“Let’s be fascinated again with the true story of Christmas”

Dec 23, 2020

‘Silent night, Holy night
All is calm, all is bright.’

These words were written in 1816 by a young Austrian priest, Joseph Mohr after the destruction brought about by the Napoleonic Wars. His friend, Franz Gruber wrote the music in 1818 and said, “Song of praise and love. Saviour of the world – a Baby born to peasants. He is God with us – Jesus.” The contrast between the message of peace and hope, of tranquillity and goodwill and the violence and destruction of war is obvious.

On 7th December 1914, Pope Benedict XV suggested a temporary ceasefire in the Great War so that people could celebrate Christmas as best they could. However, the warring countries refused to agree. But in spite of that some soldiers in the trenches declared their own unofficial truce.

On Christmas Day 1914, some German soldiers left their trenches and called out “Merry Christmas” in English across no man’s land. The German troops were unarmed. The British soldiers began to realise that it wasn’t a trap and so dropped their arms. Both sides shook hands and exchanged gifts of plum puddings and cigarettes. Together they sang Christmas carols and songs. Truly the Spirit of Christmas and goodwill was in the air.

German Lieutenant, Kurt Zehmisch described it afterwards. “How marvellously wonderful yet how strange it was! Christmas, the celebration of Love managed to bring mortal enemies together as friends for a time.” It proved that beneath the brutal surface of the atrocities of war the essential humanity of the soldiers endured. Not even a World War could destroy the Spirit of Christmas.

In the depths of our beings is a longing for peace – personal, familial, social and international. Jesus came to bring peace to you and to me. And yet, wars and rumours of wars are still with us.

This Christmas, when we stand before the Crib or look at it on a Christmas card, perhaps we could contemplate the scene anew. Christmas has lost much of its real meaning. Carols blare out from supermarkets and department stores. Who listens to the message they give? The aim is to entice us into spending more and buying goods we don’t need and which will likely be discarded in the New Year.

This year let’s spend a little time in silence before the Crib and let the Holy Family speak to us. They always have something valuable to say to us. Did you notice that there is always a space at the front of the Crib? That space is for you or me. We are welcome to stand there for however long and in silence listen to what the Holy Family has to say to us personally.

The new-born Baby is there. He is beautiful and innocent as any other new-born. We are fascinated and awe-struck as we ponder the mystery of life in its infancy. How everyone delights and admires a little baby. Words fail us at times, and we find it difficult to express our emotions as we gaze on the mystery of life.

But this Christmas Baby is more than an ordinary baby. He is much more. He is human and divine and destined to be the Saviour of all humankind. In Faith, let us go to Him this Christmas and ask Him to tell us His own story. Let’s be fascinated again with the true story of Christmas.

Sr Abbie O’Sullivan

A very happy and peaceful Christmas to all our supporters, family and friends in Columban mission!

Share This