Christmas of joy, of hope, of rediscovered faith: a day of shared celebration, not only in the conviviality of the table, the decorations, the exchange of gifts, but above all in the rituals that express the strength of a community. Many today participated in the pontifical mass, presided over by Archbishop Giovanni Accolla in the presence of Mayor Basile with the banner of the city of Messina, the municipal police led by Giovanni Giardina and other authorities.
“Christmas gives us back the sense of a God who gave without reserve, who amazed. Let us start again from that Child placed in the manger, that God who, by making himself small, manifested the true value of humanity, in poverty and hospitality”, said Mgr. Accolla, urging the people of Messina to be aware and conscious evangelizers. The sweet notes of the choirs of the chapel of the cathedral basilica and of the historic Perosiana, with the majesty of the tambourine organ, acted as a counterpoint to the words of the archbishop, at his ninth and last Christmas with the people of Messina.
The night mass with Marco Sprizzi from Messina
The cathedral was also packed last night for the night mass, concelebrated among others by the president of the Holy See’s Labor Office, Marco Sprizzi from Messina. The suggestions of the vigil, with the procession that from the Cathedral arrived at the Nativity set up in the garden of the Crypt: here the archbishop placed the Child and prayed with the people of Messina and for the people of Messina: the thoughts went to the sick, the prisoners, the lonely people: “To illuminate with hope those who are wary” this is the archbishop’s warning, this is the meaning of Christmas. Next Sunday the closing rite of the Jubilee of Hope will take place in the Cathedral, which RTP will follow live starting from 5.15pm.