The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-01-01
DATE OF CHRISTMAS.

day OF ChristS birth dates from the
early days of the Church, although
authorities differ as to the actual day
to be observed. Some early authori-
ties claimed January 6, others Janu-
airy l, and still others, March 20.
While the Eastern Church observes
January 6, the Western Church adj
heres to December 25 as the correct
date, and this was fixed by Pope Juli-
us |, in 345 A. D. st. Chrysostom
said that in primitive times Christmas
and Epiphany were celebrated at the
same time, but these two feasts were
separated by the Council of Nice in
S25.
Christmas in 9s.
In the year A. D. 9S 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 Gospel, season of joy.
Among the early happenings history
chronicles on Christmas Day, was the
death of the Roman Emperor, Marcus
Aurelius Caius, killed by lightning in
283, while driving his chariot beyond
the Tigris, which the early Christians
were wont to regard as judgment of
God, since he was inimical to the
Church. Later, in the year 400,
Gainas the Goth met bloody death
upon that same feast, that Gainas
who had ravaged Thrace, making the
Wild
he was refused church for the Arvan
sect. Shortly after this fate came
upon him.
Christmas and Clovis.
Chronologically the next great
Christmas Day was in 1876, when
Clovis, first Christian King of France.
was crowned at Rheims. This was a
day of great rejoicing for all the
Franks, especially for those who were
Christians. Never before had the feast
been celebrated with such pomp and
splendor. Clovis was a mighty war
rior, mightier pagan. He had gone
his victorious way, conquering and to
conquer, burning churches when in his
road, quite to the despair of his Chris
tian wife, Clotilda. She demonstrated
and wept and prayed, but to no avail
Clotilda, being saint and Christian,
decided to smile rather than weep, to
hold her tongue rather than remon,
strate, and to continue praying, but in
secret.
Clovis, being distinctly masculine
felt her influence, since it was pleas.
ality was agreeable and charming. He
conceived the idea that there might
be something, after all, in what was
= said about the Catholic, faith by so
fair and beautiful consort. In the
midst of great battle, when all was
going against him and the day seemed
lost, he suddenly cried out, God OF
Clotilda, send me victory, and l will
embrace her faith" Instantly the tide
of battle turned. The day was won!
Clovis was man of his word. He
was Immediately baptized with three
thousand of his men. The worthy
Bishop who baptized him, mindful OIL
the exigencies of the case, saw to il
that he was fully instructed and likely
to make, if a muscular Christian, al
least sincere one.
Clovis a Christian.
Sternly the Bishop said: Burn thai
which thou hast worshipped, and wor
CHI hot x,yhia
and Clovis obeyed. His pagan shrines
and idols were swept from Gaul, ant
Christian churches took their place
Thereafter only good fortune attended
him. So far as the Loire the northern
cities opened wide their gates to hi:
victorious army. Crowned at Rheims
on Christmas Day, he was the frs
Christian King of France, and from
that day until the revolution, Rheims
the coronation city of all French
kings, as we'll as the repository of the
vial of holy oil from which he wa:
anointed (said by legend to have beer
sent from heaven to be used at Clio
Wis coronation), and which was evel
after used to anoint new-made king
History tells us that it was not Ions
before the new-crowned Christian
king was ruling over a wide territory
which his descendants held for two
hundred and fifty years.
cit grieves me- said Clovis, ito SCI
unbelieving Visigoths in possession o
the fairest province of Gaul. For
ward!" he cried to his men, and thu
Franks joyously crossed the Loire ant
rapidly pursued their conquests to thu
source of the Garonne. On his re
turn Clovis received from Anastasius
the emperor of the east, purple robe
and a golden crown, emblems of con
sui. This recognition of his authorit.
greatly increased his influence among
his Gallo-Roman subjects.
In him the Roman Empire livet
again. He was no longer chief of ;
tribe of barbarians, but prince ant
consul of Rome. Before he died h
, had united under Frankish rule thu
entire country between the Rhine an
the Rhone, the ocean and the Pyre
nees, and had established his capita
at Paris.
charlemagne.
Clovis, however, was not the onl
great Frenchman who was crowned Of
Christmas Day, for Charlemagne
greatest of warrior kings, wa