of colorful lights illuminate Our Lady of La Salette Shrine in Attleboro.

The 70th annual Christmas Festival of Lights is a tradition for countless families.

- It's gorgeous.

It's absolutely beautiful, breathtaking.

I love Christmas.

I personally wish that every day was Christmas 'cause people are positive and there's more love and joy and we need a lot of that in the world.

- [Michelle] The theme of this year's display, comfort my people.

Father Flavio Gillio, the director of the Shrine, says it rings true even more so this year.

- Just think about what is happening, Myanmar, Ukraine, and more recently in the Middle East.

And so that's the reason behind the theme of this year, comfort my people.

That is actually coming from the opening of chapter 40 of the prophet Isaiah that gives this majestic, beautiful vision of hope where all the hurt will be healed.

And I think that's exactly what we all need, maybe today more than ever.

- [Michelle] Father Flavio, as he's known, says the festival draws about half a million people every year.

A magical experience that he says spans generations and cultures.

- Yesterday night I met people from Iran that they were speaking Farsi.

It's really unique, I think as an event, because of its ability of bringing together as really one single people of God in name of Jesus the Christ.

That's what Christmas is all about.

Much, much deeper and bigger than the lights.

And so here we enter at our International Creche Museum that has been totally renovated.

- [Michelle] The museum features more than 1500 pieces from all over the world, works of art portraying the nativity scene.

Father Flavio says there's beauty in the different ways artists depict the birth of Jesus.

- It should really raise in us a sense of wonder and marvel about what the incarnation is all about.

- [Michelle] He also showed us a new section in the International Creche Museum.

- What we have been trying to do over here, it's a recreation of the Judean desert, Jerusalem, and the Galilean region at the time of Jesus.

(drill pressing) - [Michelle] Getting the shrine ready for half a million visitors requires a lot of planning.

In September, workers start preparing the grounds.

There are piles of leaves to clear, displays that need to be put up, and nearly 600,000 lights to hang.

(festive music) When the lights are on, the result is a dazzling spectacle.

- It's really special.

I've been coming here my whole life and, you know, memories with my parents, memory with my friends.

And we live so close, so we're so fortunate that we get to come here.

It's just 10 minutes from our house.

So it means a lot.

- You know, when you get to the lights, it's like you don't think of anything but the joy and the happiness that Christmas brings around this time of year.

- [Michelle] Kristen Springham just needs to look at her little girl to be reminded of the magic of Christmas.

And she's expecting her second child next month.

But for her, the joyful season is also an emotional one.

- For me, it's very touching because I lost my dad to lung cancer, so this was his thing.

So I just love being here and seeing this and bringing my daughter.

And then, you know, our next little baby will be coming a long, long time.

- What do you hope people take away from this experience?

- The desire to get to know Christ more and the desire to come back and visit us one more time at least.

- [Michelle] Father Flavio says the shrine can be a sanctuary for people year round, a place to pause and reflect on the life of Jesus.

For some that includes ascending the Holy Stairs meant to represent the 28 steps that Jesus climbed before he was tried by the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, and crucified.

Father Flavio says there's a rich history to absorb here amidst the glowing lights.

- My beauty is one of the trait of God.

And so the lights hopefully will also make us, I would say, deeper seeker and more aware seeker, that we are all looking for a light able to direct, inspire, motivate, support our lives, our life's journeys, our faith journey.

- That's become one of my favorite holiday traditions.