Bishops' Schedules: Bishop Robert C. Morlino Friday, December 3, 2004 5:30 p.m. -- Host Dinner and Gathering of Diocesan College of Consultors, Bishop's Residence, Madison Sunday, December 5, 2004 10:30 a.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Eucharist, St. Raphael Cathedral, Madison Wednesday, December 8, 2004 12:00 p.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Eucharist, Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, St. Raphael Cathedral, Madison Bishop William H. Bullock Saturday, December 4, 2004 11:00 a.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Eucharist, Apostolate to the Handicapped Christmas Mass, Monroe High School, Monroe 5:00 p.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Eucharist, Dedication of New Fellowship Hall and Administrative Offices, St. Francis Xavier Parish, Cross Plains Bishop George O. Wirz Thursday, December 2, 2004 12:00 p.m. -- Attend Janesville Serra Club Recognition Luncheon for Priests and Religious, Janesville Country Club, Janesville

Christmas journey:
Jesus in crèche, tabernacle

		Under the Gospel Book + Bishop Robert C. Morlino

Dear Friends,

The wonderful words of the Advent liturgy return once again to inspire us, "our hearts are filled with joy as we prepare to celebrate Christ's birth so that when He comes He might find us watching in prayer our hearts filled with wonder and with praise."

With the Thanksgiving celebration and the First Sunday of Advent, we have begun our pilgrimage journey to Christmas. Our Christmas journey is of course a journey with Mary and Joseph, with the shepherds, and with the wise men to Bethlehem to be in the presence of the Savior who has come. Bethlehem means in Hebrew, "house of bread," and so our journey at Christmas is a journey to Bethlehem, is a journey to the "house of bread," that is, it is a journey to the Eucharist celebrated at Christmas and to the Eucharistic presence of Christ in our tabernacles, the Mass in Meditation, the "Bethlehem" which abides.

During Advent we focus on the coming of Christ to Bethlehem in history. We focus on His coming into our lives each day in so many personal ways in mystery and especially in the mystery of the Eucharist, and we focus on His coming in majesty at the end of history as King of Heaven and Earth. Advent makes available for all of us a great spiritual pilgrimage.

Connecting nativity scene, tabernacle

At Christmas it is customary to erect an image of the nativity scene, sometimes called the crèche, and it is customary to spend time in prayer and contemplation before the nativity scene, before that representation of Christ's birth at Bethlehem. During this particular season of Advent, during our Year of the Eucharist, let us see the connection between spending time before the crèche, the representation of Bethlehem, and spending time at the real, mystical Bethlehem, the tabernacle, in which the presence of Christ is reserved in our churches.

If we are attracted to the crib scene and especially want our children to be caught up in those beautiful images of Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the wise men, the angel, the animals, if there is a wonder and a fascination for all of us, especially children, before that crib scene, let us be all the more attracted to the mystical Bethlehem, the tabernacle where the real presence of Christ abides, the tabernacle which, until Christ comes in His glory, is for us the real "house of bread."

"I hope that every time an individual or family visits the crib or crèche in the parish church during this Christmas season they will be reminded to visit the tabernacle."

Christ's presence in tabernacle

Christ's presence in the tabernacle is not in any way a distraction from His presence in the action of the Eucharistic liturgy. In fact, Christ's presence in the tabernacle is "the Mass in Meditation" as Deacon Owen Cummings has said so beautifully, so that our whole life as Catholics is a journey from Christ's presence at the altar to His presence in the tabernacle and then back to the altar. Worship of Christ present in the tabernacle refers back to the altar which is its source, and leads us back to the altar to enter once again into the sacrificial action.

It would be good this year that every time one thought of the crib scene or better yet prayed before a crib scene, one immediately thought of the real, mystical Bethlehem, the tabernacle, where the real presence of the Eucharistic Christ abides. I hope that every time an individual or family visits the crib or crèche in the parish church during this Christmas season they will be reminded to visit the tabernacle, and to spend time there adoring in the spirit of the three wise men who came from afar to adore the Lord. I sense that some of our people probably have not prayed in contemplation before the Blessed Sacrament reserved in the tabernacle for a long time, and in this sense they are invited like the wise men to come from afar to adore the Lord.

Come let us adore Him

In the months ahead as we continue the celebration of the Year of the Eucharist we will be looking to celebrate Eucharistic days and Eucharistic processions throughout the diocese culminating with a major Eucharistic event toward the end of the Year of the Eucharist next fall. In the meantime, come let us adore Him through more frequent attendance at Mass. Come let us adore Him through frequent visits to Christ present in the Blessed Sacrament in our tabernacles. Come let us adore Him at that real mystical Bethlehem which is His Eucharistic presence, and let that be the very heart and core of our Advent spirituality and preparation for Christmas.

Thank you for reading this. God bless each one of you and all of your loved ones. Have a blessed Advent! Praised be Jesus Christ!