Reminder: Save seats for Christmas visitors

Immaculate Conception parish in Hoosick Falls summed up, in its bulletin, a directive shared by many parishes as Christmas approaches.

"The ancient monastic Rule of St. Benedict includes many memorable lines, but perhaps no instruction points more powerfully to the meaning of the Christian life than, 'Let all guests who arrive be received as Christ,'" the notice read. "On Christmas, we receive the Christ child anew, God's gift of love and transformation taking flesh and dwelling in our midst.

"On that day, we often welcome dozens of people who are not normally in our church each Sunday. What a wonderful moment to welcome the guest as Christ.

"For many people, coming to a Christmas service or Mass is important, even if the rest of the year they are away from the Church. Our intent should be to create a wonderful experience for our parish community, but also for the many visitors who will come with friends, family or by themselves to our sanctuaries.

"First and foremost, our Mass should emanate the joy, hope and love of this beautiful season. People do not need to be reminded, directly or indirectly, that they are visitors. Even good-humored ribbing about the pews being fuller than normal can be off-putting and make people feel that, rather than cherished guests, they are interlopers.

"It's a good idea, in advance of Christmas Day, to remind people that their 'spot' in the pews may need to be graciously shared. The greatest welcome and evangelization we can offer, though, may simply be a loving smile and a warm greeting when we encounter new people. Scooting over and enthusiastically making room for someone can be as strong a message as anything we say.

"Christmastime can be a remarkable moment to reawaken and reanimate our discipleship, and to discover new ways to welcome the guest as Christ."[[In-content Ad]]