Vatican, Dec. 12 (CWNews.com) - Pope Benedict XVI decried the "contamination" of Christmas by commercialism, during his Angelus audience on Sunday, December 11.
The true spirit of Christmas is one of "reflection, sobriety, and a joy that does not come from outside but from within," the Pope told the crowd in St. Peter's Square. But that attitude is under assault by "today's consumer society."
Folowing a regular Vatican tradition, the Pope blessed the figures of the child Jesus brought to the audience by the children from Rome, to be placed in crèches in their homes. As he did so, he prayed "that all Christian families may prepare" properly for the Lord's birth. The Pope said that the Christmas crèche is "a simple but effective way to introduce the faith to children," adding that the scene brings home "the humility and merciful goodness of Christ."
The Holy Father noted that preparations for Christmas traditionally begin in earnest after the feast of the Immaculate Conception. It is "providential," he observed, "that the entrace door to Christmas should be the feast of the mother of Jesus."
Preparations for Christmas were evident in St. Peter's Square as the Pope spoke to the crowd. A giant Christmas tree-- an Austrian fir of more than 90 feet-- has been erected in the Square, to be lit at a short ceremony on December 17. The enormous crèche in the center of the Square will not be unveiled until Christmas eve.
The true spirit of Christmas is one of "reflection, sobriety, and a joy that does not come from outside but from within," the Pope told the crowd in St. Peter's Square. But that attitude is under assault by "today's consumer society."
Folowing a regular Vatican tradition, the Pope blessed the figures of the child Jesus brought to the audience by the children from Rome, to be placed in crèches in their homes. As he did so, he prayed "that all Christian families may prepare" properly for the Lord's birth. The Pope said that the Christmas crèche is "a simple but effective way to introduce the faith to children," adding that the scene brings home "the humility and merciful goodness of Christ."
The Holy Father noted that preparations for Christmas traditionally begin in earnest after the feast of the Immaculate Conception. It is "providential," he observed, "that the entrace door to Christmas should be the feast of the mother of Jesus."
Preparations for Christmas were evident in St. Peter's Square as the Pope spoke to the crowd. A giant Christmas tree-- an Austrian fir of more than 90 feet-- has been erected in the Square, to be lit at a short ceremony on December 17. The enormous crèche in the center of the Square will not be unveiled until Christmas eve.
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