ZAGREB, Dec 24 (Hina) - In a Christmas message aired on television and radio on Wednesday evening, the president of the Croatian Bishops' Conference and Archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Josip Bozanic, offered his best wishes for the
holiday to all citizens of Croatia and Croats living abroad.
ZAGREB, Dec 24 (Hina) - In a Christmas message aired on television and
radio on Wednesday evening, the president of the Croatian Bishops'
Conference and Archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Josip Bozanic, offered
his best wishes for the holiday to all citizens of Croatia and Croats
living abroad.#L#
Speaking about the celebration of Christmas, Bozanic said arbitrary
interpretations of Christmas that had nothing to do with the Christian
meaning of the holiday were often being imposed on the faithful.
"To celebrate Christmas means primarily to believe that God is with
us."
"God became one of us and sent us a message that every human being,
solely by being human, is an immeasurable value and God's beloved
creation," he said.
Christmas is a great test of our conscience and of how we accept our
own existence and that of every man with whom we share our everyday
life, by which standards we measure ourselves and others and whether
we measure them by what they possess, by their social standing or by
what they really are, Bozanic said.
"Do modern-day Joseph and Mary find shelter in our lives and homes? Is
Jesus also today born in a cold stable on the outskirts of cities
because of our insensitivity and cold-heartedness?" he asked.
Christmas encourages us to be always open to the challenges of the
Spirit so we can grow in humanity befitting Christmas, Bozanic said,
wishing everyone a merry and blessed Christmas.
(Hina) rml