The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1899-12-23
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: CHRISTMAS
written for The Intermountain Catholic

by J. F. RI
Let us rejoice and exult, for on this
day we celebrate the great feast of
Peace and Love" the Newborn King,
the Nativity of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ. What His humiliation
has purchased for us we know by faith.
The world had subsisted about 1900
years when Jesus Christ, the eternal
/ Son of God, having taken human flesh
! IN the womb of the Virgin Mary, and
being made man. was born of her, for
the redemption of mankind at Bethle-
hem of Judea.
Joseph and Mary had come up to
Bethlehem to be enrolled, and, unable
to find shelter elsewhere, they took
refuge in a stable, and in this lowly
place Jesus Christ was born The
Blessed Virgin wrapped the Divine In
fant in swaddling clothes, and laid Him
in the manager. While the worldly and
the proud were asleep, an angel ap
peared to some poor shepherds. They
were seized with great fear, but the
heavenly messenger said to them:
Fear not, for behold 1 bring you good
tidings of exceeding great joy, that
shall be to all the people. For this
day is born to you a Savior, who is
Christ the Lord, in the City Of David.
And this shall be a sign to you: you
shall find the child wrapped in swad-
After the departure of the angel the
wondering shepherds said to one an
other: Let US go over to Bethlehem,
and let us see the word that is come to
pass. which the Lord hath shown to
US" They Immediately FASTENED
thither, and found Mary and Joseph,
and the Infant lying in the manager
Bowling down, they adored Him, and
then returned to their fiocks, clarifying
anG praising God.
Christmas brings joy and gladness to
every Christian heart; the very air
seems filed again with heavenly choirs,
singing Gloria in Excelsis Deo." Glory
to God in the highest and on earth
peace to men of good will. 1t tells of
the Prince of Peace who left his
home of eternal bliss and glory and
came into the world to effect an eter-
nal alliance between God and man,
bearing tidings of joy to all mankind. !
He came into our midst to govern, in |
Struct and purchase for all, by the pre- |
cfous fruits of His redemption; for |
feited inheritance. Although His first |
hour on earth was but in stable, yet |
his star dispelled the gloom of night
He was the true light, which was to
enllghten every man that cometh into
the world. His light was to dispell the
darkness of error and unbelief; and
whosoever should follow Him should no
longer remain in the gloom of night
What wonder, then, that all Chris
uans should rejoice and sing their car
OILS of praise to 1.-THE "Incarnate Word
at Chrlstmas-tidei For the joyful feast
Of Christmas is as far above all the
other festivals of the year as the sun
1utshines the stars. What wonder that
turing this holy season faithful Chris
1ans should decorate their homes with |
christmas trees. and a crib to the Holy
Child for the joy and instruction Of
heir innocent children those youthful
olives of Gods holy Church, those links
angels and men.
The lights which we place upon the
Christmas tree are typical of Christ.
he light of the world. The light of
Irvine truth, which was prefigured by
he star of Bethlehem. This light to
rue Christians must be a source of en-
ightenment to make all duties easy and
agreeable. May, then, the lights which
,urn on the Christmas trees of Chris
IAN homes be a means of leading all
hose who are in search of the princi-
lies Of light and truth to find them in
.hrist Jesus, conferred in the bosom of
Io0s Church, which is the source of
light and truth to all mankind The
rnaments, embellishments, flowers and
PRESENTS which adorn and beautify the
christmas tree remind us of the fruits
4 his precious blood, treasured up in
he sacraments, which the "Incarnate
Vord' presented to all men of good
Will The sacraments are the beautiful .
ources from which flow in perennial :
treams the precious blood of Jesus
,hrlSt for the redemption and sancti-
cation of man. 1t was on the tree of
he cross that He poured out the last
rop of His blood for the salvation of
lanklnd- The presents we pluck from
he Christmas tree for children, as well
$ those we are to give friends, all re-
lind us of that great and priceless gift
.hlch God the Father gave to all man
ind in the person Of Ills Only Be
often Son." The custom, therefore. |
giving presents at Christmas-tide
hould bring before our minds the New {
orn King, our brother, Prince of '
eace
Let us all gather around the crib and l
its beautiful Specification.
each the young and old its typical a
leaning that they may the more joy N
lily appreciate its fruits and gifts.