Christmas time enables us to contemplate and give meaning to the presence of a God who became a baby. In the Founder's Method of Mental Prayer, the manner in which he interiorizes the mystery of the Word made flesh is striking. In these circumstances feelings move beyond reason - as seems natural to me when we take time to admire a baby. Above all, we allow our hearts to speak: ".What a marvel! You actually became a child, in fact, a poor, humble child, and the most loveable of all children.! O Jesus, Infant God, my lovable Saviour, dear Son of Mary and of God, I pledge to you an inviolable and eternal love. I offer you, I give you, and I consecrate to you my heart. Pour your divine love into it." (EMMP 202).

We all know that, through poor children and young people, the Founder brought this love of Jesus to fruition in adoring him present in them (cf. Meditation 96:3). It falls to us today, as his successors and disciples, to continue bringing this active and transforming love to youngsters. And we do it with ardent zeal, not only for those whom the Lord has confided to our care but also, today, for all those other young people who are the victims of abuse and neglect.

May this Christmas of the Jubilee Year 2000 enable all Lasallians to discover God in the faces of children and to build a better future for them. The 43rd General Chapter has asked us for a clear commitment in favour of their rights: "In order that the rights of the child be considered as a major focus of concern for the Lasallian mission of education for the next seven years, each District, Sub-District and Delegation should include this question in its plan of action." It also indicates a series of clear policies to implement this proposition. (Proposition 14 - Circular 447).

Tagore tells us that the birth of a child is a sign that God has not abandoned us. May the birth of Jesus that we celebrate, along with the birth of every child in the world, be for us the motivation for a clear commitment in their favour. May it also be a commitment in favour of life wherever it is threatened.

To all Lasallians - Happy Christmas and may the New Year be full of blessings.