Text Of Pope Francis' Homily During Christmas Eve Mass

Associated Press ^ | December 25, 2014 | Associated Press

[Biggirl]

VATICAN CITY (AP) -- The Vatican's official English-language translation of Pope Francis' prepared homily, to be delivered in Italian, during Christmas Eve Mass on Wednesday in St. Peter's Basilica. Spelling and style are the Vatican's.

[Biggirl]

"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined" (Is 9:1). "An angel of the Lord appeared to (the shepherds) and the glory of the Lord shone around them" (Lk 2:9). This is how the liturgy of this holy Christmas night presents to us the birth of the Saviour: as the light which pierces and dispels the deepest darkness. The presence of the Lord in the midst of his people cancels the sorrow of defeat and the misery of slavery, and ushers in joy and happiness."

A good and blessed Merry Christmas! Christ is BORN, give Him GLORY! AMEN.

[ebb tide]

Let us think back to that dark moment when the first crime of humanity was committed, when the hand of Cain, blinded by envy, killed his brother Abel (cf. Gen 4:8). As a result, the unfolding of the centuries has been marked by violence, wars, hatred and oppression.

I really can't believe any Catholic would believe such a thing! Man's first crime was Eve's in the Garden of Eden, the Original Sin. Because of that, we have the "the unfolding of the centuries has been marked by violence, wars, hatred and oppression"; not because of Cain's sin, but because of Adam and Eve's sin.

But I now more fully understand why, Francis doesn't preach EENS to Jews and Muslims. I don't think he really believes in Original Sin and the absolute necessity of a Christian baptism to remove that stain to reach eternal salvation. It also explains his promotion of evolution.

But then again, things have obviously changed:

“I am the first pope who … studied theology after the Council and, at that time, for us the great light was Paul VI.” – Pope Francis