Pope Francis: Advent a time to reflect on ways to encounter Christ

As Vatican Christmas tree goes up, pope's Christmas schedule released

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VATICAN CITY — With the start of Advent, the pope said, during morning Mass in the Domus Sanctae Marthae, on Nov. 29, that people can reflect on how Christ’s birth was about small things: a tiny stable, a small manger, a child born to a simple mother and father — people with “big hearts, but childlike in their attitude.”

That attitude helps people understand what humility and fear of the Lord are, he said. This is how the faithful live, knowing the Lord is watching over them and giving them the strength to go on in their daily lives.

The pope warned against taking on a “theatrical” humility, marked by boasting, “I am humble, but proud of it!”

True humility, he said, means walking simply with the Lord, serving others and never speaking ill of them.

Advent is also a time to reflect on the many ways people can encounter Christ, the pope said in his homily Nov. 28 — the day after the beginning of Advent and the start of the new liturgical year.

Advent, in fact, is “a time to walk and go meet the Lord, that is, a time to not stand still,” he said.

People can encounter the Lord in three ways, he said: being vigilant in prayer, joyful in praise and diligent in charity.

Charity is more than just making a donation, the pope said. It is also “tolerating people who bother me, putting up with the kids at home when they’re making too much noise or with your husband or wife when there are problems or your mother-in-law, I don’t know, just tolerate it, put up with it.”

The important thing is, he said, is to never stand still, keep moving toward the Lord “and there will be a surprise, because he is the Lord of surprises.”

The great surprise is that the whole time people have been wandering, searching, moving, God was already there, determinedly seeking them out first, he said.

“We take one step and he takes 10. Always. The abundance of his grace, his love, his tenderness that never tires of looking for us.”

All God asks, he said, is that people sincerely desire to encounter him and take at least one small step in good faith; God then does the rest.

In fact, that personal encounter is essential to the Christian faith, not knowing everything about dogma, he said.

“The doctors of the law knew everything, everything about the dogma at the time, all about the morality of that time, everything. (But) they didn’t have faith because their hearts were far from God,” he said. Having the strength to take a step toward God, “this is the grace we ask for today.”

As a towering spruce tree was erected in St. Peter’s Square, the Vatican released Pope Francis’ liturgy schedule for Advent, Christmas and the month of January. The 82-feet-tall Christmas tree arrived in the square Nov. 24.

According to the papal calendar released by the Vatican the same day:

— Pope Francis will celebrate an evening Mass Dec. 12, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The Mass will include ancient liturgical hymns composed in indigenous languages, including Nahuatl, Quechua, Mapuche and Guarani. The Sistine Chapel Choir be will joined the Latin American Choir under the direction of conductor Eduardo Notrica.

— The pope will celebrate Christmas Mass at 9:30 p.m. Dec. 24 in St. Peter’s Basilica.

— Pope Francis will give his Christmas blessing “urbi et orbi” (to the city and the world) at noon Dec. 25 from the central balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square.

— Dec. 31 in St. Peter’s Basilica, the pope will preside over evening prayer and the singing of the “Te Deum” in thanksgiving for the year that is ending.

— The pope will celebrate a Morning Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica Jan. 1, the World Day of Prayer for Peace and the feast of Mary, Mother of God.

— On Jan. 6, the feast of the Epiphany, Pope Francis will celebrate Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica.

— On the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Jan. 8, the pope will celebrate Mass in the Sistine Chapel and baptize several babies.

— Pope Francis will preside over an ecumenical evening prayer service Jan. 25, the feast of the Conversion of St. Paul. The service concludes the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.