This year the Light of Bethlehem...



Will there be no Christmas?

Of course there will be one!
(Javier Leoz
Since 1993, in Italy, the Scouts of all associations are involved in welcoming the Light that comes from the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem: from the place where Jesus was born, through many roads, the Light comes to our lifes, a wish and at the same time an invitation to become builders of Peace, solidarity and sharing.
“Peace has resulted, it is a fruit that must be cultivated with patience. It is a goal to be reached with every effort” (Mons. Andrea Ghetti - Baden). We have tried to do this effort!
In this 2020 full of confusion, the Light was perhaps even more awaited than usual. Yet, the pandemic blocked this dear tradition, but at the same time it invited us to reflect more deeply on the sense of fraternity that renews us in Christ, and pushed us to make ourselves Light in our communities.
To live the extraordinary spiritual and community experience of welcoming the Light of Peace even in the covid era, MASCI Lazio has proposed an instrument to the communities and to all the Scout Adults: a booklet that has allowed us to be united, even if “distant”.
So, on the last Sunday of Advent, at our churches or our homes we symbolically brought a light that reached the fourth candle: the Son of God comes into the world to illuminate the life of all. The MASCI Lazio booklet also proposed some reflections and prayers to live this moment also in the family and in the community.
You stay with us,
and we will begin to shine as you shine:
to shine until it is light for others.
The light, oh Jesus, will come all from you ...
(John Henry Newman)


Inspired by these words and by the spirit of the Movement, some communities have gone further and created other ways to “be together” and exchange the Light: webinars, video calls, videos, photo albums of past events. The Light of Peace has once again proved to be a tradition not to be... extinguished!