Daughters of Mary, e Canticle of Simeon Now dismiss y servant, Mother of Israel’s Hope O Lord, in peace, according to y word: For mine own eyes have seen y salvation, which OF seen y salvation, which Messengers“ OF Hope… ou hast prepared in the sight of all the peoples, a Handmaids…TO ALL WHO ARE LONGING FOR THE A SIGN OF GOD ’S MERCY ” light to reveal ee to the nations and the glory of Family y people Israel. — His Eminence Raymond Cardinal Burke y people Israel.

Christmas 2020 Newsletter Twenty-Eight

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Beloved, I am so happy to be sending you this Christmas let- “The Jewish Roots of Mary,” by Dr. Brant Pitre, that ter. There is so much more I contains and reveals more about wanted to include – mostly, our Blessed Mother than per- the entire history of salva- haps most have realized. Feel tion through the Mother that free to pass it on to a friend, God gave us – the one whom even a Jewish friend who has all generations would called yet to know our “Jewish Moth- Blessed, in and through whom er”, the Mother of the Jewish God sent His Son to be the Messiah who bore the Savior of Savior of the world. the world – the very meaning of It is so very common for chil- Christmas. dren to grow up knowing and We are also reprinting in this loving their earthly mother and, newsletter two of our most be- in a sense, taking her for granted loved Christmas stories. They – not necessarily in a bad way, but in a way that, un- come with instructions: (1) Gather the family togeth- intentionally, limits their knowledge and experience of er, (2) Roast some smores, chestnuts, or other special her. They naturally are limited by what was transmitted Christmas treats, (3) Have Papa, Mama or someone in to them as children, which may be the whole of what the family read the stories out loud slowly – taking in they learn of their mother throughout their lives, includ- their meaning, imagining the scenes they invoke, and ing their adult lives. But every so often, a son or daugh- thanking God for such beauty, love, forgiveness and ter might say, “Mom, tell us about your life. Where hope. were you born? How were you raised? What was your Beloved, this is a time of new beginnings – our God life like? Were you always Catholic? And your parents, is faithful who “is not slow about His promise as some were they Catholic?” It can be quite eye-opening, even count slowness, but is forbearing toward you, not wish- life-changing, for each generation to know and, more, to ing that any should perish, but that all should reach re- experience their true history. pentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) And so it is with the Blessed Mother. No doubt, Mary had the most unusual background of any human be- ing ever created. As her beloved children, do we know He wants us all home where she came from, how she was raised, and how it for Christmas, whether came about that she alone was destined to bear the Sav- on earth or in Heaven. ior of the world? With all the evil, confusion, scandal, and uncertainty we are facing in the world today, both within and with- We are with you daily in prayer, dear family, and can- out the Church, I believe it will be surprisingly comfort- not thank God enough for your prayers and every man- ing, strengthening and encouraging to learn about our ner of support throughout the past year. We very much Blessed Mother, to know what she lived through – the look forward to the New Year, believing that, regardless uncertainty, the danger, the unknown, to know of her of what lies ahead, Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart will courage, trust and heroic obedience in the midst of what triumph! might well have held the possibility of sure death. With love from our hearts to your hearts and homes, I’ll not go into these details in this newsletter, but Mother Miriam of the Lamb of God, O.S.B. rather have enclosed a most excellent and worthy book, and Sisters Newsletter Twenty-Eight Page 3

