The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1954-01-08
Just Among Ourselves
Passing Comment censidsred or Ineonsidsrsfs

IL Is the glorious season OF Epiphany. In this
time the Church celebrates the Manifestation OF the
Infant Redeemer to the non7Jewish peoples, the
Gentiles, the races of men over all The earth The
Magl those ancient rulers or leaders of men, who
were ruled and led by God himself and guided by
star, are our noble spiritual ancestors They we're
our representatives they knelt before the Lord
offering valuable gifts of gold frankncense, and
myrrh and the far more valuable gifts of believing
and adoring hearts.
II is remarkable that few Of our churches are
dedicated TO the Mag II is also remarkable that few
churches are dedicated TO the Shepherds of the
Nativity. The shepherds we're the first friends that
Christ called to His side when He came on earth;
the Magi we're the first Of the Gentiles to be sum-
moned by Our Lord. 1t appears that these two
groups of men who were first called 10 sanctifica
ton by the Redeemer are so immersed in the d
vine light of Savior Himself that their own special
fesst-days are forgotten.
There are, of course. many churches called by
the name Of The Nativity and The Epiphany. In
the dedication of these churches neither the shep
herds nor the Magi forgotten. Doubtless they
happy that this is so And upon consideration
II seems that other saints except Mary and JOS
eph Simeon and Anna, thus intimately united
with Christ IN the recollection of the Divine Infancy
and the Manifestation. In their very eminence the
shepherds and the Magi without need of FeastS
and dedicatons Of their own.
But this does not mean that the faithful should
pass by these Wondrous saints in their prayers and
deVotions. Yet these saints are largely neglected
Many will say that he has special devotion
TO ST. Jude or to st. Rita to the Little Flower.
But how few they who say that they have
special devotion TO the Magi or to the shepherds Of
the Nativity. II is we'll that men pray 10 this saint
and that II is not well that people neglect the saints
that we're first called by Our Lord when He came
earth.
Had we lived in the times just after the Ascen-
sion, we should undoubtedly have sought out
the surviving shepherds TO hear from their lips
the, glory of that first Christmas night upon the
hills. We should have eagerly inquired about the
bright light that shone around. and the angels
voice that gave good tidnss of great JOY TO all the
people. We should have heard with delight the ia
mar story of the heavenly army and its chant
Of glory TO God and peace TO men OF good will.
And with what JOY should have heard again,
from the lips that first uttered it, that stirring
human acceptance of the Savior Let us 20 over
10 Bethlehem, and lei us see this Word that is
come TO pass
Never should we have forgotten that interview.
Never should have neglected TO cultivate the
friendship and the niercession Of those whose
eyes had looked upon that Word come 10 pass. We
should have held these shepherds in an honor equal
with that which piety would pay TO the Apostles
themselves But now while we pray. at least some
times. for the intercession OF the Apostles. do
not pray al all for the help OF the holy shepherds
Had weIliyed in that ancient time when the
Church was new, We should have been eager TO see
the Magi if they we're still alive. And,
privileged TO come before them and speak TO them,
we should have asked them to tell again of their
Journey 10 Judea of the wondrouS star. of their
hurried preparations for the weeks of travel, Of
their meeting together of Herod and his court.
and above all of the Child to whom their gifts and
their alteration were offered of His Mother. and
His faithful Guardian How keen would have been
our 10y of soul to have heard all these matters, al
ready we'll known and cherished. from the lips OF
the Magi themselves. Yet to-day how seldom we ask
the Magi if we ask at all for the still richer JOY
of their active intercession-
We might have had hard time in those old
days, finding any of the shepherds and certainly II
would not have been easv TO find and speak with
any of the Magi. But IL is not hard now TO he IN
with all of these saints. They are
of the Church Triumphant: they are coTehgionistS
Of our own they are always available for our pray
erS: they are generous in inerceding for us, espec
tally If ask for their interceSSion Nor are they
old men now reaching back into precious memory
for the events wish TO hear There arc no old
saints All in heaven in the full of alertneSs and
the perfect OF their faculties of mind and Will;
after the resurrection OF the body all will continue
forever in youthful maturity even in the body.
True We cannot now have from shepherds
Magi the audible words that would satisfy
piouS curiosity But we can have what is much
better We can have their attention and their love,
their care for us and their PRAYERS, their help and
blessing Yet seldom, II ever, do we ask for these
things.
In these early days of the New Year when the
habit of high resolving is still upon us, II would
not be amSs for many of to form resoute
intention of keeping among special patrons the
first of all Christian saints after Our Blessed Moth
er. ST Joseph and the saints of the Temple, Anna
and Simeon. We need not indeed should not
multiply devotons or selfimposed
obligations. But altogether without binding our
selves by promises we might determine 10 say
now and then short prayer, brief aspiration, 10
invoke the shepherds and the Magi We shall he
the richer for such an intention, and for its full
fllment.
Al all events in this bright time of Epiphany.
we must not forget the many human figures that are
part of its brilliant scene Nor those other figures
to whom the Manifestation of the Manger was
made before the first Epiphany occurred. So close
are the shepherds and the Maei 10 the Christ Child
that all our current seasonal devotion must be
woven with theirs.