The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-12-25
BETHLEHEM, THE CITY OF DAVID, WAS
THE EAv0R|TE ABODE Of SOLOMON
An Interesting Description of the Village Which the Savior Of
the World Was Born Translated From the French by Nun
of the Order Of St. Dominic Charming Little Place Today
After the Lapse Of Nineteen Centuries

OF all the aspects of Jesus, the
most pleasing, is that which the magic
and sweet name of Bethlehem" re-
calls.
The whole life of the Master is con-
tanned in few Observation-Disclosures
Nazareth, the Lake, Jerusalem. Naz-
areth signifies mystery; the Lake,
work; Jerusalem combat; and all
this together is life-the day with It's
activities and labors. Bethlehem Is the
morning, it is the freshness Of the
dawn Of day; it is the first smile from
heaven; it Is the breath pure and
!, bright which establishes the soul in, l
do not know which, blue sky and fills
1t with perfumes like those which come
in our dreams when we dream of the
delightful home where the first man
was so happy.
Bethlehem! There is festive ring
to the name. 1t aWakens distinct
, sounds of angelic canticles and Of
the rustling Of wings AS soon as
our heart 'pronounces it our imagin-
alton associates with it the chimes
, Of Christmas, and the happy impress
reason discovers in it grave teachings.
God had. then, found.the propi-
tious hour In which to realize the
@ hope Of, His peopler He had not re-
garded the great, the potentates; the
2 leaders religious or political. He had
y chosen, in little village poor maid
en- by the name of Mary.
3 She appeared like any maiden whom
v one sees today. going along the road
! to the spring Of Nazareth, at some-
y what grave gait, clothed in the ira
!. ditional costume which had been that
of the women of the time of Isaias---
predominating, white veil, cincture OF
flexible cord, supporting with one
hand her filled urn, and with the other
adjusting her VEIL Such is what God
chose.
And to this girl scarcely fifteen
years old, while she was praying in
bassador.
Mary was one of those creatures
whose superior nature does not him
der them from fraternizing with the
: human race for the glory of the COM
D mon Father. The angel presented
e his request and the consent given, the
0 mystery was accomplished-Heavc
8 had inclined itself and had filled cart!
v with hope.
g Several months after, the edict Of
q Tiberius was announced. A censu.
Y of the whole country was to be takef
!. 1T was necessary to 60. Joseph The
= faithful spouse, was of the family OF
=. David; Bethlehem, the city Of David
:, was in consequence his city-it was
:, there that he must present himsel
8 for enrolment.
O The time was unfortunately chosen
q but-they must start.
y 1t required four or five days o
travel They left. equipped proba bl,
rs one OF the groups which we M,
see today along the roads Of Pales
tine-the Virgin, on an ass, and, walk
=" ing by her side, st. Joseph, with 7.
staff and upon his shoulder some p",
>" visions. The route was the same on
~ which they followed three times
year for the festivals-the plains o
Esdraelon, and Jerusalem.
- Each evening they stopped at tn
. caravanserals which are always opel
!" to travellers. This is custom estab
u lished centuries ago, beasts and peo
ID pie stop there, generally near
spring, and on the morrow continu
" their journey. Often the pilgrim
> who thronged this thoroughfare a
'e the festival times, sang the psalms
in honor of that Sion toward whic
a. they directed their steps, Perhap
l. the hearts of Mary and of Joseph wer
In too full to initiate them, but If thei
r lips were silent, the "Magniicat" file
lr their spirits by the voice Of happines
% and love.
l. They reach Jerusalem, skirt the wall
re on the west side, traverse the plat
Or and then the hills (Which are so 500
to hear the dolorous weeping Of Rache
sB q