The Catholic times. [volume], December 19, 1952, 1952 Christmas Supplement, Image 11

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Feature Material
By NCWC News Service
Photos by N.C. and R.N.
Section II
The telling and retelling of
the Christmas btory and the
various interpretations of its
message and its meaning are
sources of perennial joy, from
one generation to another. At
least, I have found them so
and I believe that my experience
is by no means unusual. Indeed,
while discussing the subject with
an old friend, not long ago, she
told me about an incident which
seemed to me both touching and
provocative.
“I was trying to tell my little
grandadughter the story of the Na
tivity,” this lady informed me.
“And the child kept saying. ‘But
I don’t understand why Mary and
Joseph had to go to a stable.’
‘Why you see,’ I repeated, ‘there
was no room for them at the inn.
I said that before, darling. And
they needed shelter. That's why
they went to the stable.’ The child
looked more and more bewildered
and she began to look troubled,
too. ‘I still don't understand,’ she
said again, and this time her voice
trembled a little. ‘Why didn’t they
go to Grandma's?’
I have recalled this story many
times since then, and each time it
evokes several different thoughts.
Of course I know that Joseph left
Nazareth, where he plied his trade
as a carpenter, and went to Bethle
hem, the City of David, because
“all went to be enrolled, every one
into his own city” and Joseph was
“of the house and family of Da
vid.” It was probably requisite, and
certainly natural, that “Mary, his
espoused wife”, should go with
him. But I do not know why St.
Anne did not go, too.
Our Lord Has A Grandmother, Too So
‘Why Didn’t They Go To Grandma’s?’
By Frances Parkinson Keyes
House of David
The Church teaches us that she
and her husband, Joachim, like
Joseph, belonged to the House of
David and. in this case, Bethlehem
was her “own city” no less than
his. But Scripture does not men
tion her. in this connection or any
other so perhaps it is not strange
that I know very little about St.
Anne, even though her cult is an
old one. I realize that she was su
premely favored because she was
the mother of Mary and that she
must have been worthy of this fa
vor in the sight of God. I have been
to the house of Nazareth which was
hers and where the Annunciation
took place—at least, according to
tradition. I have also been to the
shrine in Canada which is the
scene of many miracles attributed
to her intercession, the authority
of which 1 do not doubt. I have
read that she is the Patroness of
Russian Santa
You can kill Santa Claus, nor
can the true spirit of Christmas,
once deeply bedded in a people, be
uprooted. Soviet Russia has learned
that. In today’s Russia, there is not
public Christmas observance in the
Christian sense. But as a sop and a
substitute, “Grandfather Frost” is
the presiding spirit of a New Year’s
celebration and where trees are
available—in the treeless steppes a
branch of spruce is stuck in a pot
—the family gathers around a tin
sel-decorated tree to exchange pre
sents. How many Russians, includ
ing even the children, celebrate
Christmas secretly and in their
hearts, there is no way of know
ing.
The Catholic Times
Early American Christmas Observance
Brittany, whose most illustrious
queen was her namesake, and that
she is often “invoked in child
birth.” But it was not until 1 heard
the puzzled child's query that I be
gan to visualize St. Anne primarily
in her capacity of a grandmother
and to think of her with question
ing sympathy.
If she stayed at home in Naz
areth when Mary, “who was with
child,” went to Bethlehem, wasn't
she very anxious about her daugh
ter and very eager to learn about
the new Baby?
Did she hear the “good tidings
of great joy,” if not directly from
the angels, then from some kindly
neighbor who came back to Naz
areth before Mary and Joseph?
Did the Star in the East shed its
light far enough for her to see?
Very Lonely
Did her first anxiety mount to
anguish when she learned about
the Slaughter of the Innocents?
Was she very lonely while her
daughter was in Egypt?
Did the Christ Child spend much
time with her in the little house
where the angel had announced
His coming?
Did she invite John to stay there,
too, so that the small cousins
would be company for each other?
Was it she who taught Jesus to
read?
Did she live long enough to see
Him “advance in wisdom and age,
and grace with God and men”?
These are some of the questions
I ask myself about St. Anne as I
make my Christmas preparations.
For I do so nowadays largely in
my own capacity as a grandmother,
and I believe that no one -not even
(Continued on Page 5)
uonaid McMahon, Denver and presumed death
wijjjht jnd program chairman. Un born prelates who were Red--------------
Sing, herald angels, triumph’s
song!
And touch your harps of shining
gold!
Sing heaven s portals opened wide!
Sing priceless gifts by prophets
told!
No prince of earth could bear such
joy
This Infant’s humble hands can
bring!
Oh, weary world, lift high your
hearts,
Catch up the song the angels
sing!
—L. Victor Cleveland
Closed Doors
“Nay, traveler, there is no room ..
No room tonight ... no room to
night .”
And wearily they journey on
Beneath the hovering light.
“No room tonight ... no room to
night .”
Across the years’ eternal span
The cold words fall in echo still
From the craven lips of man
“No room for God ... no room
no room .”
Oh, holy night, as once before
May there be some warm manger
spot
Behind each close barred door!
—Lois Snelling
1952
Christman
Supplement
_______________________ December 19, 1952____________________________________12No.2,Vol.
To Indians Goes (Credit For
First Consistent Observance
By Joan Karlek
At a time w hen it was illegal to celebrate Christmas in
New England, Indians, under the spiritual direction of the
Jesuits, were observing the birthday of Christ in isolated
parts of New France. And so, to Indian converts should go
the credit for what probably was the first consistent observ-
ris tin as Carol
ance of Christmas in the New
World.
Because of their strict Puritan
beliefs, the Pilgrims did not cele
brate Christmas in New England.
To avoid the excesses associated
with the feast which were preva
lent in Old England at that time,
the celebration of Christmas in
Massachusetts was made a penal of
fense in 1659. This law was repeal
ed later but it was many years be
fore Christmas was observed in
New England.
In 1604, French settlers under
the leadership of De Monts made a
temporary settlement on St. Croix
Island, off the coast of Maine.
When Christinas came they held
religious services in the chapel
they had built. After Mass the rest
of the day was spent in games and
sports, much as it would have been
at home. But before another Christ
mas had coine, the settlement was
abandoned.
Early Jesuit Records
Aside from the Mass said on St.
Croix Island, the first regular
Christmas observance in North
America was probably that of Jesu
it missionaries and their Indian
converts in the vicinity of Quebec.
Jesuit accounts of their first
years in America tell of the devo
tion that the Indians had foi the
anniversary of the birth of Our
Lord. In 1644. it is recorded, they
fasted on Christmas Eve, and a
small chapel of cedar and fir
branches housed the manger of
the Infant Jesus Many penances
(Continued on Page 15)