Silent Night, Holy NightO Lejl ta’ Skiet

Lejl tal-Milied

22nd. December 2013

Let me tell you a story …

One fine day the OFS Fraternities in Malta decided to go ‘Carol Singing’ in the very hub of Christmas shopping … Valletta. Not everyone was sure of the worthiness of the idea, but the enthusiasm of most of us, won the day! So on a cold 22nd December 2013, at 5 pm, the brave carol-singers started their walk up Merchant Street …

The wind kept blowing out the

candles held by the singers, and the

singing wasn’t always angelic …

but the busy shoppers stopped,

watched and listened. For that

hour they were reminded that the first six letters in

the word ‘Christmas’ are the

reason for the season!

It was Francis of Assisi who first put back Baby Jesus in the people’s heart. Our carol singers hoped to imitate Francis in his Christmas message of love.

And it seems that for some the message got through because they willingly joined our carol singers. As to the hundreds of shoppers that were there that day … as St Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3:6

“I planted the seed, Apollo watered it, but God has been making it grow.” So we shall leave it in God’s capable hands!

For most of our singers this was a first experience, but at the end of it everybody was already planning for next Christmas. Following on the footsteps of Francis of Assisi, we Secular Franciscans need to witness to “The Good News” of God’s love for mankind.

Silent Night, Holy NightO Lejl ta’ Skiet

Lejl tal-Milied

22nd. December 2013