Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-12-24

VATICAN CITY, December "a Up.
The off1cial translation Of the radio
address Of Pope Plus follows:
IA message to the Sacred College,
to Roman prelates, to the episcopates
to the clergy, both secular and regu-
lar, and to all great Catholic fam
lilies:
II, on the numberless occasions con-
tinually offered US by divine providence
and by the love of our venerable
brothers and beloved sons and Of those
from every corner Of the world who
come to us, our whole soul rejoices
with the exaltation Of the father who
embraces all In the heart Of our re-
deemer, today more than ever we
feel near and present to our beloved
Sacred College. whose venerable dean,
in an elevated address on behalf Of
his eminent colleagues, has expressed
to us their greetings and good wishes
which we value most highly.
We feel near and present also to
our beloved Roman prelates and to
the great Catholic family in the radi-
ant light Of the star Of Bethlehem on
this annual recurrence Of the sacred
season of Christmas.
We are near and present to you and
to all the Catholic world in spirit,
in thought which, transcending time
and Alpine heights and the vast ex-
panse of oceans, rises above the uni
verse and its tempests, even unto God.
We are near and present in the
Affections of our hearts because the
heart Is not divided from the mind,
but rather follows 1t and draws from
it as you know from daily experience,
venerable brethren and beloved sons,
the ardor to conquer those obstacles
Of time and space and the vicissitudes
Of human life which keep you from
our presence.
Exchange Of Wishes
At Christmas Tide.
We have spoken Of the holy season
OF Christmas because the primary
reason which makes us desire and
sense so wildly your presence is pre-
cisely this: That we may give and ex-
change with you most cordial good
wishes for every spiritual grace, for
every holy gift and for the most
plenteous blessing upon the recurrence
Of this sacred season Of Christmas,
which has made resound throughout
the ages that hour Of all graces, of
all favors, Of all blessings, 50 ardently
looked for and SO long prepared by
divine goodness with 50 profound q
plan of love and mercy.
Unfortunately, against the will Of
God who came to bring peace to men
Of good will, there contends the
enemies Of that Divine Child who de-
sired to become q man and dwell
among us, full of grace and truth, 10
that of His fullness we might all re-
ceive grace tor grace"
Hence we, on the return of these
holy days and almost constantly on
every occasion given us to open our
heart not only to you, but to all the
great Catholic family, have desired TO
unite to our message Of spiritual Joy
some expression of the bitter sorrow
Of our paternal heart caused by the
many great evils which in these days
have fallen like q scurge on humanity,
on civil society, and on the church.
At the same time pointing out to
all the gravity Of the perils that
threaten us, exhorting all to vigilance
and action and to the union of all men
Of good will against the propaganda Of
the enemy and his constantly renewed
attempts to bring about the ruin Of
the most fundamental principles Of
human society, Of the family and Of
the individual.
Above all we have called attention
to the real remedies Of truth, justice
and brotherly love Of which the Cath
ole Church Is the sole depository and
the divinely constituted feature.
Sorrowful Note
In Spanish War.
The sorrowful note which this year
Is mingled with the joys Of Christmas
is even more profound and distressing
because Of the fact there still RACES
with all its horror Of hatred, Of car
mage and destruction, q civil war IA
Spain. There it seems that propaganda
and those evil forces Of which we have
spoken above have wished to make the
supreme experiment Of all destructive
forces scattered throughout the world
which they have ut their command.
Here is q new menace more threat
ening than ever before for the whole
world and principally for Europe and
its Christian civilization.
Here are signs and portents Of ter.
rifying reality Of what Is being pre-
pared for Europe and the whole world
II they do not hasten to adopt the nee
essary remedies Of defense.
Among those, moreover. who pretend
to be defenders Of the order against
subversion Of civilization, against the
spread Of atheistic communism, who IN
this defense claim for themselves lead.
ership, We Sc with sorrow not . tew
allowing themselves to be dominated
and guided BY false and fatal ideas,
both In their choice Of remedies and h
the appraisal Of their adversariss.
False and fatal We say: Tor whose
ever seeks to 1essen or stamp out IA the
hearts Of men and especially In the
hearts Of the young. faith in Christ
and In his divine revelation; whosoever