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12/17/2012
Letter from Archbishop Lori,
Former Bishop of Bridgeport
Read at all Masses on Sunday, Dec. 16, at St. Rose of Lima Parish
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Along with you, and along with the rest of our nation and, indeed, the rest of the world, I was shocked and horrified to learn of what had taken place in Newtown so suddenly and terribly on Friday morning. I was in Rome for meetings, and it was early evening there when I heard.
Since that moment, my heart has been heavy, and I can't stop thinking about everyone in Newtown, especially the victims, the children, and their families. So I just wanted to say very sincerely and simply that I am close to all of you in my thoughts and prayers right now.
Coming at this time of year, so close to Christmas, the tragedy is all the more difficult to bear. I can only say that, especially for the sake of the victims and their families, we cannot allow ourselves to lose hope, but indeed, now more than ever, must strengthen one another through our friendships in Christ, and our unity of faith in him and his resurrection.
I have been thinking very much of the words of Blessed John Paul II, who once said, "To receive Jesus Christ means believing that in the history of humanity, even though it is marked by evil and suffering, the final word belongs to life, and to love, because God came to dwell among us, so we might dwell in Him."
So in these days of Advent, let us not forget that, as we read in Saint John's Gospel, "The light shines on in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."
Our lives will never be the same. But neither will we have to face a single day without the strength and peace that only Christ can give to us. In that strength and in that peace I am very much united with you today.
Most Reverend William E. Lori
Archbishop of Baltimore
