Dear brothers and sisters, dear friends,

There are over fifty extant letters written by Father d’Alzon during his lifetime on Christmas eve.  I’ve enjoyed re-reading them as I prepare for Christmas myself.  I was amused by a recurring theme in these letters:  “I have an enormous stack of letters on my desk waiting to be answered; will I ever be able to do it before Christmas.”  (see his letters on 24 December 1867 and 1876)  I can identify with the problem, but despite the work piled up on my desk, I did want to communicate with you as we prepare to celebrate that great event.

In his Christmas eve letter of 1876 to one of his confreres, François Picard, Father d’Alzon summed up the meaning of the incarnation for me:  “Forty-two years ago, our Lord blessed me with a great grace.  He helped me understand I should do everything for Him and not worry so much about others.  Today, He’s given me another grace:  he has made me understand that I need to do everything for others as I would for Him.”

God has become man in Jesus Christ…and in the brother and sister at my side.

I hope you, your communities, and your families all have a wonderful and blessed Christmas.

Fr. Richard Lamoureux, a.a.,
Assumptionist Superior General

25 December 2006