And it came to pass, after the angels departed from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another: Let us go over to Bethlehem and let us see this word that is come to pass, which the Lord hath showed to us. (Luke 2:15)

And it came to pass that when they were there, her days were accomplished that she should be delivered. (Luke 2:6).    The hope of such good news from Washington and St. Lucia reminds us of the ultimate Good News – the birth of Christ himself as a man and our way to God through his death and resurrection.

…and laid him in a manger: because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:7)  It is with this same sense of renewal that Catholics come to the manger – the stable where Christ was born more than 2,000 years ago. While not ideal, the stable was the first room in which our Savior lived when he came to earth, as 20th century Catholic Italian writer Giovanni Papini notes.

 “And she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him up in swaddling clothes…” (Luke 2:7)   All of the details of Christ’s birth – including his first baby clothes (which foreshadow Christ’s winding sheet) – have significance. In the same sermon quoted in t