Christmas is perceived throughout the world as the epitome of hope, joy, and spiritual abundance. With nine days left to celebrate the glory of Christ’s birth, the preparation has begun at Antonine University (UA) to receive God’s indescribable gift, His Son, with the inauguration of the Christmas Novena on December 15, 2022, at 6:00 PM, at Our Lady of the Seeds Monastery, Hadat–Baabda. Mgr. Boulos Abdel Sater, the Archbishop of the Diocese of Beirut, presided over the ceremony, which featured hymns sung by the UA Choir. In attendance were Fr. Abbot Maroun Abou Jaoude, Superior General of the Antonine Maronite Order (OAM), and Fr. Michel Jalakh, UA’s Rector, accompanied by MP Elias Bou Saab, Deputy Parliament Speaker; MPs Ibrahim Kanaan and Alain Aoun; General Joseph Aoun, Army Commander; Brigadier General Antoine Kahwaji, Army Intelligence Director; Mr. Antoine Helou, Mayor of Baabda–Louaize; Mr. George Aoun, Mayor of Hadat; honorable guests; priests; military and security leaders; judges; members of the Board of Trustees (BOT); as well as instructors, administrative staff, and students.

Praying the novena stirred the hearts of the worshippers to remember the childlike wonder, earnestly and eagerly await the moment that changed the course of history, and be well prepared to appreciate the newness Christ brings to the world. The attendees gathered together around the nativity scene, handing over their worries, fears, and anxieties to God with inexpressible and unparalleled joy. During the homily, Mgr. Abdel Sater focused on the power of Christ’s lowliness, for He humbled himself, abandoned his throne and majesty for our sake, and accepted to come as a stranger in this world, as God will always remain his eternal dwelling place. Mgr. Abdel Sater also described Lebanon’s rulers, who commit homicide and misdeeds against their compatriots using their cunningness in order to remain seated on their thrones full of vanity. He urged the Lord to remind them that exploiting others, spreading hatred, and shutting their ears to the poor, homeless, and marginalized will all be condemned; that human fraternity and love transcend nationalities, religions, and borders; and that “shrouds have no pocket.” He also urged the Lord to let every wanderer return home and to teach us that changing ourselves is the genuine revolution, which should be inspired by the power of serving selflessly and bearing responsibility for every action, as Jesus was the “first and true” rebel who rejected the law of retaliation and instructed us to love our enemies.

As for the Rector, he delivered a speech in which he stressed the fact that Jesus’ birth is awe-inspiring for several reasons. In truth, although Jesus is the newborn baby, we are the ones who wait to grab the most precious gifts on this occasion, for only He can offer them, and although he is the birthday celebrant, we are the ones who wish upon a star. We long for a life that is deeper and more human, and that is why we need to empty ourselves in the same way that Jesus emptied Himself so as to become as human as Him. By acknowledging that everything we have is from God, we set our hearts and minds on seeking the true riches in Him, for only He can bring us real wealth. Furthermore, the Rector highlighted that all too often, the true meaning of Christmas gets lost as we succumb to the hustle and bustle of the holiday, hence the importance of cutting out the noise of daily life to focus on what matters most: our relationship with Christ. According to Fr. Jalakh, on the feast day, the celebrant will help us listen to the beat of our hearts and cherish the richness of simplicity. Toward the end of the address, he pointed out that it is hard to think of celebrating Christmas amid the presidential vacuum, which he hopes could be filled the soonest possible in crisis-hit Lebanon. Therefore, he commanded us to lift our prayers to God and ask him to keep remembering Lebanon and its people, release His abundant blessings, let love overflow for one another, and strengthen the faith of those around us.

A cocktail reception followed the Novena with the aim of allowing invitees to spend this uplifting time together and savor the wonderfully wholesome exchange of words.