In Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity made man. But, we cannot separate Jesus from Mary. We have to bear in mind that God became man through Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Koran (Qu'ran) has many passages concerning the Blessed Virgin. It accepts her Immaculate Conception. It speaks of the Annunciation, the Visitation and the Nativity. In the 19th chapter of the Koran there are 41 verses on Jesus and Mary. We read that God chose Mary to be the most blessed of all women in Paradise.

We invoke Mary under many titles, among which that of Our Lady of Fatima. Since Fatima was the name of Mohammed's daughter and the Koran speaks highly of the Blessed Virgin, Muslims in Africa, India and elsewhere have received the statue of Our Lady of Fatima very enthusiastically and attended church services in her honour. They happily accepted also to have Christian processions and prayers before their mosques.

In his latest pastoral visit to Turkey, the Pope publicly expressed his satisfaction that Muslims venerated Mary as well. He and his predecessor even prayed in Muslim mosques.

Since the number of Muslims among us is on the increase, I would like to encourage the Catholic Church in Malta to create some religious activities in coordination with Muslims. Among these activities weekly prayer meetings must head the list. Muslims pray to God because they are humble, patient, loving and virtuous people.

If all Christians and Muslims work and pray together, they will be a great spiritual force in our godless world.

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