Dear Confreres, Sisters, Associates and Friends,
On behalf of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer I would like to wish you a very blessed and joyful Christmas.
As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, we contemplate the mystery of the Incarnation of the Word of God. The birth of every child is a sign of hope, a sign that God continues to believe in us. As we celebrate the birth of the Son of God, we rejoice that God is Emmanuel. God is one with us, one with our humanity.
The Final Documents of the XXIV General Chapter call us all to a greater awareness of our missionary solidarity. This missionary solidarity, which is clearly expressed in our Constitutions, is rooted in the solidarity of God-with-us which is the heart of the Incarnation. Solidarity with the abandoned and the poor, solidarity in mission, economic solidarity, and ‘closeness to people’ are reflections of the all-embracing and primary solidarity of God-with-us which we celebrate especially at Christmas in the birth of Jesus, Son of God and Son of Mary.
Indeed, Redemptorists know that only the mystery of the Word Incarnate throws true light on the mystery of humanity and on the full reality of its calling. With this knowledge they reveal the all-embracing nature of redemption, and give witness to the truth that whoever follows Christ, the perfect human being, becomes more human (Redemptorist Constitution 19).
As we celebrate this Christmas, may the Spirit of Jesus lead us more deeply into the mystery of our humanity so that
we may also grow in our missionary solidarity – with one another and with all people.
Like Mary, our Mother of Perpetual Help, may we treasure this mystery and ponder it in our hearts.
Your brother in the Redeemer,
Michael Brehl, C.Ss.R.
Superior General
