The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1952-12-19
Just Among Ourselves
Passing Comment considsrsd or ineensidsrsis

The current number of Coronet has the most re
cent of the seasonal "littlest" stories,-about
stork of all things Truly there end of absurdL
ties. Well, stork probably serves as well any
thing else-such the littlest doughnut the
littlest snow drop, or the littlest mince pe,-as
point of departure from an emotional spree among
weird caricatures Of heaven and even of Almighty
God
And a stork actually can be little and even lit
tlest" if you like baby talk Angels cannot THE Lit.
Hest Angel heads the list of these latter day non.
sense narratives which touch Christmas tangbly
excuse for sentimental dts, and orgy of doctrnal
Since Loretta Young, who should have known
better put the thing on recordings few years ago
children up and down the land have been distracted
from the glory of the true Christmas story to
absorb large dose of misinformaion about angels.
And countless mothers have grown misty-eyed over
the sweetness" of this tall and tiresome tale.
If person would have the true and noble emo
ton suitable TO Christmas time, let him disregard
all the ctional fatuities and the "lttlest" stories
and read the account OF Our Lords Birth as
ported in the second chapter Of st. Lukes Gospel.
Not all the hooT la of Hollywood nor the pedestrian
fancies of the saccharine sentmentasts, can come
within miles of the power of this straightforward
yet deeply touching narrative And this is the
PLANTATION of what Christmas really it,
What has got into Christian people that they
leave the feast of their fathers house for husks cast
out by strangers? There has been for many years
kind Of spiritual fifth column among us working
within Christian ranks to rob Christianity of its mean
ing Almost certainly this fifth column is not con-
sciously formed its tactics knowingly plan
ned But there is power which use human folly
TO shape powerful strategy
II is true that in the joy of Christmas, every
creature of God should awaken happy and seasonal
thought-even dopey spaniel or a beribboned cat.
But when the sources OF incidental rejoicing usurp
The place of the central fact which gives them sig
nlficance, the result is chaos Then we have the top
sy-turvydom OF the modern Christmas time, when
salesman say without smiling sorry; all our
Christmas cards are gone-nothng left but relig
ious ones" (Wheeze reported in recent magazine)
The giving of gifts at this time is good and
gracious thing If il reminds gver and receiver of the
Gift that came upon earth for all mankind when God
Himself was born as man TO be our Redeemer The
legend of Santa Claus is understandable and accept
able If II holds its first meaning that one of Gods
saints is good to children to make them aware of
Infinite Goodness overflowing through the Divine
Child upon all the children of men.
How far we have strayed from the proper un-
derstanding and the true spirit of Christmas Civ
lng,-and even of Santa Claus We have made the
exchange Of gifts matter of sheer worldliness, Of
big business of trouble of expense of running into
debt,-and with no thought of Christ OF His Birth
day and of what that should mean to us all We have
multiplied Santa Claus into commercial legion of
hotly clothed buffers who look more than little
ridiculous. even to fiveyearolds. And Santa Claus
is regarded by those young enough TO have any
lance upon him at all not as saint with holy
sage and blessing and kindly gift but as con
sultant and intermediary who may be employed for
purposes of personal and selfish gain
No more do we enter upon the Christmas season
with reverence and holy desire Now we wander in
a winter wonderland, dreaming of a white Christ
mas. We chrrup to the children about Frosty the
Snowman. and remind them that they had better
watch out for Santa Claus is coming to town We
sigh for two front teeth, and cry out that
mama kissing Santa Claus or papa kissing the red
nosed reindeer
Or in a serious and pensive mood We tell each
other "littlest" story The littes angel the III.
test stork the ttlest bill from the gift shop,-any
thing 'littlest" is sure to be touching and sweet"
One story seldom tell and seldom hear. one thing
We seldom suggest: Let 90 over to Bethlehem,
and sec this word which is come to pass
II we are going TO put Christ back into Christmas
we will have TO begin by putting Him into our
hearts, Little come out of campaign to erase
cats and puppies from Christmas cards,--the Christ.
mas card business for that matter. is itself great
commercial racket even when the cards are of the
religious variety.
Our work of putting Christ into Christmas is the
work of living devoted Catholic lives. all who
know Christ, and acknowledge His Godhead were
to arouse themselves to an active loyalty to Him
and to His Church. our light would shine before
men and seeing our good works they would give
glory to God. Too many of us are merely going
along in fact and in spirit with the pagan and com
mercial celebration of Christmas
Let us put Christ into Christians and we shall
find that Christ has been put back into Christmas