“The traditional 'Christmas tree' is a very ancient custom which exalts the value of life, as in winter the evergreen becomes a sign of undying life. The message of the Christmas tree, therefore, is that life is 'ever green' if one gives: not so much material things, but of oneself: in friendship and sincere affection, and fraternal help and forgiveness, in shared time and reciprocal listening.”
"The mystery of the Holy Night, which historically happened two thousand years ago, must be lived as a spiritual event in the ‘today' of the Liturgy. The Word who found a dwelling in Mary's womb comes to knock on the heart of every person with singular intensity this Christmas."
- St. John Paul II
Awareness
"But we would forget the lesson of the Incarnation, of the enfleshing of God—the lesson that we who are followers of Jesus do not run from the secular; rather we try to transform it. It is our mission to make holy the secular aspects of Christmas just as the early Christians baptized the Christmas tree. And we do this by being holy people—kind, patient, generous, loving, laughing people—no matter how maddening is the Christmas rush…"
- St. John Paul II
Compassion
"Be not afraid."
- St. John Paul II
Courage
"There is no evil to be faced that Christ does not face with us. There is no enemy that Christ has not already conquered. There is no cross to bear that Christ has not already borne for us, and does not now bear with us. And on the far side of every cross we find the newness of life in the Holy Spirit, that new life which will reach its fulfillment in the resurrection. This is our faith. This is our witness before the world."
- St. John Paul II
Faith
"Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone."
- Charles M. Schulz
Generosity
"Every time we love, every time we give, it's Christmas."
- Dale Evans
Generosity
"Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas."
- Peg Bracken
Generosity
"As we give presents at Christmas, we need to recognize that sharing our time and ourselves is such an important part of giving."
- Gordon B. Hinckley
Generosity
"For it is in giving that we receive."
- Francis of Assisi
Generosity