This November 18, within the framework of the festival of Our Lady of Hope, the Catholic Bishops of Cuba They published their message for Christmas 2024which this year focuses on the Gospel passage from Saint Luke: “The Sun that rises from above will visit us” (1, 78).
The bishops share their message “aware of the difficult realities” that Cuba faces, and therefore invite the entire Church and the people to continue praying for the country and “let themselves be found” by the Child Jesus.
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“In our hearts there is a deep longing for love and peace, for forgiveness and reconciliation, for truth and justice, for freedom and prosperity. To fulfill these desires, the Church, also in Cuba, invites all men to allow themselves to be found by Jesus Christ,” the bishops wrote.
The prelates assured that they were addressing the entire Cuban people, echoing the words of Zacarías, father of Saint John the Baptist, to invite them “to open their hearts to Jesus this Christmas.”
They indicated that the arrival of the Lord, to the personal and family life of each people, is experienced “like the visit of the Sun, which illuminates all circumstances, no matter how difficult and distressing they are, because it offers comfort, strength, and the wisdom of the Spirit. Holy and the serene joy of the One who loves us, accompanies us and always sustains us on our path.”
The Episcopate considered it pertinent to delve into the fact that God “approaches his people” in the person of Jesus, who came to free us from sin, the power of death, and the sadness of living without love.
When Jesus meets each one of us – the bishops continue – life is renewed, wounds heal, “and the joy of being children of God and brothers in Christ is rediscovered, who always keep the hope of a better world burning.” .
In addition, they expressed that Christmas is the ideal opportunity to overcome difficult moments, discouragement and apathy. Believers must, during this liturgical time, “reignite in the heart the flame of faith” that becomes more alive through prayer, meditation on the Word, liturgical celebrations in temples and acts of charity. .
The bishops reiterated their call to pray for Cuba, “being aware” of the power of prayer to transform hearts. “Let us persevere in prayer for Cuba, let us not stop doing it for anything,” they stressed.
Likewise, they highlighted the beginning of the Jubilee Year 2025—dedicated to the virtue of hope—noting that “every human being is waiting” to achieve and build a better future in Jesus Christ, who is “our hope.”
“With Christmas approaching, as pastors of God’s people, we want to send Cuban families a message of closeness and encouragement in the face of the difficult realities that too many of them have to face every day,” they expressed.
“May the Holy Virgin and her husband Saint Joseph, who gave us the Child God on the first Christmas in history, help us to authentically live these holy days, so that all the situations of darkness and darkness that weigh on this people of ours and all of humanity, open to the hope that springs forth, because The Sun that rises from above will visit us. Merry Christmas, yes, Merry Christmas! because God is born for everyone,” concluded the bishops of Cuba.
Andres Henriquez
I have been a writer for ACI Prensa and a correspondent for EWTN since 2023. Since then, I have covered events in the Catholic Church in Venezuela and Latin America. I have more than 5 years of experience in bilingual media. Additionally, in Venezuela I have worked with non-governmental organizations in favor of freedom and respect for human rights in the country. I have been a member of the Regnum Christi Federation since 2014.