The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-02-08

Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ,
was occupied by the British forces,
operating in Palestine in December
1917. Guards have been established
at the Church of the Nativity to safe
guard the sacred places.
The Church of the Nativity, in
Bethlehem, was erected early in the
fourth century by st. Helena, mother
of Emperor Constantine. 1t is built
directly over the grotto where Christ
was born. In erecting the basilica
the natural entrance was INSTRUCTED,
while the foundation of the structure
was placed on the same level with the
surface of the grotto.
ST. GATHERINGS Church, directly
adjoining the original Church of ST.
Helena, was erected in 1882. 1t is
of Bethlehem, who number about
5000, two-thirds of the population.
The church is clean, well-lighted
and beautiful. AS in many other
ventures in the Holy Land, it was
also in the building of this church
that the liberality of the late Austrian
Emperor, Francis Joseph, was the
most important factor. =
Like the Church of the Holy
Sepulchre in Jerusalem, the Church
of the Nativity in Bethlehem, both
built by st. Helena, give deplorable
evidence of the disintegration of
Christian denominations. In the ba-
silica in Bethlehem there was con-
tinual strife with the Schismatical
churches. Turkish guards were re-
quired to maintain order and to pro-
tect the sacred places from desecra-
ton on the part of the Schis-
mates.
Grotto Where Saviour Was Born.
The grotto where our Saviour was
born lies underneath the transept of
the basilica, access to it being gained
| by means of two doors, one to the
| south, which is in possession of the
| Greeks, and the other to the north,
which belongs to the Franciscans, i. e.,
| the Catholics.
| By descending on a stairway of fiji
| teen steps, the grotto is reached. It. is
in the main, a natural cave about
twelve yards long, four yards wide
and three yards high. The walls are
| covered with tapestry, the ceiling con,
sisting of marble slabs No natural
light can penetrate into the cave;
fifty-two lamps radiate sombre light
Close to the lowest step of the
| staircase, on the east side, the Altar
of the Nativity stands in a niche
| Fifteen lamps are suspended from the
altar, and on the floor silver star
| indicates the exact spot where the
Christ Child was born. The following
inscription appears upon the star
"Hic de virgine Maria Jesus Christus
natus est (Here Jesus Christ was
born Of the Virgin Nary.
| Altar of Nativity Profaned.
Unfortunately the Altar of the
Nativity no longer belongs to the
Catholics. Since 1857, the Schis
matte Greeks hold it, having wreste6
it from the Catholics by means of the
basest practices. For years no Cath
Ollie priest was allowed to celebrate
Mass at this altar
Close to this altar is the Altar OF
the Crib, belonging to the Catholics
which marks the spot where three
wise men found and adored the new
born King of the Jews.
Change of Guards.
| Day and night Turkish guards
were stationed in the grotto. With
out them the rights of the Catholics
would have been jeopardized every
moment. For centuries the Francis
cans have been the custodians O.
this sanctuary. In the years proceed
ing the war, France had been neg
lecting it's protectorate over the place
and the Greeks or Russians had beer
encrOaching upon the traditional
rights of the Catholics.
i One of the most deplorable aspect!
of the situation is the neglect ant
decay into which these holy places
have fallen because of the usurpa
ton of Catholic rights by the Schis
, mates.
1t is to be hoped that one of tn,
happy results of the present war, a
the conclusion of peace, will be tn,
establishment of conditions in Beth
lehem which will be more in keepin,
with the sacredness of the birthplace
Of orr Saviour