Waiting for the Michael J. Matt, Editor, The Remnant

This will be the fourth Christmas since Christmas, we don’t become Puritanical my father passed away. I suppose every- agents working towards the same dia- one misses deceased family members bolical end! most this time of year; I know I do. Many Catholics oppose the cus- My father loved Christmas! I some- tom of —that some- times wonder, in fact, what impact what off-putting caricature of the his larger-than-life celebrations of great St. Nicholas. Admittedly, the the birth of Christ had on the faith red suit, the corpulent figure and the of his nine children, each of whom stocking cap bare strikingly slim re- continues to practice the old Faith to semblance to the 4th century bishop of this day. He believed that, just as — ; and the flying sleigh and reindeer are the “mini-Lent”—was to be kept well, with plenty more reminiscent of pagan myth than Christian Truth. of spiritual and corporal works of mercy, so too should But few have thought to provide a good alternative to the Christmas be fêted with all the merrymaking and gusto jolly old elf. So I’d like to offer one now by reintroduc- a Catholic family can muster ing readers to the old Catholic Christmas custom that He knew that children are not born theologians who the Germans called , or Christ Child, and that can grasp the intricacies of the great mysteries of Faith at American children of European immigrants would call, an early age. The Faith needed to be lovingly spoon-fed simply, the Baby . Here is what I remember… to them, and so the childlike customs of Christmas were for him tailor-made to instill love for the Faith before Looking Back children were old enough to even begin to understand it. It all began in Advent, when my sev- What a shame it is, then, to see well-meaning tradi- en sisters and brother were expected tional Catholic parents discarding those customs alto- to prepare for the coming of Christ- gether in a misguided effort to counter the commercial- kind (pronounced Kris-Kint). Under ization of Christmas. No gift giving, no merry making, Mother’s watchful eye, we’d fashion a no feasting on Christmas. Alas, the baby is being thrown small, makeshift manger that would out with the bathwater. remain unoccupied until Christmas In a dreary world where pessimism and cynicism— Day. As Advent progressed, good rather than righteousness and peace— have kissed each deeds were encouraged on a daily basis; and each time other, we must guard against robbing our children of it was determined that a good deed had been done, one the wonder and joy of Christmas—the seedbed for a piece of straw was placed in the empty manger, the idea child’s Faith. being that Advent was a time to prepare a bed on which Our poor children may live long enough to see Christ- the Baby Jesus could sleep when He arrived. Under the mas outlawed altogether in our brave new world, even as rules of the old custom, the practice of virtue was an es- it was once before by the Pilgrims who invented Thanks- sential part of a child’s preparation for Christmas. giving out of contempt for Each night after supper, the lights would be turned the “popish” feast of Christ- down while candles were lit. The haunt- mas. Anti-Catholics have ing strains of O Come, O Come, Emmanuel would be long sought to destroy our lifted (somewhat awkwardly, I suppose) on the voices of great Feast, which is why children. Shadows and flickering flames played on faces we must be certain that in across the dining room table, making it easy for a child our eagerness to oppose to imagine that he sat with the Israelites of old waiting the commercialization of for the Messiah to come. Christmas 2020 Page 4

