Christmas Message from the General Council: The importance of “noticing”

The importance of “noticing”

Dear confrères,
During this Christmas season, we are offered an extraordinary opportunity: to embark on an inner journey that leads us from simple self-awareness to true closeness with others and with the world.

Advent began this year with a passage from the Gospel that should have struck us: “Jesus said to his disciples: ‘As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. In the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day that Noah entered the ark. They knew nothing until the flood came and carried them all away. So will it be at the coming of the Son of Man’” (Matthew 24:37-39).

Noticing or becoming aware of the world around us, of the people with whom we live and to whom we direct our mission, means grasping the essence of our ‘being present’ and our ‘being conscious’. Noticing is not a passive action, but an intentional act of courage and presence, which requires effort, practice, attention and sensitivity. It is, therefore, a true art that has the immense power to change our perception of reality. When we ‘notice’, we are no longer slaves to habits or external stimuli; we can choose our responses and live with more authenticity and meaning.

Noticing or being mindful is an act of daily courage. It is difficult to be truly present and see things as they are, without judgement or automatic reaction. It takes audacity to face one’s thoughts, emotions and the reality of the moment.

Once we have learned the art of noticing, our way of being in the world changes: we become more empathetic, more connected, more capable of appreciating the little things and navigating difficulties with greater wisdom and calm. In other words, ‘noticing’ is waking up to one’s own life and beginning a journey of personal growth towards greater fulfilment and inner freedom, capable of transforming the way we live and relate to the world, moving from an automatic existence to a lively and conscious one. Noticing grounds us in the present and helps us to open our hearts, to see the world more clearly and to listen truly. Only from authentic listening does closeness arise – the gift of being close, without the need for too many words and with a heart attentive to the vulnerability of others.

Being close means having the courage to shift our focus, to put aside our ego and to devote sincere and active attention to those who live in situations of profound hardship or fragility, whether they are immigrants seeking a secure future, victims of one of the many conflicts that disfigure our world, or simply people who cross our path. Being close means rediscovering the beauty of active compassion, of a smile that gives hope, of a gesture that heals the deepest wounds. This is the most concrete way to show that there is no room in our hearts for indifference, but only for true love.

This adventure of awareness, if expanded, leads us to a profound spirituality, marked by an awareness of the symbiosis that exists between all creatures and creation. Then the wonder of the cycle of the seasons, the strength of a tree, the vital breath of nature will remind us that we are all part of a sacred design, and this awareness will open our eyes to the beauty of all things and to the grace of every moment, opening us up to gratitude.

Advent invites us to look forward with hope, to believe that the future can be different and better. We are not ‘beings-for-death,’ but ‘beings-for-life.’ And Christmas urges us to ‘direct our hearts’ towards the expectation of the Son of Man. When Jesus comes, we want to be found ready: with hearts full of love and our eyes fixed only on him, ready to welcome his love that transforms everything.

Let us hope that Christmas will bring us back the courage to climb mountains without stopping at the first restaurant, and to jump into our little boat in the middle of the sea, grab the oars and put out into deep water. Because, if it is true that we are waiting for “Someone”, it is even more true that this “Someone” – always and forever – is waiting for us, and awaiting the moment our Institute becomes what our Founder dreamed it to be, convinced as he was that his dream was God’s dream.

Let us welcome Jesus, the Sun of justice, as he returns to warm our hearts, heal our wounds and restore our hope. God, entering the world through Mary's womb, has lit a light that no darkness can extinguish. We too, limited human beings that we are, can start afresh from here, with the certainty that what seemed unattainable – the promise of rebirth and renewal – becomes possible.

We wish you a Christmas filled with warmth, love, light and hope.

Merry Christmas, indeed!

The General Council
Rome, 13^th December 2025