The Shepherd, December 2008
ON THE FEAST
OF THE NATIVITY
By Pope St. Leo the Great
(AD 390-461)
I. Christmas Morning is the Most Appropriate Time
for Thoughts on the Nativity
ON ALL DAYS and at all times, dearly beloved, does the birth of our Lord and Saviour from the Virgin-Mother arise in the thoughts of the faithful, who meditate on divine things, that the mind may be aroused to the acknowledgment of its Maker, and, whether it be occupied in the groans of supplication, or in the crying out of praise, or in the offering of sacrifice, may employ its spiritual insight on nothing more frequently and more trustingly than on the fact that God the Son of God, begotten of the co-eternal Father, was also born by a human birth. But this Nativity, which is to be adored in heaven and on earth, is recalled to us by no day more than this when, with the early light still shedding its rays on nature, there is borne in upon our senses the brightness of this wondrous mystery. For the Angel Gabriel’s converse with the astonished Mary and her conception by the Holy Spirit, as wondrously promised as believed, seem to recur not only to the memory but before the very eyes. For today the Maker of the world was born of a Virgin’s womb, and He, who made all natures, became Son of her, whom He had created. Today the Word of God appeared clothed in flesh, and That which had never been visible to human eyes began to be tangible to our hands as well. Today the shepherds learnt from angels’ voices that the Saviour was born in the substance of our flesh and soul; and today the form of the Gospel message was fore-ordained by the leaders of the Lord’s flocks, so that we too may say with the army of the heavenly host: “Glory in the highest to God, and on earth peace to men of good will.”
II. Christians are Essentially Participators in the Nativity of Christ
Although, therefore, that infancy, which the majesty of God’s Son did not disdain, reached mature manhood by the growth of years and, when the triumph of His passion and resurrection was completed, all the actions of humility which were undertaken for us ceased, yet today’s festival renews for us the holy childhood of Jesus, born of the Virgin Mary: and in adoring the birth of our Saviour, we find we are celebrating the commencement of our own life. For the birth of Christ is the source of life for Christian folk, and the birthday of the Head is the birthday of the body. Although every individual that is called has his own order, and all the sons of the Church are separated from one another by intervals of time, yet as the entire body of the faithful being born in the font of baptism is crucified with Christ in His Passion, raised again in His Resurrection, and placed at the Father’s right hand in His Ascension, so with Him are they born in this Nativity. For any believer in whatever part of the world, that is re-born in Christ, quits the old paths of his original nature and passes into a new man by being re-born; and no longer is he reckoned of his earthly father’s stock but among the seed of the Saviour, Who became the Son of man in order that we might have the power to be the sons of God. For unless He came down to us in this humiliation, no one would reach His presence by any excellences of his own. Let not earthly wisdom shroud in darkness the hearts of the called on this point, and let not the frailty of earthly thoughts raise itself against the loftiness of God’s grace, for it will soon return to the lowest dust. At the end of the ages is fulfilled that which was ordained from all eternity: and in the presence of realities, when signs and types have ceased, the Law and prophecy have become Truth: and so Abraham is found to be the father of all nations, and the Promised Blessing is given to the world in his seed: nor are they only Israelites whom blood and flesh begot, but the whole body of the adopted enter into possession of the heritage prepared for the sons of Faith. Be not disturbed by the cavils of silly questionings, and let not the effects of the Divine word be dissipated by human calculation; we with Abraham believe in God and “waver not through unbelief,” but “know most assuredly that what the Lord promised, He is able to perform.”
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