December 25th - Solemnity of Christmas Day
- From: "Waldtraud" <richarra@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 25 Dec 2007 10:52:09 -0600
December 25th - Solemnity of Christmas Day
The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the most beloved and the most popular
of
the Christian feasts
Noel! Noel! This was the cry of our fathers when the Faith prevailed,
ardent
and lively in the bosom of families, institutions, and all of society. That
cry
has grown very weak in our day, for the naivete of simple faith has tended
to
disappear. Nevertheless, of all the Christian feasts, Christmas is perhaps
the
most beloved and the most popular.
Jesus is born in Bethlehem. He looks like an innocent helpless and
humble
baby. But He is God!... with the arms raised for help... He loves you and
me, He
needs our love... God can't talk, nor walk... he needs to be fed and
cleaned...
and He is God!, the One who made heaven and earth... a glorious mystery of
mysteries described in Luke 2:
The Birth of Jesus:
1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be
taken
of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while
Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to his own town to
register.
4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea,
to
Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of
David.
5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him
and
was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to
be
born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths
and
placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
The Shepherds and the Angels:
8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch
over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the
glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the
angel
said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that
will be
for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to
you;
he is Christ the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby
wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel,
praising God and saying,
14"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his
favor
rests."
15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to
one
another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which
the
Lord has told us about."
16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was
lying
in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning
what
had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at
what
the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and
pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and
praising
God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had
been
told.
God used the most apparently indifferent events to reach His ends. Mary
lived in Nazareth, and the prophets predicted that the Messiah would be born
in
Bethlehem (Mic.5:2). But an edict of Caesar Augustus ordered all the
inhabitants
of Judea to go at a certain time to enroll in their native city. Bethlehem
was
the birthplace of Joseph, so that is where the holy spouses went; and that
is
where, in conformity to the predictions of the prophets, Jesus was to come
into
the world.
What a birth for a God! Joseph looked for an inn, but there was none for
such poor people; rejected and scorned, they were obliged to seek refuge in
an
isolated stable. No hospityal, nior doctor, nor nurse, not even a bed or a
.....
just a stable, that is where, in the middle of the night, Mary miraculously
gave
birth to Jesus; that is where the most meek Savior received the first
adorations, where He received the first kisses and caresses, where He shed
His
first tears! Mary took the Infant in Her arms, covered Him with poor
swaddling
clothes and laid Him softly in a cold manger. O first moments which Mary and
Joseph spent at the feet of Jesus, how precious you were for them, how full
of
charm! We will taste a little of this joy and these charms on going to our
church to pay a visit to the manger scene that represents such a great
mystery.
Earthly joys are deceitful, but the joy of God's service are lasting and
true.
Jesus was born, and behold, the heavens rang out in hymns of joy as the
Angels
sang the canticle of triumph, "Glory to God in the highest!" and the
canticle of
peace, "Peace on earth to men of good will!" Jesus was born, and at once the
poor shepherds, informed by the Angels, came to adore the Redeemer of Israel
in
that little Infant. Jesus was born, and soon the princes of the East, led by
a
Star, laid their homages at His feet. Let us hail Christmas, the dawn of
peace
and salvation.
Source: Abbé L. Jaud, Vie des Saints pour tous les jours de l'année, Mame:
Tours, 1950
Saint Quote:
I have never seen a compassionate and charitable man die a bad death.
-St. Augustine
Bible Quote
23 Humiliation followeth the proud: and glory shall uphold the humble of
spirit.
(Proverbs 29:23)
<><><><>
Stabat Mater
At the cross her station keeping,
Stood the mournful Mother weeping,
Close to Jesus to the last.
Through her heart, His sorrow sharing,
All His bitter anguish bearing,
Now at length the sword had pass'd.
Oh, how sad and sore distress'd
Was that Mother highly blest
Of the sole-begotten One!
Christ above in torment hangs;
She beneath beholds the pangs
Of her dying glorious Son.
Is there one who would not weep,
Whelm'd in miseries so deep
Christ's dear Mother to behold?
Can the human heart refrain
From partaking in her pain,In that Mother's pain untold?
Bruis'd, derided, curs'd, defil'd,
She beheld her tender child
All with bloody scourges rent.
For the sins of His own nation,
Saw Him hang in desolation,
Till His spirit forth He sent.
O thou Mother! fount of love!
Touch my spirit from above;
Make my heart with thine accord.
Make me feel as thou hast felt;
Make my soul to glow and melt
With the love of Christ our Lord.
Holy Mother! pierce me through;
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Saviour crucified.
Let me share with thee His pain,
Who for all my sins was slain,
Who for me in torments died.
Let me mingle tears with thee,
Mourning Him who mourn'd for me,
All the days that I may live.
By the cross with thee to stay,
There with thee to weep and pray,
Is all I ask of thee to give.
Virgin of all virgins best,
Listen to my fond request
Let me share thy grief divine.
Let me, to my latest breath,
In my body bear the death
Of that dying Son of thine.
Wounded with His every wound,
Steep my soul till it hath swoon'd
In His very blood away.
Be to me, O Virgin, nigh,
Lest in flames I burn and die,
In His awful Judgment day.
Christ, when Thou shalt call me hence,
Be Thy Mother my defense,
Be Thy cross my victory.
While my body here decays,
May my soul Thy goodness praise,
Safe in Paradise with Thee.
.
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