Vatican City, Dec 17, 2017 / 12:05 pm
With Christmas just eight days away, Pope Francis said three simple attitudes can help prepare us to welcome Jesus Christ.
"Saint Paul invites us to prepare for the coming of the Lord by assuming three attitudes: constant joy, persevering prayer and continual thanksgiving," the Pope said. "Joy, prayer and gratitude are three attitudes that prepare us to live Christmas in an authentic way."
Pope Francis' remarks to the crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square came ahead of the Angelus for Gaudete Sunday, the Third Sunday of Advent, which this year coincided with Pope Francis' 81st birthday, Vatican News reports.
He said the liturgy in recent Sundays has focused on how to be vigilant and how to prepare for the way of the Lord. For Gaudete Sunday, the liturgy invites Christians to joy.