The Irish standard., 1888-12-22
CHRISTMAS DAY.

1t is not absolutely certain when or
where the practice Of celebrating the
birthday of our Lord Jesus Christ Was
introduced into the Church. AT the
end Of the second century and the be-
ginning of the third century there was
no pOsitiye information as to the day
On which our Saviour was born, and no
sure way of ascertaining it; for one OF
the most eminent and learned fathers
CT chat period tell us that they who en-
deayored to Fix the day Of the nativity
had arrived at different conclusions
that some referred it to the 10Th OF
April, and others to the goth OF May.
In Egypt and in the East, the festival
of the nativity was celebrated very
early, though it is not known how early;
It was, howevar, on the 9Th OF January.
and long continued to be so, although
it is impossible for US to determine ON
what grounds. There is no positive
evidence that 1T was celebrated at Rome
on the day OF our present anniversary
before the middle of the. fourth century.
julius (, who was at that time Pope,
determined it to be the 25th of Dect III.
Der. This was, however, only for his
own church at first, and for the western
churches. Those of the East retained
their own customs for about twenty
i've years longer, when the Roman
method acquired the preference, and
was introduced successfully at Antioch
and Gonstantinople. In the fourth cen
tury Of the Christian era, therefore, We
are to place the introduction Of this AMI
versary and its triumphant establish
ment in the most parts Of the Christian
world. In most parts is all that can be
affirmed, for it was probably not adopt
ed at Jerusalem till about seventy years
after the death of Julius l, and the 9th
Of January was maintained in its stead
nv tha African churches so late as the
sixth century. The circumstances
which led to the selection of the winter
so|s1ice for the festival of the nativity
are generally believed to be as follows:
The sun at that point begins to return
ia our hemisphere, bringing with 1t
gradually increasing length OF the day.
lieht--adding to it, it may be-, only a
single minute, but that minute the
promise of summer time.
To the ancient Catholic Church there
fore. is due the honor Of appointing a
particular season Tor praising GOD that
He tad sent His Son Jesus into the
world for it's moral and religious illu.
animation. And since there were no
means of ascertaining what season it
judped wisely to select for its represen-
tatiye the one which had most to rec
ommepd it for that purpose.
past events IN history, tremendous as
thew seemed to the generations that
witnessed them, are Of less moment TO
us than the little concerns CT our every
day life, but the event which gives US
the festival of Christmas is universal
and unfading.s Itwas not only the be-
Ginning of a new era: it was the center
Of all human history. 1t is the one daY
that seems to gather all others into It.
self. and to stretchits influence through
.avary hour ofhuman existence. In the
catholic Church the day is observed
With a solemnity which characterllze 9
none Of the other festivals. All true
lnstholics should rejoice on that day. Z.
nj their. merriment should pc o. pa 2
7 sel bedtting the occasi' On.