“In our celebration of Christmas, a special place is occupied by the table around which the family gathers to pray, break the wafer, make wishes and eat the Christmas Eve supper” – John Paul II once said. – It is a beautiful custom to leave one free place at the table for someone who can come, for a stranger. These simple gestures mean a lot. They symbolize the goodness of the human heart, which perceives in another person – especially in the needy person – the presence of Christ and calls to introduce brother and sister into the atmosphere of family warmth, in accordance with the old Polish custom: “Guest in the house, God in the house”. This old Polish proverb calls by name what I observed and felt in the Papal house – comments the former secretary. Besides, the Holy Father has always lived as he said. He was consistent here. Always. And, it was great. That is why young people loved him so much. Because there was no falsehood in it. The Pope also said about the Christmas Eve table that it creates and builds a human community. And, that its meaning becomes even clearer when there is bread on it, which everyone can share with another person. “Love, forgiveness, peace with God and people find in this Christmas Eve gesture a wonderful expression” – he added. He knew that the power of this love, forgiveness and peace with God and people is enormous. “May it reign in families” – he once said – “so that when standing in front of the nativity scene or by the Christmas tree, they may strengthen their fidelity and unity.” He knew that the strength of the community of the Christmas Eve table was enormous. Who among us does not remember family Christmas Eve, when disputes were silent at the Christmas Eve table, how tears flowed when breaking the wafer – recalls the Archbishop. There is some magic in this evening, which is obviously not magic in the sense of witchcraft. It is Christ’s love for man. The Holy Father has always said that it works miracles. That Christ’s love is insurmountable. You just have to be able to draw from it. You have to open the door to it.
With the consent of Archbishop Mieczysław Mokrzycki – “Place for everyone”
Znak Publishing House, Kraków 2013.
