The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1904-01-02


Glory to God in the highest, and on
earth peace to men of good will
10 dispose and prepare ourselves for
the true JOY and peace We look for, we
must cleanse our souls by a fervent
confession and beautify them by-a still
more fervent communion.
Thus with a clear conscience and a
pure heart we prepare ourselves for
mat JOY and peace which the angels
and the church prays should be. ours
at this holy season. Peace on earth to
men of good will.
But it is not season. of peace and
JOY only. It is also one of thankSgiv-
ing and glory TO God.
In order to enter into this spirit of
thanksgiving and praise. in a BETTING
manner we must seriously reflect on
the Infinite wisdom and goodness and
love Of God in becoming man for our
redemption and salvation
he Rt. Rev. Bishop then admins
tered the papal benediction.
Inc sermon of the day was preached
by Rev. Father Kiely. 1t was most i'm
pressive and mastery effort.
SERMON.
Peace on earth to men of good WILL
Today the joyous greetings of twen-
" centuries are repeated in. every land.
1t drops dozens of times from the lips
OIL millions of people. Old friendships
are renewed and revived the wander
ing child goes back in spirit to the old
homestead. worldly cares are forgotten.
and all, whether resting or engaged in
the business of life. wish peace and
happiness to their naighbors Unlike
any other day in the year, that express
SION OF good will wish you a merry
Chrlsmas-is the greeting heard on
every side. But why this today? Why
this universal exchange of good wilI?.
Because on this day we are celebrating
the birth CT a certain child. who was
born 1903 years ago. The memory of
his birth, which was simple, is still re-
tanned. 1t awakens. glad feelings il
the neart Of huma lity. In the history
OF the human race, since time began,
tbere is no other anniversary of a birth
DAY that commands such universal re-
spect arouses such enthusiasm. and
ELECTS such feelings of joy, peace and.
happiness as that of the Infant Savior.
bern in Bethlehem twenty centuries
ago. The long lapse of time instead of
or blotting out the memory
OF that event, increases the respect and
lntenslties the love of the young and the
old, the rich and the poor, the learned
and unlearned for the child born on
this day, and that in every civilized
land. The memory of others who grew
up to be great men either as scholars,
statesmen or liberatorg of their country
are soon forgotten. Philosophers and
others perpetuate their names through
their writings, but only the few, who
have recourse to their books know
them, and seldom does the knowledge
0f these great men awaken sentiments
Of love and veneration for their mem
Dry. The memory of the liberator of a
country is celebrated but the event is
confined to the nation in which he lived.
Such memories seldom extend beyond
he century in which they lived Who
thinks of celebrating the birth of Arts
lotle, Alexander, Napoleon or other
great celebrities in the twentieth CEN |
fury? 1t is entirely different with
Jesus, who was born on this day. Again |
he question suggests itself, a question |
which has, in every century, arrested I
ne thoughts of Sages and philosophers. |
Why this universal celebration Of one |
nat was helpless, and devoid of power /
ana influence when he was born. as
estltied to in the little narrative which |
7ou have just heard? A great and pro
ound question is this. The answer
given, because on this day Jesus was
BORN in a stable at Bethlehem. only
other questions. Who was
Iesus? What did he do? On the first !.
question volumes have been written.
10 II the greatest minds and most pro-
oQhd philosophers of the past 1900
ears have directed all the energies of
heir mind. In their verdict they dis
gree. Following the gospel narrative.
lie was the son of Mary, an humble
'lrgin to whom an angel from heaven
and; The Holy Ghost shall come
pon thee, and the power of the most
Ign shall overshadow thee And there
ore also the holy which shall be
orn Of thee shall be called the. Son of
iod"
Upon these words also the claims of
esus when he publicly proclaimed HIM
elf God, together with his wonderful '
.orks, and suffering death because of II
Is claiming to be God are founded the ]
erdlct of those who believe that the ]
esus was God Il
10 the second query, why did he 7
lne? We go back to prehistoric times 5
nd ask the children of Israel. They /
Ell US that from the beginning God
romlsed TO send Redeemer. They I
lghed and prayed for the Messiah. :
- l'-0-SiOt loudg IN every quarter /
the globe is the strongest proof that I
le Redeemer was promised. and that
was needed. Time he's not changed 6
he faith of the orthodox Jew in his +
(pectauons, hopes and prayers that t
he Messiah viii come to redeem the +
lman race. The reason then why he I
me was to redeem man and restore {
m to his lost Inheritance. Even un- +
eleVeTs proclaim the fallen state of I
lie human race. on this Rreudhou /
lie great French infidel writer, has I
id: The doctrine of the fall is not
erely the expression of a particular
id transitory state of human reason
Id human, morality; but it is more ,
-er the spontaneous though symbolic
nfession of the fact (Which is as as
nishing as it is undeniable) of mans
llpability, alb ovo, and of its nat
al inclination to evil Woe is me, 6
T / have sinned, cries the human con- I
,ience, in all tongues and from all /
larters. Other reasons might be Civ J
why Jesus came, /. e., why God the {
ather sent his eternal Son in the flesh t
satisfy the craving of our senses. q
hat did he do? This question rs an \
rered in the gospel IL: I'VE words: HE :
d all things we'll" He dispelled the a
lrkness of 1000 years, elevated hu-
anity to a new sphere of civilization i
Id made all men equal as children of Y
common Father. We see the effects ! 4