As the four weeks passed seemingly as slowly as those the back room to the living room, singing the words of four thousand years, one question became constant: the old German carol as we went: Ihr Kinderlein, kom- “Have my sacrifices been enough to pleaseChristkind ?” met, O kommet doch all! Zur Krippe her kommet in And thus the weeks of Advent were spent in preparation Bethlehems Stall. and waiting...as they should be. We’d gather ‘round my father, who now was kneeling in Gradually, the empty manger would fill with straw as front of the . We’d do our best not to crane the stage was set for a celestial Visitor. On the evening our necks and look at the darkened or of December 23rd, my father would hang a curtain over whatever might be lying beneath it. Each child placed a the doorway of our living room, which, if that straw crib figure into the crèche, and the youngest put the Baby was piled high enough, was to be transformed into the in His manger. Then, prayers were said, Christmas carols “Christmas room” by the Baby Jesus Himself in the mid- were quietly sung, deceased family were remembered, and dle of the night. Father spoke of the marvelous thing that had happened Then, it was off to sleep, a seemingly impossible prospect. long ago “at midnight in in piercing cold.” The mornings I remember are marked I can still see the cast of Bethlehem bathed in a warm, by a combination of joy and wonder. Children still in peaceful glow, seeming as real to me as if I were a shep- their “jammies” could scarcely whisper the words to a herd boy looking down from that hillside over Bethle- curiously exhausted mother: “Did He come?” hem. I can hear my father and mother’s hushed voices as All day long, we weren’t allowed to go near the cur- they prayed and sang to the same royal Baby that shep- tain, lest one of us should succumb to the temptation to herds and had adored centuries ago. That sacred “peek”, which would be to risk the instant disappearance moment was like a porthole in time, where traveling back to the city of David just then seemed not only pos- of whatever Christkind may have brought. A lifetime of sible to a child, but imminent. self-discipline was taught between dawn and dusk on Christmas Eve. Those long ago Christmas Eves remain vivid in my memory, thirty-five years later. And the gifts under the After a day of chores, naps, and helping with the house tree? I don’t remember many of them. There was no cleaning, the anticipated hour of 7 o’clock would finally question what Christmas was about—we could feel it in arrive. We’d gather in the back room and sing Christmas the depths of our young souls; we could see it in the tears carols in candlelight as our mother would read aloud the that formed in our father’s eyes as he prayed aloud; we story that always began the same way: “And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Cae- could hear it in our mother’s voice as she sang softly—si- sar Augustus…” lent night, holy night, all is calm. Christmas was about the Baby, Mary, Joseph, shep- herds, angels and Bethlehem. It was something so pow- erful that it could even cause our father’s voice to tremor in the darkness as he explained Who the Baby is and what He expects of us. We knew that Christkind was real because our father and mother were kneeling on the floor before the manger… praying to Him. Moments later, the magic of Christmas—the feast, the Catholic family celebration—burst forth in jubilation. The majestic tree was lit; there was singing and danc- We listened as Father disappeared into the “Christmas ing; bowls of nuts and candies, specially delivered by the room” to take down the curtain and see to the final ar- Baby Jesus Himself, seemed to appear out of nowhere. rangements for the holy ritual. Only he was worthy to And there, under the tree were the gifts, the second-to- “take over” for Christkind. The wait seemed intermina- last phase of the ritual. He’d come. He’d brought little ble. Then, all at once, his voice would call out from the rewards for Advent efforts. The family was together, darkness: “Come children, Christkind has come.” united in love for each other and a Child King we cher- Breathlessly, we’d make our candle-lit procession from ished with all our hearts. Newsletter Twenty-Eight Page 5

You must understand, my parents had no money. And cause, as I see it, this old European Christmas custom yet, somehow, Christmas came, year after year, and it is profoundly Catholic. There is nothing plastic-banana was fit for a King! That was part of the miracle. But this or phony-baloney about it! Children are neither taught was just the beginning. The toys and good things to eat to equate Christmas with wicked consumerism or God- were set aside to be enjoyed on each and every one of the less Puritanism. They are taught the mystery of the birth . Now, the soul of Christmas of Christ and the importance of celebrating the Feast. Eve was about to be celebrated. Advent is a most essential part of the process, even as Coats and hats, mittens and scarves were the next or- is its climax. der of business. The old station wagon groaned in the Even now, my own children—walking in the footsteps frosty night air as Father turned the key in the ignition. of their little Catholic counterparts from the old world— Nine children were loaded up, and, moments later, the are trading daily acts of kindness and virtue for little piec- little ones peered through frosted glass in the hopes of es of straw that are lovingly tucked away into an empty catching a glimpse of Bethlehem’s star on the way to manger. For one night soon the Child of Bethlehem will Midnight Mass transform their home and their souls into a place fit for a It would be Christmas Day before this night would King. For a few miraculous moments, life will stand per- draw to a peaceful close in a dimly-lit church filled with fectly still and the line between the physical world and the scent of pine needles and candle wax and incense. the spiritual one will become mercifully obscured. Not long before the first light of Christmas Day glowed Christkind creates in children an indissoluble bond in the East, sleepy children would crawl into chilly beds between the joy of Christmas—which celebrates His as content as ever a child could be this side of Heaven’s birth—and the Catholic Faith itself which is His greatest gate. And, why not! Christ is born! gift. In real Christmas cheer the two become one, and the proper celebration of the Holy Day plants seeds of And So It Continues… Faith in the little garden of children’s souls even as they shout for joy. As they grow older, their faith in Christ- kind transforms itself naturally into belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament—the true meaning of Christmas. There is no deceit in the Christkind custom, for, in- deed, there is no deceit in the Christkind. He does come down to earth on Christmas Eve; His providence provides everything we need in this life; and He exists just as surely as we do. He was born, He has a mother whom we all know and love, and He comes to us often at Mass—Christ’s Mass. He comes to us at Christmas. Has The years have passed by so quickly since those child- fallen man ever had more reason for Feast or feasting hood days that I can scarcely believe that the five little than this? Let us be glad and ones who process into my living room each Christmas rejoice. Merry Christmas to Eve are my own, that my beloved father and one sister one and all! Christ is born! are no longer with us, and that the rest of us have aged May the grace of Christkind more than we care to admit. But, strangely enough, the be with all the readers of The Baby Jesus remains unchanged and unchanging. Ever Remnant this Christmas, and young, ever new, He’s the same now as He was then. My may He bless one and all with children’s imaginations are as captivated by Him now as a happy and holy New Year! mine was then. Life is moving on, but somehow Christ- Reprinted with permission from The Remnant Newspaper: mas is the one thing that stays the same. https://www.remnantnewspaper.com/Archives/ Needless to say, His midnight visit on Christmas Eve archive-2005-1215-santa.htm is the highpoint of the year for my children. Why? Be- Christmas 2020 Page 6

