The Washington times., 1903-12-25
Shrine of Bethlehem in
Every House---Part of
Crib in Which Christ
Child Was Placed by
Mary IS in a Church.
Unique Ceremonies at
Old Franciscan Shrine.
Churches on the Sites
Where Pagan Temples
Once Stood.

Monsignor Dfomede Falconio has writ
ten Or the New Orleans Times-Dem-
ocrat" a description of Christmas in
Rome
Christianity has triumphed over Pa
ganism, says the papal delegate.
When We rejoice at the glorious fes-
ttval of Christmas how few recall that
this feast Of peace and good will is the
successor of that hideous carnival of
crime known as the Feast of the Sat
urnalia- When we gather in our warm.
well-lighted churches, how few of US
recall the first celebration OF Christmas
by the early Christians Those saints
and heroes made our modern Christmas
possible, for they kept alive the torch
OF faith until, In the providence Of God.
the cross triumphed over the powers
of darkness
The anniversary of Christ's birth was
first commemorated in Rome in the
Catacombs. those gloomy quarries un-
der the Campagna, along the Apian
Way. 1t is a solemn memory, that Of
the prosecuted Christians gathered in
those dark, damp vaults
Feast Of the SaturnaIia.
I recall one Christmas mentioned
in the early chronicles of Rome, when
st. Alexander succeeded to the
papacy after the martyrdom of SIS.
Peter. Linus. Anacletus, and Clement
The feast OF the Sasurnalia-that revel
Of vice and excess-was being ceIe-
brated in the blazing, drunken city
overhead In the Catacombs torches
famed on many a martyrs tomb, when
the venerable Alexander. whose name
was already on the list of the con-
1demned, gathered his trembling sock
around him and told them the story
of Bethlehem in eloquent. burning
words. See" he said, this roof OF
stone hides the sun, but it is shining
beyond, and they that turn many to
righteousness shall shine as the sun
j know that when the feast of Satur-
MALTA is past / shall be thrown to the
beasts. But the hosts of the righteou:
shall increase. shining in their beauty
and Bethlehem's star shall never set -
First Christmas Festival.
d Under Constantine. the first Christian
2 Emperor, the Saturnalia became the
Feast Of the Nativity. Constantine en-
tered Rome. October n, A. D., 312. and
II was a grand celebration of Christ
mas which followed two months after.
ward.
Another great epoch in the church
was the baptism Of Clovis, which occur.
red on Christmas Day. A D. 4s6. in
the great Cathedral OF Rheims.
Another Christmas Day fraught with
momentous significance for the Chris
tan world, was that of A D., 500. wher
Pope st. Leo III crowned Charlie
magne as Emperor Of the Holy Ro
man Empire. This magnificent cere
mony occurred in St Peters, and hai
been httingly depicted on one of Ra
phaers greatest canvases.
Christmas in Italy. particularly II
Rome, is a festival of joy. notwithstand
ing the poverty OF the greater par
of the population Christmas Day. IL
self. is altogether a spiritual feast
Rome lives in the past, and / thinl
the memory of the first Christmas ceie
brations have sanctihed the feast FOL
all time.
Mystery of Bethlehem.
After the lapse Of nearly leo years
Christmas in Rome Is observed witt
the fervor and devotion of those earl.
Christian times 1t is essentially tn
Feast OF the Cradle. inasmuch as ever,
household. however lowly. has its rep
resentstion OF the Mystery of Bethle
hem. Here in America, / observe tina
all the houses are made gay with holly
evergreen and bright flowers, while a.
abundance of good things are provide
for the guests. In Rome. every hous
holds It's miniature representation q
the. greatest mystery in mans redemp
ton The people e 20 visit their neigh
bors. bringing them tidings of joy an
dropping on their knees before tn
Shrine OF Bethlehem.
There are some very unique and pref
ty customs connected with the eeIebra
tion OF the Christmas in Rome. In tn
old times. midnight mass was said 4
the numerous churches of the city bu
for many excellent reasons. this solem
ceremony has been discontinued. Like
wise IN the old times of the papal SOW
ereignty. the Supreme Pontiff AWAY
celebrated the mass ct the Church O
Santa Maria Maggiore. This magnid
cent basilica is the principal of tn
eighty churches in Rome dedicated Z
the Virgin Mother OF the Saviour. ]
contains that priceless relic. part Of tn
crib ir which the Virgin Mother soothe
the infant slumbers OF her Divine Son
Naturally this basilica attracts man,
pilgrims on the Feast of the Nativity
The religious ceremonies of the day ar
OF a solemn and impressive order. Tn
holy cradle is exposed for the venera
zion OF the faithful and solemn hiRl
mass. followed by stately professions. 1
solemnized from O'Clock a m. unit
midday.
Old Franciscan Shrine.
Another church where the feast o
Christmas is marked by unique cere