St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-12-26

SnOp at 1cIagluS are scattered round | n
pieces, the dismal carnage lar and wide
cries out Il warning to all who dare wage
war upon the mystery of Gods incarna-
ton. With Peter we proclaim our faith :
1--WE know that Thou art Christ, Son OF
the living God" Therefore we hasten
to Thy crib and falling down adore
Thee.
Bnt as we kneel there in humble ado
ration question rises to our lips. We
feel that in the newborn Christ we hold
the key to all Christianity. Oh, that we
could now read
Christ's Birth Alright.
And with anxious heart we ask
was it that the Son of God became the
son of man? that He who dwet in
heavenly bliss should come upon this
sinful earth? If all things have a rea-
son, what reason is there here? We
pause, we look about and ask who can
supply the answer. Can YOU who wear
the garb of science, who claim to hold
the key of knowledge? And if you can
not tell tire reason why, if you must
needs be silent. then lay aside your
lofty air. be humble at least once and
kneel with me here at the crib and
there adore your GOD.
Or can we rest content with those
who quote the Angels song and tell US
that Christ came on earth to bring
peace Oh earth and good will towards
men?' Alas, too often they seem to
read the New Testament in the spirit of
the Old, for like unto the Jews they
seem chiefly to expect from Christ
some kingdom here on earth, reign of
peace-the brotherhood of man.
1t is true Christ being God, was, there
fore. a perfect man, and, therefore. by
word and deed He preached a perfect
manhood. 1t is true likewise that He
would have us also TO be perfect in all
things human. But is this all ? For
this it was not necessary that God
should be made man. If the object of
ChristS coming was only to teach the
Principles of Politics,
of economic or social intercourse. He
should have sent a substitute These
problems we tint already solved, at
least in part. in the Egyptian hero
glyphlcs, or the works of the pagan EN-
perOr Marcus Aurelius, Or the philoso-
pher Epictetus.
No, for though Christ's kingdom was
made up of men. lit was not of this
world" Il came" says Christ. THAT
men might have life, and have it most
abundantly." CHRIST came to bring us
Ire, and this is our questions answer
Life! but of what kind?
When God first made the human form
of clay what did He else but breathe
into its face the breath of life? Ah,yes
but then lie made mans soul. He
called forth our human life! the life we
share through Adam. Through Christ
He gave another life, not natural but
divine. AS by our natural life, cold
clay is formed into Il man, SO by this
life that Jesus brings our soul is lifted
up and we are made what Jesus was
not only men. but also the sons of God
Alas, what pity that we should be puZ-
Zled by name. that we should call q
thing not by its proper name, but by
the method of its giving.
That gift Of God which we call grace
should have another name, it should be
called divinity, a partaking of Gods
nature; then would we rightly under
stand the life that Jesus brought US.
Each child can tell you that Jesus
Came TO Bring Us Grace,
but that this grace is nothing else but
life divine. a sharing of Gods nature,
alas, how few will ever stop to think.
by sanctifying grace, the catechism
says, am child of God. But what
does childhood mean? L am my fathers
son because l partake Of his nature;
am the son of God, by sanctifying grace
when partake of Gods nature.
When thus we are the sons OF
God, by grace partake of His soul, our
soul lives a twofold life. a natural
life, because our soul is united to oul
body; supernatural life. because OuI
soul itself again is united to God. And
when, therefore, our course is run OF
earth, when body and soul separate
our natural life is over; but as our sou
lives another life in union with its Gcd
| therefore it rises TO another world and
dwells with Him in heaven.
This. therefore. is the Christmas eff
that in Christ's birth the Father made
to man. To give US this life divine. this
and this alone, is the chief object of
Christ's life and birth; all else was sec
ondary.
But did not Christ. you ask, come alsC
to take away our sins? Most certainly
bat that was only necessary means to
reach His one chief aim. To give Il.
life He needs must wake the souls thai
sleep the death Of sin. Yes, this Christ
did, and more. He gave us His truths
His precepts and His counSelS; gave Us
His own example,
Gave Us His Church.,
His sacraments. gave us Himself in the
humble form OF bread. And yet this al
was secondary.
In the beginning, when God made
man He gave him His whole creation
that there his natural life might grow
develop and wax strong, that MAJ
might work the earth and make it brins
forth fruit. Thus also with this life
divine; He gave us whatever was nee
eSSarv for growth and for development
and for our fruitful labOrS.
AS God made Eve to perpetuate the
life of Adam so Christ formed for him
self a spOuse-His church-that thus He
might beget in Us His heavenly life anC
make US sons of God. As God gave t
the universe His law so also Christ gave
us the laws of grace. AS God gave mar
the birds and beasts to be his natura
food, SO Christ gave us Himself. thereby
to feed our souls, that as we drew from
Him the germ of heavenly life, through
Him we might draw nOuriShment aAC
grow in this life divine.
Well may we praise this infant Christ
this Christmas gift of God, who came t
| fill our minds with truth, our hearts
with heavenly love. who lifted up Oul
human souls and gave them heavenly
| life. Oh, let us ask this heaVen-borI
| Child, who came to share our life. t
keep us in His holy love that we ma,
live through Him.
Hail, the heaven born Prince of Peace
Hail. the Son of Righteousness?
Christ. by highest heaven adored;
Christ, our everlasting Lord;
Born that man no more NAV die;
Born to raise the sons of earth:
Born TO give them second birth.
THEY SIZED HIM UP.