Where Love Is, God Is By Leo Tolstoy, 18852 In a Russian city there lived a shoemaker, Martin cause He had not taken him who was an old man, instead Avdyeitch, whose home was in a basement, a little room of his beloved only son. with one window that looked out on the street. Through Once a little old man came from Troïtsa to see Martin. the window he used to watch the people passing by, and Martin talked with him and began to complain about his although he could only see their feet, Martin recognized sorrows. people by their boots. He had lived for many years in one “I have no desire to live any longer,” he said, “I only place, had many acquaintances, and few pairs of boots in wish I was dead. That is all I pray God for. I am a man his district had not been in his hands at least once. Some with nothing to hope for now.” he would half-sole, some he would patch, some he would stitch around, “You don’t talk right, Martin,” said and occasionally he would also fit the little old man. “We must not judge them with new uppers. Consequently, God’s doings. You are in despair be- he often recognized his work through cause you wish to live for your own the window. happiness.” Martin had plenty to do, because he “But what shall one live for?” Martin was a faithful workman, used good asked. materials, did not charge exorbitantly, “We must live for God, Martin. He and kept his word. If it was possible for gives you life, and for His sake you him to finish an order by a certain time, he would accept must live. When you begin to live for Him, you will not it; otherwise, he would not deceive—he would tell the grieve over anything, and all will seem easy to you.” person so beforehand. Everyone knew Martin Avdyeitch, Martin was silent for a moment, and then said, “But how and he was never out of work. can one live for God?” Martin had always been a good man; but as he grew old, “Christ has taught us how to live for God,” the old man he began to think more about his soul and getting nearer replied. “You know how to read? Buy a Testament, and to God. Martin’s wife had died and had left him a boy of read it; there you will learn how to live for God. Every- three years old. As Kapitoshka grew older, he began to thing is explained there.” help his father, and would have been a delight to Martin, These words kindled a fire in Martin’s heart, and that but a sickness fell on him, he went to bed, and died a very same day, he bought a large-print New Testament week later. Martin buried his son and fell into despair so and began to read. deep that he began to complain to God, and more than once he prayed to God for death. He reproached God be- At first, he intended to read the book only on holidays; but as he began to read, it so cheered his soul that he

