The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-11-03
.LETTIR TO THE EDITOR
ON CHRISTMAS GIVING.

Reverend Dear Father:
Sane economy and conservation of
all the means of living, thrift and
equipmentlis to be the dominating
slogan of she day 1t is wisdom to
provide fonthe needs of the country
as well aslthe poor; for we are
big national unity, each citizen, rich
or poor, anfntegral part of whole
family for Which the brains and the
leaders of tie nation work for better
or for worse for richer or for poor
er. AS an esamplification of this, be-
sides many solated admonitions of
far-seeing minis, the country has Of
ficially inaugrated a nationwide
food administration campaign. It's
systematic effots are to give plenty
to all and leave enough for the hun
cry here and the starving brothers
abroad In connection with this
movement it seens very opportune at
the present time p call the. attention
of all loyal citize1s to one important
way of saving aid conserving the
resources of the hmily and nation;
and this is not to e too extravagant
in our living and oR gifts during the
coming Christmas holidays.
Attention is calledlat this moment
in order to afford sufficient time for
a proper education md propaganda
in this direction. 1t j a well-known
fact that many people have developed
extravagant habits, eslecially during
Christmas time, of outioing one an
other in the purchase and presenta-
ton of costly presentsl Instead of
paying their debts or Iof feeding the
hungry, many people go far beyond
their means in perverted cult of
friendship. The Chrltmas idea Of
giving and receiving gifts, even at a
personal sacrifice, is bot absolutely
wrong, but is based on the sound ex-
ample of the Christ-clild of giving
Himself and all for he benefit of
others, to bring to them the light
of heavenly truth, the courage of
righteous and benevoltnt endeavor,
and the joyful hope o. blessedness.
But the imitation of thb idea of sac
rifice often degenerates by being al
together too much matrialized and
commercialized in the hape of too
many toys and too mahy expensive
furs and diamonds. E1n the stom-
ach has to suffer at tines from the
superabundance of SWEET In word,
the thought of giving and receiving
presents has developed tito such pro-
portions as to overshadw the real
significance and true siiritual joys
of this historic anniversary. Where
as Christ by His sacrifice wished to
accomplish the redemption OF all men
of good will, and by his Example and
teaching inspired counties beneficent
| institutions formerly unknown, short
sighted men only caricatlre this ex-
hibition Of goodness in their extrava-
CANT efforts to shower upon their
| friends many vain and useless gifts.
This year, especially, with the task
of warfare, and winter aleady at our
doors, a sane economy il wise, nay,
even imperative. The etigencies of
| the times will teach us powerful
lesson; the service which re have to
perform for our countryl for our
selves, and for the needy A little
thoughtfulness will suited to re-dis-
cover the real meaning oflcharity, to
choose the real way of tue benevo-
lence, and thus to apppach more
closely the spirit of Him Who gave
| Himself not for the vanity and ex-
cesses but for the differAt needs OF
the race. It was during labors, hard.
ships and sufferings thatlthe Saviour
4 the Saints and all the heroes of every
nation have accomplished the great
er service to others, aid incidentally
1 crowned their names with immortal
glory, Their greatnesl did not con
sist in riches, ease, OF pleasure, but
in hard work and sevice for God
for country, and for sflls Even the
man in humble avocstions achieves
i his greatest usefulness and incidental
happiness during el1ong hours in
which he sweats ami tolls. Hard
i ships, trials and temptations bring out
what is best in man
i Now, when our country is facing 9
struggle, crisis Unprecedented in
history, we have an opportunity t.
test our metal, welhave an opportu
nifty to display real loyalty and soil
i darity in a common cause We make
our livingin this cdlntry, we are here
/ to stay and we nay be sure tina
dneither the Austriah nor German EN-
j peror will send us > dollar or pen
i nv if they win. Us. we must do oul
| bit. And this intelligent appreciation