at this trend......