It was beautiful, and sometimes simply tenderly as there was joint Christmas caroling, jasełka*, there was bread from Poland and familiar cold cuts brought by highlanders, there were also gifts. But, the most important was something else. Along with the gesture came the word. The Holy Father once spoke of it himself. About the sign, that is, sharing the wafer, and about the word that accompanies it: “The word is wishes that bring kindness, cordiality, a desire for goodness. This word is also rooted in the mystery of Bethlehem night. It is, in a sense, an echo of the wishes which the angels, worshiping God at the time, offered to the people of all times.” (…) These words that had strength in them – says the Archbishop. – We often use the form “we must.” For example, “We must be people of peace; we must be converted to Christ.” (…) The Holy Father raised us to celebrate Christmas – says his former secretary. – That is how I see it today. Even during such Christmas wafer meetings. He treated us like his children and raised us. But, always we felt this fatherly love at first, and only then, what went with it. He usually emphasized that he wanted his wishes to go to every home, to everyone. They went to many. There have always been some performances during such meetings. Sometimes a choir was singing, another time highlanders presented jasełka* – says the Archbishop. – At the end of the meeting in 2001, Natalia Kukulska was to perform. She was to sing the Christmas carol “Lulajże, Jezuniu”; only this one. But, the Holy Father listened so much, was so moved that he wanted even more. He applauded, and we had no choice but to ask Natalia to sing another one. And, so from one Christmas carol there was a small recital. The Holy Father was very happy. Christmas caroling together had a special, very important place in the tradition of these Polish Christmas wafer meetings.
With the consent of Archbishop Mieczysław Mokrzycki – “A place for everyone”
Znak Publishing House, Kraków 2013.
* jasełka – Nativity play
