The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-12-23
CHRISTMAS.

From the begioninE OF the-yesr until its
close, the Catholic Church teaches that .
Christi ana life consists OF three-fold obligs
tion, which has for its object, God, our neigh
Dor, and ourselves.
But there 10 no day 10 the year which
this grand instruction 10 SO particularly in
culcated ss on Christmas day, when the LEES IN
enforced sy the Churoh IS taught by God him
self, illtssrated by His divine presence and
N made practical by His Sabine example.
Christmasl The word itself pours . food OF
light around mGa's daty tosOards God and We
zee withia it's wonderful effalgenoe the halo
which surrounds the mangsr of the Blbe Of
Bethlehem.
Mans du.y-his first and grestest,-;s to do
the will OF God aud for this. thar silent Child
came upon this inhospitable earth: for this
His fais limbs trembled with the cold one
drear December night for this He lay and
waited rs Herod's mnrderous soldiers pass sad
b N b5. Gods will! In sunshine or in
shsdo~, in joy or sorrow, in prosperity or ad-
versity, the soul Of the true Christian must
cry ont: at is better SO, for it is the will of
God" The Babe who taught this lesson in
his cradle. repeated it with His dying Ii Is
upon the altar Of the cross.
IL
ssaa's dsty to his HeigAbor; and ho the light of
th at poor stable reveals this sacred obligation
in clear and shining colors. What help, what
blessings fell from those divine hands What
saffsrings they relievsdi what happiness
they broughti what misery they swept away
Bat if Christmas teaches this duty towards
oar neighbor, is the Lesson learnt by Us as it
should BET L. the blessed day one of rejoic-
ing for the poor, is it not rather one Of
selfish enjoyment for oursslvesi When We
make the fire fame so bright upon the hearth
at home, do We think of the humble dwelling
of our neighbor, unchesred by light or warmth
or comtortf As we pile the dsinties on our
luxurious board, do we think Of the hungry
ones around TIE corner, to whom Christmas is
the saddest Gay of all the yearf No, our
Christmas lesson is not learnt as it should be-
for the Divine Babe still waits to s se Us put
il into practice. If every Christian to whom
God has entrusted q portion, however small,
CT this worlds goods, would bat make one
happy on this Christmas morn
ing. what sum of happiness there " ould be,
what gong OF joy would mingle with the
alielGiGs of the angels!
If those in moderate circumstances are ex-
pected to help their more needy fellow.
how much more must be done by
the rich, the prosperous, the stewards of Gods
boupties! Think of it, rich men, and share
your Injuries with those whose daily food 10 |
too often only bread and tears. Think of it, |
fs fs3hionable women, aud stretch out your |
hands with help for those whose nakedne 50 |
upon earth will cloths you with eternal sh anne |
in Heaven. Think of it, children Of vanity. I
and do q little for the poor in honor Of Il . |
child-reacher who gave you shis lesson upon
Christmas morning.
=, chfistnas! 1t .ells of mans duty to kinsslf!
--.y is TO keep hims,lf from S n, to So
cure his eternal AVIATION, to win the crown
prepared for him. Ah, how lovingly the Divine
Babe speaks of all this! From his throne OF
8 raw, He bios men recoguizs in him the King
who CONES 20 save n 5 people, the Friend who
will give 5 life for beloved, the Master
who will teach them how to run their race
as to win the Exceeding great reward He
bios them be es pure in soui ss new-bo. m
babes ss true in heart ss simple childhood, and
to keep forever the memory of this Chris mas
day G their guiding star in tie journey to-
wards Eternity.
Ah, merry Christmas! Its triple duty, If well
performed, will indeed bring merriment to the
hearts and homes of men it will rejoice the
angels Is they sing their cansicles of joy and
it will realize the promise made upon that frat
Christmas morning of the world, when the
words: "Glory be to God in the Highest, and
peace on earth to men of good will," came
sounding down from the starry midnight sky-
Gods first Christmas greeting to the hearts of
men!
Since then the Church, which is the voice of
God, repeats the selfssme greeting to all her
children but at the same time she teaches
still the grand and solemn lesson that the
Christmas peace aud joy can only be secured
by the folflmeut of that three fold obligation
which binds the life OF every Christian even as
the halo of a supernatural light surrounds the
cradle of the Babe of Bethlehem.