On Christmas Eve, 24 December 2025, Br. Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C., Superior General, shared his annual Christmas message with the Congregation of Holy Cross.

In his narrative on the birth of Jesus Christ, St. Luke refers to the shepherds who were “in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid.’”

These words, “Do not be afraid,” are a common exhortation in scripture. In fact, the greeting to the shepherds is the same greeting of the angel Gabriel to Mary at the Annunciation when he told her that she had found favor with God and was to be the mother of the Son of the Most High.

Nine months later, Mary probably recalled these same reassuring words as she and Joseph searched frantically for a place to stay the night, as she anticipated how she would give birth in a stable, and as she wondered whether or not she was ready to be a mother, or even more dauntingly, to be the Mother of God’s only begotten Son. Like the experience of most new mothers, I am sure that all of these fears and anxieties immediately melted into pure joy as she looked upon the miracle of her newborn child.

We all have our personal fears, whether it is fear of failure, fear of change, or fear of illness or death. And then there our collective fears, for our future, our environment, and our global stability. The words “Do not fear” to the shepherds is the same consoling greeting the angels give to us this day to calm our worries.

My prayer for you this Christmas is that whatever fears you may have will melt away into the same pure joy experienced by Mary: “For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord.” His name is Emmanuel, God is with us.

There is no need to fear any longer, for our Savior is born. Our God is truly with us. Merry Christmas!