On Christmas Eve, Father Cristian celebrated midnight mass for us in our festively decorated chapel in the early evening. Our nativity scene with its large figures carved from olive wood was particularly beautiful, and showed us the way to Bethlehem. We started at 1:30 a.m. and made a pilgrimage with our Benedictine brothers and a number of other believers to the birthplace of our Lord and Savior, about 12 km away. The town was in deep darkness, however, and in front of the Basilica of the Nativity on the large square, the huge Christmas tree that had been set up in previous years was missing, as was the crib with beautiful nativity scene in front of which many visitors had always stood praying. Bethlehem was almost empty of tourists. 

Inside the church we went down into the crypt and Father Nikodemus, the Benedictine abbot, laid down the prayer roll with 105.413 names on it, for which believers from all over the world had registered for the monks' traditional Christmas campaign "I will carry your name to Bethlehem on Christmas night", in front of the star that marks the birthplace of Jesus. How many personal fates with their fears and needs, their expectations and hopes, but also with their thanks and praises were hidden behind the almost endless list of names! As we stayed there in prayer, we too included in our remembrance all our friends, benefactors, guests, relatives and dear departed ones whom we carried in our hearts. It was not until dawn that we returned to our monastery. A festive lunch prepared by our dear sister M. Aurelia and enjoyed together was the culinary highlight of the first day of Christmas