The Indianapolis times., 1935-12-28
Faith in God
Needed, Says
Father Dugan
Light, Love and Trust for
Every Man, Declares
Chancellor.
BY THE REV. HENRY F. DUGAN

\ Il 4 v.
Chancellor, Diocese of indianapolis
To wish a fellow man the hon.
esty and simplicity of shepherds
heart might not be an auspicious
wish for the New Year. unless he
knew the kind of heart the shep-
herd possessed.
Did he know that the shepherd
you had in mind was one of those
who lived 1000 years ago. tending
the flockS on the hills of Judea, he
would better appreciate the meaning
of your wish.
Furthermore, this man of the hills
was among the first to know and
realize what wonders had transpired
in the little town of Bethlehem"
when a great prophecy was fulfilled.
His information was most accurate
and definite. for it came to him
from superior intelligence that
spoke with authority.
Brightness of Cod
Thick darkness covered the coun-
try where the shepherds kept their
vigil fires. An angel of light stood
by them. and a brightness that came
neither from the stars nor heavenly
consultations Shone round about
them. 1t was the brightness Of
God" and so was both the light and
the voice of the heavenly messenger,
that for the moment fear seized the
hearts of the shepherds. Fear would
have prevailed. had not an assuring
word brought them to an attentive
silence.
Motionless while the voice Of an
angel spoke. these rustic men heard
the good tidings of great JOY" A
Savior had been born that very
night in the village nearby, the city
of David, called Bethlehem.
But with what definiteneSS and
precision this event was announced
to them: "And this shall be sign
to you; you shall find the Infant
wrapped in swaddling clothes and
laid in manger" The logical place
for manger is in a stable. yet the
voice speaks with authority, and
there is honest, simple faith in the
hearts that are listening.
The Story of the Manger
So with the conclusion of the
midnight song from heaven, GLORY
to God in the Highest and on the
earth. peace to men of good will"
the shepherds began their search
for this manger. In the city Of
David there was one stable, wherein
was manger grading a newborn
Babe, wrapped in swaddling
clothes" This was the sign"
whereby they were to recognize the
Savior of the world
Now the rustic, be he wanting in
many points of culture and finish,
is always credited with that all
valuable asset, common sense. These
common sense men from the hills
left their focks, their chief possess
sion of worldly wealth. left their
vigil fires and with Fastening feet
went out into the mountain dark
ness in search of a certain stable.
They found it, and more, for when
they entered, they found Mary
and Joseph and the Infant lying in
a manger"
What simplicity and heart reach
ing warmth there is in the retelling
of this event, which cheers hearts
the world over as we keep its ami
versary each year. How puzzling
and annoying it seems to us when
we hear the musings of supposedly
high" and deep" thinkers and
famed" teachers, who give forth
such strange utterances as the God
concept or a mythical deity" or a
perfectly evolved human conscious
ness"
Light, Love and Trust
Such teachings lack both depth
and height, and too often lead 20
dizzy and confused conclusions IN
the minds of those who might think
on them. Faith in God has been
affected too often by the irreligion
given out by these skeptics. Loss Of
faith has too often been followed by
a. consequent lOSo Vi nope ana
charity Devoid of charity, man
loses reverence for God and respect
for his fellow man. Hence we have
in modern society the atheist. the
materialist and the gangster, God
less men all
Returning to our wish for the New
Year, that all men might know and
initiate the heart of a shepherd, we
are wishing light and love and trust
to the heart of every man. The pos
session of such graces will make it
possible for man to believe in God.
rather than to give serious ear to
misguided and uniformed teach
ers who propose doctrines that are
shallow and comfortless.
From God will come other mes
sages through his angels, in the dav
of another year that will bring
good tidings of great joy"-the wis
dom which came to the simple and
honest hearts of the shepherds Of
Judea.