Angela's Christmas 2018

In Limerick, 1914, young Angela, along with her two older brothers, Pat and Tom, and their younger sister Aggie, make their way to mass with their Mother, Ruth Negga. During the service, Angela’s compassion shines through as she catches sight of Baby Jesus in the crib and feels a pang of sympathy for him, believing he must be cold. After the mass concludes, she persuades her Mother to allow her to return to the church and light a candle. However, Angela has other plans—she decides to take Baby Jesus and hides him away as she makes her way home.

Once she manages to bring Baby Jesus into the backyard, her brother Pat notices and rushes to inform the rest of the family. Meanwhile, Angela retreats to her bedroom, where she snuggles up beside Baby Jesus and sings him a gentle lullaby. Despite Pat’s urgent attempts to convince their family of the extraordinary situation, they eventually gather upstairs to find Angela with Baby Jesus in her arms, which leads to an intense discussion between Angela and Pat regarding how this miraculous event unfolded. Mother intervenes to diffuse the tension, sharing a poignant story about New Year’s Eve, recounting the moment shortly after Angela’s birth when their father was arrested for trying to steal coal, desperately aiming to warm their home for the newborn.

After hearing the tale, Angela decides it’s time to return Baby Jesus to the church. However, as she tries to place him back in the crib, they are confronted by the priest and a guard who threatens to arrest them. With a heartfelt explanation about her intentions to keep Baby Jesus warm, Angela and her brothers are eventually escorted back home by the guard.

Once safely back, Angela gazes out the window with a smile, a bright moment before the family is called to dinner. In a charming twist, the church scene reveals Baby Jesus adorned in a Christmas sweater lovingly put on him by Angela, showcasing her innocent spirit and joyful heart.