The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1955-12-02
Just Among Ourselves
P.ssins Comment con.idered or lneonsidsrsts


callers although he stands only tenth in the old
Roman list; that's how he got his name you
know, for the Latin decem means ten How
brief while it appears since December visited
us before 1t seems no time at all since the hula.
baloo at midnight of December 81, 1854. And
here he is again the aged wintry visitant present.
ly to go off with a bang,-and not without
whimper
December is full of joy because of Christmas,
After that glorious festival he is expected to
weaken rapidly, and die on schedule, unmourned
and unsung, while hearty cheers and beery walls
and assorted football-bowls bring in New
Year which is new only by proclamation and
advertisement.
December days are marked assiduously
than the days of other months-that is, up to
the oath Everyone with something to sell keeps
reminding everyone else that there are only so
many more days till Christmas. After Christmas,
the warning about diminishing days gives way
to the proclamation of diminished prices. Sales
are in the wild wind The kindly American pop
ulace goes meekly TO market to buy at half
price not realizing tor caring) that the price has
not really been haived; il had been doubled for
the Christmas trade and now has come back
TO normal Hurrah for the fair and keen com
petition which is the life of free enterprise!
months, and it is solemn wonder that he has
not been declared the Grand Old Month. For, as
modern promoters and entertainers attest, to be-
come grand" it is only necessary TO be aged.
Give a hand for Solomon Grundy, the Grand Old
Man of the anthologes Cry huua for Bleary
Bob, the Grand Old Man of the Breweries, and
likewise for his erony Bibuous Barney, the
Grand Old Man of the Bourbon business
had the Shn af
not left in their grand old solitude instead of
being paraded (mostly on TV) before a half
bored and half -pitying public to wheeze out
their falterng wisdom or TO air their SNUG sen
ities. The reverence we owe to age is not OBJ
served IN exhibiting to careless youth the weak
ness and the dodderings of the decripit. Old age
is venerable in its silent dignity and in its re-
mote fepose. 1t is merely land shamefuly) pit
liable when it is forced into open competition
with the alert and agile (if inconsequenuaD activ
tiles OF the young and the mlddle-aged. The pro
moter who tries to make fading twilight appear
as blazing noon is guilty of an infelicity No mat
ter that the promoter sdvertses reiuyenating
elixir no matter that he exhibits an ex-PreSi-
dent in solemn interview
Well after all December cannot really be
the Grand Old Month, for when he is aged
enough to be grand, he is showed aside and for
gotten. His successor is the lad! All out for
the grand New Yearl Meet its dawn with flying
feet and fuddled head, and thickening tongue!
Rush out TO shoot off the rusty gun with
agitated and alcoholic finger-you may bag
neighbor in his bed! Ring the bells blow the
whistles bend the elbow; show the cock eyed
world how cock-eyed citizen be in the
throes OF gin and enthusiasm! ProSst NeHiahrl
Drive the car with frantic speed; break the
booze barrierl Happy Near Year to all!
December has his priceless glory, but he dies
neglected al last. Ring out the old" says Alfred
Lord Tennyson. Ring him out! Away with himl ring
in the ae'e! There is nothing here of the solemn
stuffness of Crossing the Bar, and that which
drew from out the middle deep" Poor Decem-
ber is moi consigned with weepy eye to bourne
Of Time and Place" Ring him out! RdtS NIT!
There is one aspect OF this fleeting time (of
which the sudden recurrence of December is a
sharp reminderl which has escaped full treat
ment at the hands of poets, philosophers, andior
columnsts And this is the fact that time which
is so full of activity and incident for the young,
is nevertheless considered slow and plodding,
whereas for the old time flies along like new
jetplane, despite the fact that the aged have
ceased to hear the call to be up and doing.
Now, this is clear reversal of the notion that
interested activity speeds the flying hour, while
repose has time hanging heavily on, its hands
Childhood is certainly the most active period
OF life II is full of continual high adventure II
has endless interests. 1t has wide variety Of de
voted employments. And yet TO child the dis
tance between birthdays, between Christ
masses, seems weary stretch indeed. But to
old person who does little but putter about an
put in the time" year goes by with unbeliey
able speed Why is this?
-
December is good time to cast up the years
spiritual accounts and to formulate the practical
plans which are to emerge az New Year resolu
tons This rs popular theory II seldom is pu
into pl setice Spiritual progress goes more On
the day by ay schedule than yearly pro
jeet To practice virtue now to avoid SIN This
current day; to frequent the Sacraments at the
present time daily to stir up in the soul the
fervor of devotion this iS to live richly and
nobly But To plan pious practice for the coming
year is usually only 10 indulge in fruitess dream
ing.
And December more powerfully than mere
New Year, fills The Christian heart with disposi
tons most apt for amendment and for progress
in good. But, after all, December is the New
Years season of the Church, that is, the season
of Advent. Our Holy Mother is old and very
wise; she knows best how to help her children
improve the time and walk circumspeety, even
in the evil days
Al all events December is with US May NE all
mEM Aka kamA 81 ktm &n4a