The Washington times., 1914-12-25
MGR. Russell Tells
StoryofBethlehen1
VivIdy Pictures Plight of Mary
and Joseph to Great Audi
ence at st. Patrick's Mid
night Mass.

Behold. His weakness shall be our
| strength, His abandonment our con-
I ISOLATION. His poverty cur riches
| Through His innocence shall we be
( cleansed through His humiliation shall
We become again the sons of God. Oh
| come, sweet Babe of Bethlehem. and
| reign in our hearts, that we may give
! Thee all. who has given us Thyself,'
This powerful appeal to the immcnse
congregation that packed st. Patricb's
Catholic Church at the mass last mid
niSht concluded the Christmas sermon
given hv Mgr. William T. Russell. the
rector, who also was the celebrsnt
Wildly describing the plight OF Mary
and Joseph, being refused sccommods-
! ton In the inns of the little town of
Bethlehem on that Christmas n ght long
ago. Mgr Russell told Of the hardships
underwent by the virgin mother and
her spouse in the humble stable where
He whose birth is commemorated to-
day throughout all Christendom. was
born.
Assist In Mass.
Assisting Monsignor Russell in the
celebration of the mass were the Rev.
James A. Smyth and the Rev. NJ. T. J.
Egan, as deacons, and James Fegan.
master of ceremonies. An elaborate
musical program was given by the
sanctuary and mixed choirs
Monsgnor Russelfs sermon follows:
The midnight hour has struck and
Bethlehem sleeps unconscious on the
bosom of the mountain. The midnight
nour has struck and the infant God re-
poses on the bosom of His mother. The
stars peer out of the heavens like
seraphs clad In light upon the city,
wherein no sound disturbs the deep
silence save the soughing of the wind,
and the casional, distant mufned
voices of the ShenhardS he
The last note of revelry has mingled
It's dying sigh with the moaning wind.
Calmly reposes the head of the mer-
chant, busy all day with plans of gain.
unmindful of the treasure so near him
Rests now in sleep the pleasure-seeker.
not knowing that Heaven Is nigh him.
With her little ones cuddled around
her, sleeps now the Jewish mother, who
has dreamed Of, and prayed that she
might see the virgin whose son would
be Emmanuel-God with US. An hour
ago she closed the door when Mary and
Joseph begged for a lodging. Still now
is the public inn, crowded to its gates
with those who have no friends little
truest friend. He came unto His own
and His own received Him not
No Room In Bethlehem.
"A few hours ago. az the night shades
were gathering, they came. .footsore
and weary. those two. Joseph and
Mary, to the town predestined from
eternity as the first abode of its God
on earth.
See the pale delicate maid as she
to!lows her spouse FROM door TO door. /
shrinking from even a rude glance /
They are in the city of David. the !
city OF their fathers. but as they beg I
from house to house, the answer is
ever the same. No room, No rooml'
For centuries this little city has
looked for His coming, for centuries
Ionged for this hour, vet when He
comes, its welcome is No room! No
room" Poor maid of Nazareth. Is
there none to welcome thee' VIII
thy weary. sweet, innocent face move
none TO pity? Will thy weak, totter-
ing steps excite none TO sympathy?
The wistful, yearning appeal in thy /.
gentle blue eyes. will il reach no !
tender heart No room! No room, {
There is room for the Pharisee. the
publican and the sinner. there is room
for the beggar, there Is room for even q
the beast, but in the CITY of her faith I
ers. In the home of her friends, in the :
midst IF her kinsfolk. there is no room o
for her In her delicate state, when
the hour is come for her angelic I
maidenhoOd to blossom without stain (
into divine motherhood. when her pure /
soul shrinks from the faint of human
view and longs for a modest nook
where she may gaze unobserved into .
the eyes Of her newborn babe and ,
clasp Him to her breast, there is no (
room for her. !