The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-01-04
THE VISIT OF THE MAeI.

The figures of the Shepherds have
grown to look so natural to us in our
thought-pictures of Bethlehem, says a
writer in the Pittsburg Observer, that
it almost seems as ii they were in
separable from it. 1t was congruous
that simplicity should be the first wor-
ship which the outer world sent into
the cave of Bethlehem. For what is
the grace of simplicity but perman-
ent childhood of the soul, fixed there
by a special operation of the Holy
Ghost, and therefore fitting worship
of the Holy Child Himself.
Living souls, tender yet not faultless
men, not so unlike ourselves though
they float in the golden haze of glori-
Gus picture
But now a change comes over the
lowliness of Bethlehem. A cavalcade
comes from the far East up the way.
The camel bells are tinkling. A re-
tinue of attendants accompanies three
Kings of different Oriental peoples,
who come from afar off with their
offerings to the new born Babe-King.
1t is a story more romantic than
romance itself would dare to be. Those
sumptuous men are among the wisest
of the studious East. They represent
the science and lore of their day. Yet
they have done what the world would
surely esteem the most foolish OF
actions.
FThnIy Euhn cainnon lnS
them to God. The corruption of the
world which they, as Kings, might
see from their elevation, pressed upon
their hearts. They, too, pinned for a
Redeemer, for a new beginning of the
world, for the coming of the Son Of
God, for one who would save them
from their sins.
In the dark blue of the lustrous
skv there appeared hitherto unno
ticed star-the star of which an an
cient prophecy had spoken. After due
counsel they pronounced the lumin
Gus finger to be the star of the ole
prophecy, and that therefore God was
come.
They left their homes, their state
their affairs, and journeyed together
westward, they knew not whittier, lee
nightly by the star that slipped on
ward in it's silent groove.
They were the representatives O.
the heather world, moving onward tt
the feet of the Universal Savior.
They followed the stars lead to the
gates of Jerusalem; and there God die
honor to His Church. He withdrew
the guidance of the star, because nov
the better guidance of the Synagogue
was at their command. The oracle:
of the Jewish Law had proclaimed tina
Bethlehem was to be the birthplace O
the Messiah; and the wise men passed
on to the humble village.
Again the star shone out in the blue
heavens, and sank slowly earthwarC
over the cave of Bethlehem, and pres
emily the devout Kings were at thu
feet of Jesus.
They beheld a child of abject pow
erty, lying in a manger upon straw
between an OK and an ass, with, a!
they would say, an old artizan of thu
lower class to represent his father
and a girlish mother.
And they had come all that way fol
this! They had brought their kingl!
presents to cattle shed.
And they we're content! 1t was no
merely all they wanted; it was more
than they wanted, more than they hat
ever dreamed. Who would come tt
Jesus and to Mary, and not go ava!
contented, if their hearts were pure?-
go away contented, yet not content t.
go away. How kingly seemed to then
the poverty of that Babe of Bethlehem
how right royal that sinless mother
lap on which He was enthroned!
The grand characteristic of thei
devotion was it's faith. Next tt
Peters and to Abraham's, there neve
in the world was faith like theirs.
In this one visit to Bethlehem tn,
Kings learned the whole Gospel, ant
left the Babe perfect theologians ant
complete apostles. For Faith is tn,
quickest of all teachers.
What right had ingots of rudy golC
to be cleaning in cavern stable? o.
Arabian perfumes, in a cattle shed
Why costly myrrh as birth-offering
unless it be prophecy of the sacrifice
and death later on?
The Three Kings, like the Shep
herds, are beautiful figures in the Cav
of Bethlehem, because the attraction
of Jesus are so sweetly exemplified il
them He had drawn them from tn
far Orient by the leading string of
floating star. He drew them into tn.
darkness of his ignoble poverty, int,
the shame of his neglected obscurity
and they went from Him with thei
souls replenished with His loneliness
WHEN TILE TIME SERVED FACE