The Sauk Centre herald., 1907-12-26
HIS BIRTH PLACE
Description of the Locality Where
Christ Was Born
CITY OF BETHLEHEM
Gr0tto OF the Nativity and It's Sur
roundings are Described by
Father Artz

The subject CT FIR. Arzt's letter this
week is "A Visit to Bethlehem He
writes entertainingly as follows:
Bethlehem is distant from Jerusa-
lem about eight or ten miles. Along
the way are many curious monu-
ments We first come to a cistern or
the site where the Magi again saw
the star as they entered Jersualem
Here also the Blessed Virgin and St.
Joseph rested on their way to Jer-
usalem. About half way out a de-
preston in the rock is shown as the
place where Elijah slept on his way to
Horeb. Near by is the Greek con-
vent of Mar Elias. A little farther
on is the traditional tomb of Rach-
ell. The present building is "a mean
little MUSLIN.
Bethlehem is built upon the summit!
of two hills. At the eastern extrem-
ity of the city is the Grotto of Ma
tivity. Here is the place where the
Word of God became flesh. I cele-
GRATED mass on this sanctified spot of
the earthly globe The memory
thereof is everlasting.
The population of Bethlehem is
about 5000, nearly all Christians.
About two thirds of the Christian
population are Roman Catholics and
one third Greek schismatics. No
where in Syria is the Catholic re-
ligion so flourishing as at Bethlehem.
The Sisters of st. Joseph have two
converts there. They have a paroch-
ial school of 400 pupils, an orphan
asylum and other pious foundations.
The Christian Brothers have a no.
vitiate here where Mr.. Evagre their
Syrian provincial resides. The Sa-
lesian Fathers of Don Bosco have an
orphanage and a large school. They
are assisted by nuns of the same con-
gregation. On little hill near Beth
lehem the Carmelite nuns have one
of the most beautiful chapels of Sy-
ria.
In Bethlehem the Franciscan Faith
ers take care of the GrottO of the
Nativity and also have their parish
church, st. Catherine, close by. They
have also an elementary school and
a high school frequented by $50 stud
ents annually. They have large,
well conducted hospital for pilgrims.
The principal industry of Bethlehem
is the manufacture and sale of OBJ
jects of piety made of mother-of-pearl
and wood.
The central object of interest in
Bethlehem is the Grotto of Nativity
That tradition assigns this cave as
the place of nativity of Jesus Christ
there is no doubt. ST. Justin speaks
of the cave where Joseph sought re-
fuge. Eusebius declares that the
men of Bethlehem confirm the tradi-
ton that in this grotto Jesus Christ
was born.
The basilica of the nativity of our
Lord Jesus Christ, or of ST. Mary as
it is called, is situated at the east end
of Bethlehem and on the north slope
of the hill en- which the town stands.
The Franciscan, Schismatic Greek and
Armenian converts conceal in great
part the exterior of the basilica. A
single narrow door is all the remains
of the three doors that led into the
porch of the basilica.
Entering the church one is struck
with the proportions of the nave,
with double aisles On either side of
it, and its four rows of mOnOlithic
columns, of red tinted stone veined
like marble. The nave is 107 feet
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