The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-12-23

Too long have they been recognlsed as vague recominend datlofas. We must sae shefa now as tiaa aole path Go the true significance and the true happiness of Christmas.
 CHRISTMAS IN BETHLEHEM
 The most revered place in our Christmas observance is the place of Christ's birth. Tn Bethlehem the Basilica of the Nativity houses Q small Qrotto of the Nativity, erect- cd to enshrine peTpetually the spot where on the testimony of both tra- ditlon and history Christ was born. The location is marked with Q large metal star set in the marble floor, and enclrcling the star are the words in Latin, "Here of the Virgin Mary, Jesus Christ was born"
 Tn Bethlehem the observance of Christ's birth is honored with some of the most solemn ceremonies of the Church. Most interesting of these ceremonies are those which take place in tho 0rotto after tho sltd- night Pontlflcal Mass in tho BaAcali- ca. The Patriarch Of Jerusalem is always the celebrant of the midnight Mass and in solemn procession he carries Co the drOtto on inaaag Of the Infant Christ. There the deacon of the Mas chants in solemn tones the beautiful Christmas narrative of St. Euke's gospel which tells the story Of Christ's birth. As the words unfold the events of that happy night the Infant is placed on tho star which marks the place of Christ's birth, then as the deacon chants the words describing the holy Mother wrapping her Child "in swaddling clothes" the image og the Infant is wrapped in similar clothing, and finally as the deacon sings the words, the Infant !s plAced on tho rough straw of c manager erected in Imitation of what the manager of Christ most probably was. There In the halloWed place oe Chrlst's birth the faithful may come ir reverend humility agfd mediate on the stupendous events of the AAAbAtt vAABw u@W tEiV SHVA0uE VI HhbkA~t kind cradled among animals because among men there was no room. BETHLEHEM AND BOMBS
 At tho time ofeChrist's birth the whole world was ct peace. For the first time in 700 years there was no war in the whole known world. Rome ruled, and as one historian says, "the whole world seemed to sleep under the wing Of the Roman eagle" Rome kept the peace. Not an easy peace, but . peace Of power, . peace un- easy like Q restless sleep. But this peace soon died and since the birth Of Christ, as before, tho annals of mankind have been wrltton on pages wet with tears and smudgod with blood.
 But never in oil history has the dawn of Christ's birth broke on n world 90 steeped in blood, in hatred and in suffering, as our Christmas morn of i04i, The specteF of war oVershAdowB the whole world. Mil. lions, perhaps hundreds of millions are dying, suffering and starving. Ali the worlds wealth, oil the worlds resources, oil the worlds brains have been moblliSed to old men In wrecklng the lives and the homes of thOir feliowmen.
 These are not happy thoughts. Tn. deed there Is the temptation to for- get them and close our hearts to these gufferlngs and take our hap- plneSs from the measure of pros. pOrity that still exists among us. But such is unChristiAn and the heart that is closed will receive none of tho happiness of chrlstmaS. The world suffers. We must adjust our hearts to their suffering. Another Christmas will certainly find us a war.sufsering people with every home and every family having made itS sacrifice in our great cause.
 On this Christmas Day, in the paradox of Bethlehem ard bombs, let us recognize our duty to God and to our fellowmen. May we pray aS we have never prayed before that God will hasten the day when the heart of man will Do opened and over the threshold of good will will come the peace promised by the Babe of Bethlehem.