A Wonderful Birthday

New Zealand Tablet, 22 December 1921, Page 13

A Wonderful Birthday

The arrival of a new human being in this world usually is heralded as a joyous event. The recurring anniversary of the clay of birth is set aside as a period for special observance: it is a memorial in the life of the individual. When a. child is born into tho world his relatives rejoice; when he attains manhood and distinguishes himself in an extraordinary manner, tho nation and, at times, the whole world is filled with rejoicing. Thus it is that certain birthdays are merely dates; they are like the record of the daily temperature: important 'for a-moment and quickly forgotten. Other natal anniversaries, on the contrary, become each year the signal for grateful paens from an unforgetting people. When Joachim and Anne felt the thrill of parenthood on the birth of a tiny daughter, their kinsfolk exulted with them. There were the usual festivities suited to the occasion. But the great world about them knew not nor cared. Roman governors and emperors, statesmen and commercial leaders called upon a wide circle each year to join with them in celebrating their natal days: whereas the world would have been immeasurably better oil' if they never had existed. But the little Jewish maiden down in despised Palestine meant nothing to the world of Roman power and grandeur. Now, Time and Oblivion worked together; the proud spirit of Rome disappeared with the last vestige of earthly eminence. To-day we know scarcely the names of the great ones. of the day; their former power and affluence leave us absolutely unmoved. But tho little child down in Palestine grew quietly in the shadow of the Temple. Then by a wonderous miracle she became a. mother, and her Son was God. And it was all so strange and mysterious and beautiful that she kept in her heart all that transpired for fear that tho world might not believe. And the Sen grew up with her as other sons do in their homes. And he wrought deeds that only God could perform ; some people thought He was God, while others scoffed at His claims. But Mary knew all the time just what He was. Then His own people crucified Him, just as one's own" people so often do. But they could not destroy a God, so He rose from the tomb and worked more miracles and then went to heaven where He waited a little while for His mother to follow. The little maiden soon joined her divine Son, and the world then began to underestand the whole mystery in its human bearings. So delighted was mankind with the great adventure of tho Son of God, which had saved the race from eternal destruction, that two birthdays were set aside to be eternally remembered and commemorated. Thus it is the whole world rejoices on Christmas, the birthday of the Soil, and on September 8, the natal day of His Mother.— Catholic Bulletin, of St. Paul, U.S.A. '--

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