Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1919-12-25

was preached Christmas day by the
Rev. FIR. PEelan, in the Grangeville
Catholic church. The sermon, first
preached at the $3.50 mass, was again
delivered at the 1920 mass. So appro-
pirate is the Yuletide sermon that it
is herewith reproduced in full:
Once more the holy season of Christ
mas is with us, bringing with it the
sweet and hallowed memories that
ever cling to Yuletide. The voices Of
the angels seem to float upon the air,
singing, as they sang on that first
Christmas night" Gloria in excelsis
Dec ct in terra pax hominibus" (Glory
to God in the highest and on earth
peace to men).
Thre is magic in the very name of
Christmas. 1t brings to our minds
many a happy scene of days gone by
when merry laughter rippled round the
hearth and silver voices echoed in the
home, and friends gathered round us
and bade us to be happy and rejoice,
for Christmas is with us once more.
MESSAGE OF YESTERDAY
To the old it brings a message from
the past; to the young it comes with
golden visions of the future, to inspire
them with joy and hope to enter
on the journey of life. But other
thoughts than these must fill the minds
of old and young at this hallowed
season of holiness and grace. 1t is
the celebration of the Kings birth
day, when Holy Church invites her
faithful flock to kneel in loving ven
GRAFTON round the crib of Bethlehem.
The one great object of our thoughts
and our devotion is the infant Savior
lying in his lonely crib, and in the
gospel which / have read to you we
have simple account of His nativity,
whose birthday we are to celebrate.
The narrative you have just listened
to is an old, old story; one that you
have heard many times before, one
which, like the memories of childhood,
is tender and touching. The desolate
stable, Joseph and Mary seeking shell
ter there at dead of night, the manger,
and in that manner the Divine Babe,
wrapped in swaddling clathes; the an
gels singing above the stable, and call
ling the shepherds; the shepherds com
ing from the nearby hill, to adore the
newborn Savior. This indeed pic
ture well calculated to captivate the
human heart.
THREE PARTS TO STORY
We will now follow the gospel mar
rative and see that it contains three
distinct parts. The first tells us of the
Journey of Joeph and Mary from Naza-
reth to Bethlehem. The second tells
us of the birth of Jesus Christ, and the
third the message of the Angels to
the shepherds, and why they went over
to Bethlehem.
The Roman empire after passing
through many cruel and bloody wars,
was now at peace. The temple of ia
nus was closed and Caesar Augustus
saw the Roman eagle respected from
the Tigris to the Tagus, from the Nile !
TO the Rhine. Such civilization as was
possible among pagans had reached
its highest limits. The odes of Horace
we're sung in the field; the voice OF !
Cicero resounded in the forum. Times
have changed. The sceptre of Judah |
had passed into the hands of a strang- |
sr; the world was expecting the savior
A humble Virgin of Nazareth, unknown
to all, bore Him in her spotless womb, |
and the day on which He was to ap- |
pear on earth was at hand. There was
a prophecy of Micheas that the Divine |
Babe should be born in Bethlehem.
But the Virgin Mary lived IN Naza-
reth. far away from Bethlehem. How,
then. was the word of the prophet to /
be fuIfilled9 Listen to the evange-
list.
ENTIRE WORLD CHECKED
AT that time decree went forth
from Caesar Augustus that the whole
world should be enrolled. What the
infect of this enrolment was, history
does not say, but it is very natural ana
Mute probable that Caesar wished TO
determine the tribute so as to provide
for the administration of that vast EN-
oire. This enrolment required that
svervone should 60 to the country OF
.itv or place of their origin, and hence
Joseph had to 90 to Bethlehem IN com
,anv with Mary, although she was on
The eve of giving birth to her enid
both of them saw in this decree the
inoer of God, who was leading them
. the place where the Savior OF the
World was to be born. Now, from Ma
,areth TO Bethlehem, is about seventy
i've miles. The poor people Travelled
N foot leading a beast laden with pro