It was a cold and snowy Christmas Eve in 1934, and the small Bavarian village of Marktl am Inn was alive with the excitement of the Christmas season. Seven-year-old Joseph Ratzinger sat at his desk, surrounded by the warm glow of the Christmas lights and the soothing sound of carols in the air. As he gazed out the window at the gently falling snow, he couldn’t help but feel the magic of the season all around him.
In that moment, Joseph was struck by a sudden inspiration. He had always been a deeply religious boy, and he felt a strong connection to the story of the Baby Jesus and the true meaning of Christmas. He knew that this was the perfect opportunity to express his love and devotion to God. And so, with a heart full of love and a pen in hand, he began to write a letter to the Baby Jesus.
As he wrote, Joseph’s words flowed freely, expressing his deepest hopes and wishes for the coming year. He poured out his heart, telling the Baby Jesus about his dreams and the things he was most grateful for. And when he was finished, he folded the letter carefully and placed it in an envelope, addressing it to the Baby Jesus.
The old German letter, no longer used in modern times, was discovered in the Ratzinger family’s home in Bavaria. It was later preserved by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s sister before being exhibited in the converted family home museum.
It reads as follows:
“Dear Baby Jesus, soon you will descend to earth.
You will bring joy to children and to me.
I would like the Volks-Schott, a green chasuble vestment and a heart of Jesus.
I always want to be good.
Greetings from Joseph Ratzinger.”
During that time period, the Volks-Schott was the commonly used German missal. Pope Benedict XVI’s brother recalled pretending to perform the Mass with him as children, even donning vestments sewn by their mother’s seamstress.
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