The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-12-30
Message Of the Christmas
THE CHRIST cHlLDs SONG or
JOY AND WHAT. IT MEANS.

+ -
The ringing of the chimes, the sing
ing of sweet songs, the glow of love
on happy faces, the laughter of little
children all of these enter into our
picture Of our Christmas festival. 1t
lis a time of joy. Within the breast
of almost every man there is a more
generous beating of the heart, reali-
zation of a better self than is often
evidenced to the world in the course
of daily life. We awake for a time
at least to an understanding of our
duty to our neighbor; the world for a
day feels a touch of that peace Of
which the angels sang. 1t is the mes
sage which the Christ Child brings
that we thus hear, sometimes family,
sometimes in full force-the message
of true peace and joy.
4 We usually do not stop to analyze
the meaning of this message. AS a
rule we accept it as a mere matter of
course. We often do not hear its
wider appeal-its deep significance
for the individual and society. In the
world about us today pessimism is
enthroned Men have lost the secret
to the possession of real lasting joy.
They seek it i'll vain in the pursuit
of pleasures that nauseate and sicken;
THAT corrode the heart and poison the
mind. They have forgotten the way
Ito the attainment of peace. Hatred
and /, a vague disquietude prevail
among them. They know no longer
whittier they are bound in the journey
of lifes and try to find their consola-
ton in dark despair. The spirit OF
the age, scientific as it calls itself,
has confined itself to the detailed,
material things of the present life,
and has thereby banished hope.
Modern culture. Bishop Keppler
we'll says, lis fundamentally worldly,
and of this present life: it is culture
of technical science, culture of the in.
tellect. Hence it is incapable of salts
flying or contenting man, and is empty
of joy. True culture is essentially
inner culture of heart and SOUL
CMore Joy, English Translation, D. 2O).
Brings Culture.
1t is this true culture which the
Christ Child brings, a culture which
should extend throughout the globe
to teach men hope-and peace and
the real joy, that cause the man with
ing under the pain and darkness OF
his physical labor to see the sign
above him in which he shall CONQUER
and find peace-for time by reason Of
eternity; to teach every human heart
that there is something beyond the
bitterness and unequal recompensef
of the present routine of suffering and
struggle. With this spirit suffuseC
throughout society there would be q
new relationship between man anC
man. There would be more sufferance
of the difficulties in adjusting socia
conditions and greater readiness tt
Il cooperate in such adjustment. And i
must not be forgotten that the Chris
Ehas also brought the basic ideas which
will make this adjustment the better
He has proclaimed the dignity OF thu
worker, of the weak and unfortunate
He has insisted on the stability ant
unity of the family, SO necessary for /
| proper social status. He has empha
sized the necessity of self-reform al
4 the real basis for wider bettermen
of general conditions. He has lait
down those principles, which will
make the conduct of life possible. B.
reason of all these things has he giyeI
us reason to exclaim: Rejoice in tn,
Lord always; again say rejoice!'
We can all catch this spirit of tn,
Christmas; we can all rejoice, no
merely for the day but for the entir,
year. "a living close to the cross il
essential, for in that sign of contra
diction comes happiness and peace
both to the individual and society. 4
greater concern for the welfare of ou
fellows and for real endeaFor il
bettering those conditions which de
serve such lettering, in the spirit o
Christian charity and justice, will
make us forget our own difficultie
the easier, and thus lead us to rest
Peace and joy, joy and peace!- thos
are the things the world needs s,
badly today, not merely in thos
countries where war is raging, but il
the homes and industries of countrie
not engaged in conflict. Success t
| the crusade OF joy! OF trouble an
misery and distress, there will Away
be enough upon the earth; let US tax
care that there shall always b
enough of joy as well. True JOY
which Is spiritual and gupernatura
seems to have lost it's value in tn
world Of today; let us prize 1t abov
everything else5 Hundreds are bus