The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-12-22
FAMOUS CHRISTMAS DAYS.

mark It's recurrence through the
ages. War and peace, birth and
death, the browning of kings and
the fall of dynasties, all have taken
place upon the anniversary of the
day when the Prince Of Peace was
born to rule the world in love.
The celebration Of Christmas as
the day of Christ's birth dates
from the early days of the Church,
although authorities differ as to
the actual day to be observed.
Some. early authorities claimed
January 6, others January l, and
still others March 90. While the
Eastern Church observes January
6, the Western Church adheres to
December %, as the correct date,
and this was fixed by Pope julius
I, in 345 A. d. st. Chrysostom
said that in primitive times
Christmas and Epiphany were eel
ebrated at the same time, but
these two feasts were separated by
the Council of Nice in 325.
In the year SO Christmas was
first observed as a festival, and
from that time the feast of the
Nativity has been in all lands
touched by the finger of the Cos
pei, a season of joy. Among the
early happenings history chronl-
Giles on Christmas day was the
death of the Roman Emperor Mar
Gus Aurelius Carus, killed by
lightning in 2S3, while driving his
chariot beyond the Tigris, which
the early Christians were wont to
regard as a judgment Of God,
since he was inimical to the
Church. Later, in the year 400,
. Gainas the Goth met a bloody
death upon that same feast, that
Gainas who was so full of valor
that Arcadius made him a gener-
al. He had ravaged Thrace, max
ing the fertile province a wilder
ness, because he was refused a
church for the Arian sect, and
S! 0rtly after this his fate came
upon him.
Chronologically the next great
Christmas day was in 1876, when
Clovis, first Christian King Of
France, was crowned at Rheims.
This was day of great rejoicing
for all the Franks, especially those
who were Christians. Never be-
fore had this feast been celebrat-
ed with such pomp and splendor!
Clovis was a mighty warrior, a
mighty pagan. He had gone his
victorious way, conquering and to
conquer, burning churches when
in his road, quite to the despair
Of his Christian wife, Clotilda.
She demonstrated and wept and
prayed to no avail. Then, being
sensible, as well as Christian, she
decided to smile rather than
demonstrate, and to continue
praying, but in secret.
Clovis. being distinctly mascu-
line, felt her influence, since it was
pleasantly exerted, and since her
personality was agreeable and
charming. He conceived the idea
that there might be something,
after all, in what was said by SO
fair and beautiful a consort. In
the midst of a great battle, when
all was going against him and the
day seemed lost, he suddenly
cried out, "God Of Clotilda, send
me victory and / will embrace thy
faith Instantly the tide Of bat
tie turned. The day was won!
Clovis was a man of his word
He was Immediately christened,
with three thousand Of his men.
The worthy Bishop who baptized
him, mindful Of the exigencies of
the case, saw to it that he was
fully instructed and likely to
make, if a muscular Christian, at
least a sincere one.
Sternly he said, ''Burn that
which thou hast worshipped and
worship that which thou hast
burned" and Clovis obeyed. His
pagan shrines and idols were
swept from Gaul, and Christian
churches took their place. There
after only good fortune attended
him. So far as the Loire the
northern cities opened wide their
gat IS to his victorious army.
Crowned at Rheims on Christmas
day, he was the first Christian
king Of France, and from that day
until the Revolution Rheims was
the coronation city of all French
kings, as well as the repository of
the vial Of Holy Oil from which
lie was anointed (said by legend
to have been sent from heaven to
be used at Clovis coronationl and
which was ever after used to
anoint a new-made king.
Clovis, however, was not the
only great Frenchman who was