The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-12-23
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF
CHRISTMAS.

summons all to Bethlehem crib
and points to the Christ Child as
the cause of her joy, the source of
her spiritual exaltation. It is an
anniversary which she enshrines
in most loving remembrance be-
cause it recalls the fact that the
Son of God humbled Himself to
put on mortal flesh; and hence
it marks the completion of the
long centuries Of mans yearning
for his Redeemer and the begin
ming of new life Of grace and
glory.
Although the birth of the God
Man is the greatest fact in human
history it receives but briefest
mention in the gospel narrative.
ST. Luke is the only evangelist
who narrates the events which
preceded 1.-THE conception and
birth of John the Baptist, the an
nunciation at Nazareth, where
Gabriel Cpd his wings" the jour
ney of Joseph, with Mary his
espoused wife, from Nazareth,
their home, to Bethlehem, the city
Of David, to be enrolled in accord
ance with the requirements Of the
decree of Caesar Augustus. Then
he continues: "And it came to
pass that when they were there,
her days were accomplished, that
she should be delivered. And she
brought forth her frst-born son,
and wrapped him up in swaddling
clothes, and laid him in a manger !:
because there was no room for
them in the inn.'' Thus silently
and almost unnoticed God came
unto His own.
The birth of the Christ Child
ushered in a new era in the
worlds HISTORIAN era in which
new ideals of life and truer and
nobler standards of perfection
were placed before mankind. Prior
to it, the pomp Of power, the pride
and prejudice Of caste and the lust
Of conquest held almost universal
sway. The poor were despised,
the lowly derided, the weak op-
pressed. Even among the chosen
people false canons of excellence
found acceptance and the teach
ing Of Sinai was perverted to pro-
mote selfish purposes. The peo-
pie expected a Saviour, it is true
but they clothed His coming with
their own earthly ideas Of power
and majesty. The purple and gold
Of royalty, the sceptre of authority
and the sword Of conquest were
to be His credentials.
How different in reality was
His advent! No bugle note an.
nounced the angels visit to His
Virgin Mother; no glittering show
Of worldly magnificence sur:
rounded the crib at Bethlehem
He came to His inheritance un
heralded save by angel voices, un
guarded save by shepherds stats
unsaluted save by His nader
Mothers virgin kiss and His fos
ter-father's adoring gaze. Around
His abode emo Illuminating
streams of living radiance
played. The futter of angelic
wings did not disturb the mid
night calm of Judean night ant
so subdued was heaven s rejoicing
that it did not arouse the wear,
hosts of David s sons. The wake
full shepherds heard the hol,
paean and rejoiced that the frs
white light of dawn had broker
upon the century-long night o
the worlds darkness, with tn
promise Of a brighter day thar
humanity had yet enjoyed.
When the Christ Child came tn
old order Of things passed ava,
and in it's stead new ideals begal
to sway the minds and hearts o
) men. His humility attracted tn
} naughty, His weakness appeale,
to the. strong. His helplessnes
J pleaded for the sympathy an,
support of all irrespective Of elias
or condition. He clothed Himsel
, in the swaddling-clothes Of infanc
to impress upon us the necessit
of becoming as little children i
order to be true to Him. As sue
we must harken to His call, fol
; low in His footsteps and accep
? His teaching if we would inheri
His kingdom. In the presence 0
!. the Babe of Bethlehem all dis
: tinctions vanish; princes must la
! aside their royal robes, the prou
put on the mantle of meekness an
{ the erring wear their sackclotl
Although His yoke is sweet an