The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1954-12-17

A quiet, peaceful town, this, Sc
rene and kindly. Refugee Arabs
Greeks, Armenians, Syrians, Copts
pilgrims from all walks of life, wan
dering through this ancient city O.
eternal fame. Below me coulC
see wisps of smoke rising from
campfires where Bedouins haC
pitched their black tents. Baa-inl
sheep, barking dogs, and the SOUND
of countless bells filled the air.
Here Christ Was Born
walked on down the slope, past
the small houses, past the shrine
called "The Milk Grotto"; past the
walled garden. out on the road
which leads to the fertile Field oi
Boaz. ! thought back to the Grotto
of the Nativity and the scenes
had left behind.
The stern and forbiddins rock
walls of fhe bssilics---a fortress
safeguarding IFS precious con.
tenfsl The great rectangular nave
withinl Forty red marble pillars.
tall and stately in four rows;
. platform at fhe end, sanctuary
OF the Greek Orthodox Church,
with swinging red lamps and
strings Of ostrich eggs about the
slfsFl From there, two sfairwsys
leading down until they met at
. nishe in the rock, fhe sacred
crypt, partially hidden by sn
iron grille and lighted by hang
ing lamps. On the marble floor
. silver star and around II the
inscription: HERE, JESUS
CHRIST WAS BORN OF THE
VIRGIN MARY.
The calendar in the Holy LanC
is a perplexing one. The Eastern
Orthodox Churches still observe
the Julian Calendar. Here is Beth
lehem, the various religious sects
Greeks, Armenians. Copts, Syrians
celebrate Christmas Eve on Jan
uary fifth when the Latins are eel
ebrating the Feast of the Epiphany
Unfortunately, services are not al
ways conducted without asperity
and many claimants for the Holy
Places have appeared. One NIGH
almost wonder il this spot were
truly the birthplace of the Prince
of Peace.
Pssee Seemed Remote
I thought of the two small ora
tories near the niche. One, the AL
tar of the Manger where Mary laiC
her baby Son and where those won
dering shepherds came to worship
two thousand years ago. The other
with an ornate marble table, il
remembrance Of the Magi whit
came to Bethlehem guided by tina
Star.
In succession / recalled the man,
chapels in recesses followed ou
beneath the basilica-the Chape
of the Holy Innocents, st. Joseph's
SITS. Paula and Eustochium, the or
atory of st. Jerome. Above them
and to the west, is st. Catherine
parish church of the city of Beth
lehem, whose bells can be heart
in the valley Of Ephrata.
remembered the gilded lamps
the mosaics, the marble floors, thu
festive native robes, the collection
of gold and jewels, the bearded
monks. What a vast amount o
prayers and what an endless pill
grimage since that night so loni
agol | thought how different thing
were two thousand years later
How the world had rolled on ant
history unfolded its pagesl How
remote seemed the peace of th'
world for which the Franciscan
prayedl
Peace on Earth
Now, alone, far out in the val
ley, / stumbled along the ston.
road lit only by starlight. Some
where a donkey brayed, camel bell
tinkled in the distance. l was il
the fields where the shepherds ha'
tended their flocks-where evel
this moment shepherds were ten,
ing them the same way. And abov,
there was a star-one which seem
ed especially bright. I could al
most imagine / saw the heaven
open and heard the angel choru
proclaiming, "Peace on earth"
| knew then, nothing was diff
ferent at ell. No longer did l
have q feeling Of UnFsslifY.
These were real fields, real shep-
herds. And soma day there would
be "Pssee on earth" among ell
nations. This was, indeed the
birthplace Of Christi"
n