“The rite of the imposition of ashes serves as the beginning of this return journey. It exhorts us to do two things: to return to the truth about ourselves and to return to God and to our brothers and sisters.”

On the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God and the 54th World Day of Peace, Pope Francis reminded Christians to "imitate the shepherds: let us learn to see! To understand by seeing with our hearts."

‘Why is the manger so important? Because it is the sign, and not by chance, of Christ’s coming into this world. It is how he announces his coming.’

Let us pray to John Paul I “to obtain for us ‘the smile of the soul,’ a transparent smile that does not deceive.”

“The Holy Spirit wants us to concentrate on the here and now, because the time and place in which we find ourselves are themselves grace-filled.”

On this night, brothers and sisters, let us allow the women of the Gospel to lead us by the hand, so that, with them, we may glimpse the first rays of the dawn of God’s life rising in the darkness of our world.