The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-12-29
TWO BEAUTIFUL PERFORMANCES
DURING CHRISTMAS SEASON.
COLLEGE OF ST. CATHERINE
AND CATHOLIC GUILD RENDER
NOTABLE SERVICES IN ARTS
TIC CIRCLES.
(contributed.)

There appeared in The Catholic Bull
letin of last week most appropriate
article. reprinted from recent mum
Der of America" dealing with the
civic celebration of the great feast OF
Christmas and recalling the splendid
and inspiring Nativity Plays which
gladdened the Christmas season in the
Ages of Faith.
This article is particularly appropri-
ate and worthy of careful reading in
view of the fact that here in ST. Paul
the Christmas season of 1917 has been
made memorable by the production of
two beautiful Nativity Pays. These
plays are evidence. that the Catholics
of st. Paul are not unconcerned in the
movement spoken of by the writer of
the aforementioned article, move
ment toward a revival OF the medieval
celebration of Christmas by Nativity
Plays, not merely, a civic Christmas
but a civic Christmas that in truly
Catholic manner goes straight and
boldly to the heart of the holy occa-
sion itself" and makes vivid with all
the art at the peoples command the
glory and mystery of the Divine
Birth
The Desire of All Nations" ma
tivity play written by the noted con-
vert, George Benson Hewetson, ex-
pressly for the students OF the College
st. Catherine. was presented on De-
cember Is and II by the students of
the College in their beautiful Jeanne
dare auditorium. And Bethlehem .
a nativity play by Lawrence Housman,
was presented on December 20 and 21
at the Cathedral School Auditorium
under the auspices of the Guild of
Catholic Women, by a select cast di-
rected by Miss Mary G. Kellett of Min
peapolis and Mrs. Frank L. Hoffman.
As prelude to this play. q choir from
the St. fsydl Sts.s.a4:,.4,ss.ss. ss.ssescted by
Rev. F. Missia, rendered program
of sacred songs.
Bethlehem is not new in st. Paul,
as it was presented in the two pre-
vious seasons by the students of the
Visitation Academy. The Sisters of
offered the music for this play for the
use of the Guild in order that the play
might be presented in a more public
way, by male cast and before a
larger audience. Both plays, there
fore, testify to the devotional feeling
and the artistic sense of our local
Sisterhoods through whom the people
of ST. Paul have received this best OF
Christmas celebrations in these charm.
ing and inspiring mystery plays"
The production of these two plays is
especially fortunate as illustrating
how the wonderful story of the Birth
of our Divine Lord is one of unlimited
beauty and power, and may be pre-
sented in many ways, and cannot fail
to stir multitude of holy emotions
In the December number of the Cath
olic World" Mr.. Charles Phillips, in
an essay on the Nativity Drama, shows
how in the whole range of the medic
val mystery plays no subject presented
such possibilities and received such
rich and varied treatment as did the
subject of the Nativity; and he dis
cusses the excellent material that We
have at hand for a revival of the
Nativity Drama. The people of st
Paul are fortunate in having witnessed
two well-guided and successful at
tempts at such a revival in two beau
tifl'l Nativity plays which supplement
each other.
Story of the Nativity.
The Desire of All Nations" may bt
dcsc ribed as realistic, historical ant
didactic presentation of the blessed
story of the Nativity. 1t inclines to
ward a very faithful rendition of tn,
Gospel incidents and words, although
with sufficient liberty to round out thu
narrative and to dwell on the meaning
of the Incarnation of the Son of God
An edifying and effective didactic pur
pose is evident throughout In eacl
Of the three acts one of the character
is given the role of teacher His line