The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-12-04
Cardinal Gibbons Christmas Message
Though Delivered Many Years Ago, Every Word as
 Germane Now as Then


 to the time when he was less exper- fenced in the doings of mankind to send a Christmas message to he peo- pie.
 Recently, a reporter sought Cardinal Gibbons in his official :esidence in the quaint old southern city of Baltimore and asked of him a Christmas 1nesfa ge to be sent broadcast thro1ghout the land
 My son, replied the Cardinal, my message on Christmas was delivered is as germane to a discussion Of the holiday at present as it was when first delivered it. You will find it among my sermons
 reporter discovered it in his '-Discour- ses and SernlonS:'
 ''Of all the festival days in the year, Christmas is always the brightest and most gladsome Though there be cold in the air, and frost and snow under our feet, there. is always warm sun shine in our hearts.
 Thanksgiving Day thohgh it $ an- nuaIly heralded by the Proc anat'o7 of the President and the Governors of States, it is =conmemorated only by those who live -Iuter the American flag, and by our fellow-citizens so- journing in foreign parts
 +'But Christmas is worldwide fes- tivity in which every Christian nation of the earth participates. Though un- announced by civic proclamation. It IS forgotten by no one. It is eagerly ex, pected by all; it is heartily enjoyed while 1t lasts, and leaves after it sweet religious memories: It returns every year as fresh and fragrant as the newborn flowers of spring.
 shipped the Infant Savior nineteen centuries ago, and we worship Him with unhagging devotion to-day Christmas is always popular. Ever an wrinkles on the heavenly brow of this annual visitor.
 '"The young rejoice to-day. This is pre-eminently the feast of holy child viors birth. They welcome the day with gleesome hearts. They see in their fathers face a brighter smile. and their mothers embrace seems to them more tender than usual
 :t'The aged couple, growing young again, share in the innocent sports and birth of the little ones The Spirit Of Jesus who has said: Behold, I make all things new quickens them with new life, makes them feel again as children, and gives them foretaste of the perennial youth reserved for them hereafter. And the poor man reioices to-day. And why not? Of all days in the year, does he not feel this morning the dignity of his Christ mas equality, as he enters the House of God? Does he not realize that as the humble shepherds were as welcome to the crib Of Bethlehem as were the Princes from the East, so is he not as welcome as the rich man to kneel be- fore the altar and to partake of the banquet of the Lord?
 ''The benevolent rich man rejoices during this holy season His soul ex- bands and is enlarged under the gen. ial influence of heaven-born charity. He enjoys that sweetest and most ra- tional pleasure of contributing by his bounty to the happiness of others. And he is rewarded for his generosity by the prayers and gratitude of the recip- tents of his favors. And thus is es- fo hI ha mi of good between the rich and the poor.
 '-The pilgrim and wanderer is glad dened to-day though. far away from the parental roof. He meditates the scenes of his childhood and re-. visits the a1tars of his youth. Yield ing to some sacred impulse, gentle but powerful, he is drawn this morning to the Church he had long forsaken. He says in his heart T will go to the altar of God, to God who rejoiceth my youth God grant that the good ing, may abide with you forever. May Jesus born in your souls grow there unto a perfect man!
 Above all, Christmas-tide is sea- son of family reunion. The sons and brothers scattered far and wide, arc eager to meet and to renew the cher ished affections of early days. They love to hear their fathers and mothers with them of the family meal, and to relate their varied struggles in the tumultuous sea of life. And they re- turn to their respective pursuits re- freshed and fortified by the endearing memories of domestic ties.
 But who is it that gladdens to-day the hearts of young and old, of rich and poor, and of the pilgrim and that knits again the bonds of family love :? All are warmed by the rays that en- anate from the. Babe of Bethlehem. The Festival of Christmas is only to be recalled to mind in order to fill us with mingled sentiments of joy and ex- ultation, Of Ios e ana gratitude It IS a mystery more suggestive of silent meditation than of noise Or words For what is the mystery we celebrate? Let me briefly announce it
 -* The word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory the glory as it weEN of the only be- gotten of the Father, full of grace and truth
 ing in the form of God, thought it no robbery to be equal to God, but emp tied Himself, taking the. form of a servant; being made to the likeness of man. He humb1ed Himself, becom- ing obedient unto death, even the 1dea tn of the Cross. For which cause God hath also exalted Him, and hath given Him a, Name, which is above all names. .-sG
 He who existed from all eternity who said: T am the first and last, and behold live forever and ever He becomes 7an infant born to-day.
 'tHe who feeds the beasts in the field the birds of the air and the fish of the sea. He of whom the PsalnIist writes: All creatures expect of thee, that thou give them food in seas enable tine.s He is now reduced to the necessity of seeking food from the hands of am other
 He who clothes the lily of the val ley. and covers the sheep with their yearly fleece; He who decks the heav- ems with such beautiful tints and col ors. is wrapped in swadd4ing clothes.
 "He who dwel1s in the highest heav- ens whom the heaven of heavens can not contain; He, in whom we live and move, and have our being He who says to Himself. Heaven is My throne the earth My footstool;' He has now a stable for a dwelling, a manager for a bedstead, a little straw for His pillow, His companions being
 The Author of the universe, who