Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1916-01-06

Chnstmas Al ST. Al0ysius.
The mystic spell Of the great feast OF
Christmas Is not 10 be found In the
shops and markets whore one chooses
and purchases the seasons gifts; nor
YET beside the gorgeously decked exer.
green tree around which the little one
gathered on Christmas morn and the
old ones too with hearts grown Young
again at sight Of the merriment beam
ing in the eyes Of their darlinKs: nor
even at the family table where all the
family from far and near are gathered
for this one day 10 paffnke of the
Christmas cheer. but II II he true
that there can be no Christmas without
Christ, where He Is found most truly
there, Is hi3.be found the Christmas
spirit in the fullness and depth. To
those who have had experience the
time and the place Is midnight, the
very hour OF Christ's nativity, when
one enters the church and brea,hes the
blended aroma Of cedar holly and
ivy, and ieasts his eyes on the ever.
greens and bright holly berries and
glowing poinsettias, all typical OF
Christ, His love and His precious
blood; and sees again tho sacred mys- |
Ieries OF Bethelehem enacted, and
hears the angel chant thar ara made
81 the hills OF fiethlehem ring With |
Christmas jubilee.
These sacred scenes were represent.
ID again as nearly as possible al the
Mass In 81 AloysIus'
Church. just before the Mass pro.
session ~ shepherds aied |.
'everen ~ lhe aiales and /
2nNSed. ngna $780,. .,.....
80, |zsss ~spe l5An lls Hois
Child. bis Maidon Moiher and His
foster father, st. Joseph, while above
them shone the Christmas star The
procession was lead by the Angel of
The Nativity, Miss Grace Grecnwelll !,
bearing q serial with the words OF the
angels chant: GLORY 10 Excelsis
Dec the Same being sung by the
choir as the procession moved along.
The mystic choir OF angels was repre-
sentcd by four singers tGenevieye
Norris, Janet Duke, Christine and
Maria Greenwell|, and by four angel
musicians Misses Mary McCully,
Estolle DrurY, Richley Ching and
Frances Greenwell). -Four shepherds
followed the angels lMagnire and
Charles Mnttingly, Robest Payne and
Clinton AbeIll. They wore the con-
ventional shepherds qarb, each car
ried staif and one carried lamb d
the flock 20 present 10 the Holy Child.
The celebrant Of the Mass, Father
Kelly, came next with the Sanctuary
boys, aud all three group knelt be
fore the Crib 70 offer prayer and In
cense 70 the Divine Babe.
Iso. within manger lies,
He Who built the starry skies,
He Who throned In light sublime
Sits amid the Cherubin.
The custom OF honoring the Crib OF
Bethlehem BY these simple and devo-
tional representations, originated with
the serephic st. Francis Of Assist, and
has for centuries been one Of the mos,
beautiful and touching traditions Of
the Church. Tho power Of such scenic
representation to help one realize the
great fact OF Christmas and what Il
means for his soul, has always been
ielt and acknowledged; 1t prepares ons
for the true and supernatural keeping
OF the feast which is nothing II II Is moi
supernatural. seldom II ever was
there so marked manifestation Of
faith and devotion In st. Aloysius'
Church as on the past great solemnity.
May we all be here for Its next cele
| hpation In 1919