Cardinal Seán issued the following statement on December 19 regarding the Declaration "Fiducia Supplicans" on the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings.

“We thank the Holy Father for his love and care of all the people in the flock. We caution and make clear that the Holy Father has not endorsed gay marriage, but has recognized all Catholics, including those whose unions are not recognized by the Church, as equally in need of God's grace and love.

When you think about it, God went through “great lengths” to save humanity. At the right moment in history, in His tender mercy, God chose to come down to earth as a human being and reveal Himself in the person of JESUS! Humanity was in desperate need for meaning, purpose, hope and supernatural power / grace. We needed help to live joyfully, peacefully, and harmoniously with others, ourselves, and with Him.

This weekend, we celebrate the Third Sunday of Advent traditionally known as Gaudete (Latin for “rejoice”) Sunday. It is so named because “Rejoice” is the first word in the entrance antiphon for today's Mass taken from Philippians 4:4,5: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice! The Lord is near.”

In Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel) available HERE, the Holy Father focuses on the theme of the Church’s missionary role. He emphasizes our need to make the proclamation of the Gospel a lived reality in all of what we say and do. He speaks about becoming “Spirit-filled evangelizers” with a “renewed missionary impulse” marked by a “joy ever new, a joy which is shared.”

Today, the First Sunday of Advent, marks the beginning of a new liturgical year. This year’s Season of Advent is rather short because Christmas occurs the day after the Fourth Sunday of Advent. The Church’s Universal Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar #39 explains the season in this way. “Advent has a two-fold character, for it is a time of preparation for the Solemnities of Christmas, in which the First Coming of the Son of God to humanity is remembered, and likewise a time when, by remembrance of this, minds and hearts are led to look forward to Christ’s Second Coming at the end of time. For these two reasons, Advent is a period of devout and expectant delight.”