The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-12-24


Two thousand Year, agoi and eve
Der Davids city softly fell
Altar the hillsof Juda lay,
Beneath the tw ilights mystic spell.
The temples lightshad ceased to gleam
The hymn of evening had been sung,
And fainter grew the perfumed breath
OF spice from golden censers aunR.,
From snnset prayer and saoridce
Their homeward way the people wounds
And still the words of prophets old
Within their spirit's ear reA0und.
They penderedsn abe ono great Hope
Their fathers held in dAysef yore,
Tho Holy One of Israel
1saiAh promised years before.
But mono cen dreamt how near He was,
Though He WAS Judas constant prayer,
YeA at His coming only one
He fou nd TO bid Him welcome there.
And Judas mistress, queeDly Rome,
Amid her pagan pomp and pride.
FORGOT in scorn her handmade meek,
Nor cared what woulR her hope betide.
Minervas sons, tho wiseGpf earth.
Phil osophers of pagan lore, vs.
Expect a warrior king to come
Whose might all earth shall bow before.
Proud Rome and classic Greece knew not
The sighted province soon would be
The home Of One whod rule the world
When they were but a'mem0ry.
Adown the streets of bethlehem,
With meek and patient steps, were seen
A patriarch of manners grave,
a maid Of pure and gentle mein.
Anon they pause with faltering step
Beside some lowly cottage door;
In trembling voice and gentIest tone
A shelter fer the night implore-
- No loom for lhee )" 10 ooldly said,
Yet knew they not what truth they told,
For their unweIcone Guest ia He
Whom vast creation cannot hold.
They leave the town. and where beneath
The mountain rooks 4 stable lay,
They rest, and beasts, more kind than man.
Do not forbid their God 10 stay.
The honrs Of ti!ent night pass by
No purer could We wish tho scene,
For earth in bridal robes OF snow,
Is yelled by moon lights silvery sheen.
All spotless as the robes the Blest
Shall wear throughout eternity,
The hRllowed night attIred herself,
TO greet the Spouse of Purity.
TITS midnight, cen the softest breath
OF wind had ceased the air to thrill,
As though tho very pulse Of life,
In awe, that solemn hour stoed stiI.
Adorirg. silent and intent,
The voices all of heaven rest.
While, On the Lreathless waiting world,
TerJun caro- Jaetum eat
Beside the Babe. the Mother bends
In speeGbless iOT and tender lore,
IL
Their God, descended from above.
Celestial legions kneel with them,
And through The air Of midnight rings
The triumI h cong of Joy and peace.
The tidiBgs glad TO earth that bripgs.
The watching shepherds on the hills
The gleams of wondrous light surrounds,
And sweetly On their raptured sense
Angelic harmonies resound.
The messengers from Paradise
Have bAde the shepherds quickly rise,
Repair to Bethlehem, for there
The Saviour % an infant lies.
BE did not sek the rich Of earth
His earliest woIsbipeIs to be-
The Babe divine, IN ger throne,
The humble only were to see.
Then in our poverty Of soIl,
Let us our voice and heart unite
To chant the Joyous anthem grand
The Blessed Gang that holy night.
Gloria in ereetSis Dec 90
From parted ekies the chorus rang,
IN terra poz homini5uS''
On earth the angels softly sang
Gloria IN e1ceLsis Eeol"
From every heavenly harP and vtice.
In terra par hoaniniGt0t"
Oh restless, weary world Ftjoiooi
Gloria in ereelsis Deo!"
From countless hhrps the echoes break,
In terrs par kominitus ~
The peace batirgOme, oh earth, aFaEet
Two thouFand years have Passsd, and set
Each year We lovingly rooite
The story Of ths nidBiaht hour.
when lTas tbs sngsA hnsw christpasa nisht.