The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1901-12-21
Hail the Christ Child!

a .LREADY the Star Of Bethlehem is
! n set in the heavens and through
the light it sheds far away in the
desert we catch a glimpse of those
eastern kings on their journey to see
the Christ-child. In spirit we follow
these three monarchs of the races be
yond the Tiber. upon whose banks
majestically rises the pagan Mistress
of the World; beyond the Euphrates,
whose waters nourish the soil of
| Judea and the lands of Gods chosen
| people; the races who built the pyra-
mids, made Carthage a mighty power,
and Arabia. Egypt and Abyssinia the
Babylons that tempted the conquests
| Of the Persian kings.
Now they are approaching Judea,
these three wise monarchs, trudging
along without the glamour of retinue
and asking of those whom they met.
WHITTIER shall we go to find the
Child?" A strange question to put to
those whose messiah would come with
a glory greater than Caesars in order
to overcome Caesar! what child? OF
whom do you speak? The king of the
Jews born in Bethlehem? We know
nothing of such child" Thus did He
come among His own, but His own re-
ceived Him not.
There was touch of human nature
in these old kings which the baubIes
of this world had nourjshed, wise
though they were in their generation. |
They had brought with them gifts of |
gold, frankincense and myrrh, and in
their simple hearts expected to lay
these gifts before their King in a king
ly palace. No wonder they vainly
asked, Whittier shall we go to find
the Child?' No wonder their perpleX-
ity was met with irreverent reply I'M
til the angel pointed to the star over
the stable outside of Bethlehem!
Unspeakably wonderful is this scene
Of nineteen centuries ago! These
kings giving worship to the King of
Kings! He who lay helpless in man I
ger the incarnated Creator of all n
Kings, from whom word alone could {
BRING heaven and earth together to ;
slorify His birth, beyond the realiza- t
ion of worldly splendOr! The Ruler of g
he Universe consenting to the most @
-bject surroundings, from which the
poorest OF the children OF earth would 6
urn away with a shudder! Could +
ny example of Gods love for man be 7
made greater, except the Death on the C
ross? Is there anywhere in this wide V
7orld man so poor that will not re- a
DICE on Christmas Day that the Son h
f Man was born in poverty; one who G.
ill not feel that his lowly condition is
n easier means to salvation than f.
-ealth could bring, and whose heart is a
laddened on this glad day by gifts of O
horns rather than by gifts of roses II
The great festival is so near at hand h,
lat already we can fix our minds on IT
lie Holy Family, the kings and the n,
lepherds in alteration at the crib, and V;
most hear the angelic choir in rap GO
lrous melody, singing peace on if
nth, good will to men, It is so near 81
at already we begin to bury resent if,
ents and cultivate that spirit of br
ace which the world cannot give.
is so near that our hearts are melt
with appeals from beggars, for even
ch may be angels in disguise. 1t is
near that already we have made in
igue with Santa Claus to surprise su
e children and keep alive in their eli
arts the innocent illusion. is
Before the next issue of this paper is to
ceived by its readers the Christmas mi
stival will have come and gone. to
lat it may bring joy and gladness to a
cry heart and peace to every home, trf
d that meditations on Christ's hu ma
lnity and humility will bring sur acl
ase to sorrow, is the wish of The isl
termountain Catholic to its thou boz
nds of friends. {