As Christmas approachesthe message of twinkling hope in the darkness could feel more relevant than ever. Whether inspired by the weight of a corrupt world, personal grief, or the gloom that lingers during the short days of winter, people seem to be increasingly drawn to finding the light.
That is the message we must convey from Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York who is leading midnight mass this Christmas.
Cardinal Dolan shared this sentiment during an exclusive sit-down interview with Maria Bartiromo at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, where he reflected on signs that Americans are rejecting the “caricature” of faith as “filthy, destructive, harmful and outdated,” which increased sales of the Bible and other books on spirituality.
ADVENT 2024: RECLAIMING CHRISTMAS: LIVING BY BIBLICAL LOVE
Cardinal Dolan joined Maria Bartiromo for an exclusive interview at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, (Fox News/Screenshot)
“There seems to be a renewed appreciation for the role of faith, especially in our country,” he told the newspaper.Futures on Sunday morning“host.
“I think President Trump took advantage of that. I’ve spoken to him before in the past. He was quite blunt (that) he can’t say he was raised as a very zealous Christian, but he takes his Christian faith seriously. He has a lot of memories of Norman Vincent Peale, the famous preacher here in New York, on Fifth Avenue, and I think he means it.”
He continued, “I think the assassination attempts in him have been renewed a little bit: ‘There’s something outside of me that I think is watching over me, and it has a job for me.’ And what he expresses personally seems to be expressed more and more around the world. And that’s part of America.”
Maybe there is something bigger watching over the world, he suggested, pointing to former President Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II, two figures whose contributions helped define the latter part of the 20th century. They both survived assassination attempts very close together, and each helped make the world what it is today.
MARTIN SCORSESE BRINGS ST. SEBASTIAN’S STORY OF SOLID FAITH, MARTYRDOM, TO FOX NATION
When they first met, Ronald Reagan told Pope John Paul II, “Mother Teresa told me she thinks the Lord spared me because the Lord has something special in mind for me, and Pope John Paul II. I smiled and said, “She told me the same thing.” They both believed that, and look what they were able to accomplish. The world has changed for the better because of them,” he reflected.
Cardinal Dolan walked around the grounds St. Patrick’s Cathedral with Bartrimoshowing her a photo of a drawing by imprisoned Hong Kong freedom fighter Jimmy Lai, depicting Christ on the cross.
As billions of people around the world prepare to celebrate Christmas and Hanukkah, Dolan says his message this Midnight Mass will focus on the “triumph of light.”
‘The Lord always invites us to step outside of ourselves. That gives us hope.’
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
