The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1893-12-23
Is CHRISTMAS GREETING.

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CHRISTMAS GREETING. .
THr IR1sH S1AHDARD follows the time
honorei custom Of extending greetings
to it, patrons On the approach q Christ
mas Day, the day OF oil days il the
christian calendar tor the children Of
the Catholic Church. We wish every
reader md subscriber 81 orr journal,
both adult and juvenile, "a Merry Christ
mas and q superabut dance Of blessings,
both spiritual and Il mporal, at this holy
season Of the year. 70 every true Oatho-
lie no feast Of all the year is more sacred
or beautiful than the anniversary Of the
Redeemer Of mankind. From the earli-
est times to the present day the Catholic
Church in all ito prosecutions and vicissi-
tudes has celebrated with grandeur and
splendor the Feast Of the Natiyity-thst
day upon which was born Christ the Lord
in the city Of David in far off Judea, las
announced by an angel from heaven to
the God loving shepherds OF the East.
In spite Of the infidelity, skepticisn
and materialism of modern days, Christ
mas Day will be celebrated next Monday
in all christian lands To the Catholic
Church belongs the exclusive honor OF
appointing December rs as the day for
praising and thanking God that he sent
his Divine Son, Jesus Christ. into the
world for its moral and religious illnm-
ination. The Catholic Church on this
continent was the first of all the christ
ian churches to celebrate the festival of
the Sayiour's birth, and it is the infu-
ence Of Cathohoity on the Puritan mind
that has made Fast Day and Thanksgiv-
ing Day pale into insignifcance in this
country in comparison with Christmas
Day. The anniversary Of the birth Of
the Redeemer is now celebrated with
eclat by the descendants OF the Puritans
who would not recognize December Is
as religious holiday because it was OBJ
served by the Catholic Church. They
treated Christmas Day IS their English
ancestors did the Gregorian calendar.
But the descendants of the Puritans
nowadays make Christmas Day the great
est Of the year. Ia the Catholic Church
the day is observed with solemnity
which characterizes none of it's other
festivals. All good Catholics rejoice
with that pure merriments Of heart and
soul that is SO beftting on the annivers-
airy Of Christ's birth. Thousands OF
Thorn approach the sacraments on Christ
mas morning. and attend the early mass
to praise the Lord and bless Him that
cometh in His name to redeem humanity
from its frailties and imperfections. Pen
| etrated with the sublime significance Of
the holy festival their rejoicing is heart
felt, their anthems sincere. They believe
most firmly that on this day eighteen
hundred and ninety three years ago there
was born to Mary, an Immaculate Virgin
Of Judea, at Bethlehem, Babe who was
both God aud man, and in imagination
they make pilgrimage OF faith to the
crib in the manger and behold Mary and
Joseph and the Infant. They believe
without wavering that the Infant was the
Son of God. toretold by the prophets, and
thousands of them during all the ages
have sealed their faith with their blood
and received the crown of martyrdom.
No people on earth have sacrificed more
than have the Irish people for their be-
lief in the miraculous birth Of Christ and
the immaculate conception of his virgin
| mother. Catholics will never believe with
some christians of Protestant churches
that Christ was merely human and pos
seesed attributes of wisdom like Buddha.
Confucius and other Eastern philosoph-
era. They believe thatif Christ was only
human, christianity is q mockery. de-
fusion and snare, and that paying ado
ration to Him would be rank idolatry.
Though the Incarnation is to them q
mystery which they cannot comprehend,
! by the divine gift of faith which they
possess they unquestioningly believe
what God and His spouse, the Church,
have taught. They know that their rea:
son is limited, and hence they submit it
! to faith, and bow down in alteration be-
fore Christ and acknowledge Him as their
God and Redeemer. They believe in the
inspired word Of God and are convinced
OF the divinity Of Christ from his suhli1he
teachings and the miracles he wrought
during his career on earth. His resur-
rectlon from the dead after His mangled
body had rested three days in the tomb
is to them q convincing proof that He is
indeed God. On Christmas Day, they
consequ ently 60 to adore Him as the
King Of Kings. J. 4 j. Ssh. s.s
No nation in the world has; done moro
70 propagatethe true religion Of Christ
than Ireland. Through ages Of bondage
and slaughter the people Of that little
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