Lady Love, whose maternal affection
for us is revealed in Mary the Mother
of Jesus, bring us with the shepherds
to Bethlehem so that we can see in
the image of the Madonna and Child
the passionate gentleness of your
affection for us and in that image gain
strength and hope for all our lives.
We ask this in the name of the Babe
born at Bethlehem and his mother. 
Amen. 

Merry Christmas and a Joyous 
New Year!! -from Father Andrew Greeley and his Family 
See more about Fr. Greeley's thoughts on the image of
Mary on Christmas in "The Christmas Surprises" in 
Fr. Greeley's book 
Jesus: A Meditation on his Stories and His Relationships with Women, 
2007