2 http://www.mywonderstudio.com/level-2/2013/12/6/where-love-is-god-is-also.html; Illustrations by Jeremy. Newsletter Twenty-Eight Page 7

read it every day. At immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.” times he would be- As Martin read these words, joy filled his soul. He put come so absorbed his spectacles down on the book, leaned his elbows on in reading that all the table, and became lost in thought. He began to mea- the kerosene in the sure his life by these words, and wondered, Is my house lamp would burn built on the rock or on the sand? ‘Tis well if on the rock. out, and still he Help me, Lord! could not tear him- Thus ran his thoughts; he wanted to go to bed, but he felt self away. The more loath to tear himself away from the book, and so he be- he read, the clearer gan to read farther in the seventh chapter. He read about he understood what God wanted of him, and how one the centurion, he read about the widow’s son, he read should live for God; and his heart grew light. Formerly, about the answer given to John’s disciples, and finally he when he lay down to sleep, he used to sigh and groan, came to that place where the rich Pharisee desired Jesus and always thought of his Kapitoshka; and now his only to sit at meat with him; and he read how the woman that exclamation was, “Glory to Thee! Glory to Thee, Lord! was a sinner anointed His feet, and washed them with her Thy will be done.” tears, and how He forgave her. Martin reached the forty- And from that time, his whole life was changed. In the fourth verse and began to read: morning, he would sit down to work, finish his allotted “And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, task, then take the little lamp from the hook, put it on Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou the table, get his book from the shelf and sit down to gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my read. The more he read, the more he understood, and the feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. brighter and happier it grew in his heart. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I Once it happened that Martin read until late into the came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil night. He was reading the verses in the sixth chapter of thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my the Gospel of Luke. feet with ointment.” “And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer Martin finished reading these verses, and thought. also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid Thou gavest me no water for my feet, thou gavest me no not to take thy coat also. Give to every man that asketh of kiss. My head with oil thou didst not anoint. thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye Again, Martin put his spectacles down on the book, and also to them likewise.” again became lost in thought. He read farther also, those verses where Jesus says, “And It seems that Pharisee must have been such a man as why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I am. Apparently, I have thought only of myself—how I I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my say- might have my tea, be warm and comfortable, but never ings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: to think about my guest. he is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, He thought about himself, but there was not the least and laid the foundation on a rock: care taken of the guest. And who and when the flood arose, the stream was his guest? beat vehemently upon that house, The Lord Himself, he presumed. If and could not shake it; for it was He had come to me, should I have founded upon a rock. But he that done the same way? heareth, and doeth not, is like a man Martin rested his head upon his that without a foundation built an arms, and did not notice that he fell house upon the earth; against which asleep. the stream did beat vehemently, and Christmas 2020 Page 8

“Martin!” a voice sounded in his ears. warming himself, and resting. He was an old, broken Martin started from his sleep. “Who is here?” man; evidently he had not enough strength even to shov- el the snow. He turned around, glanced toward the door—no one. “I will give him some tea,” Martin said to himself. Again he fell into a doze. Suddenly, he plainly heard, “Martin! Ah, Martin! Look tomorrow on the street. I am Martin laid down his awl, rose from his seat, put coming.” the samovar on the table and poured out the tea. He tapped on the glass and Stepanuitch came to the window. Martin awoke, rose from the chair, and rubbed his eyes. Martin beckoned to him and went to open the door. He could not tell whether he heard those words in his dream or in reality. He turned down his lamp and went “Come in, warm yourself a little,” he said. “You must to bed. be cold.” At daybreak the next morning, Martin rose, prayed to “May Christ reward you for this!” said Stepanuitch. God, lighted the stove, put on the shchi and the kasha, “My bones ache.” put the water in the samovar, put on his apron, and sat Stepanuitch entered and shook off the snow, but stag- down by the window to work. gered while trying to wipe his feet so as not to soil the While he was working, he kept thinking about all that floor. had happened the day before. It seemed to him at one “Don’t trouble to moment that it was a dream, and at another that he had wipe your feet,” said really heard a voice. Martin. “I will clean Sitting by the window, he was looking out more than he it up myself; I am was working. When anyone passed by in boots which he used to such things. did not know, he would bend down and look out in order Come in and sit to see not only the feet, but also the face. down. Here, drink a cup of tea.” The dvornik passed by in new felt boots, the water- carrier passed by; then there came up to the window an Martin lifted two old soldier of Nicholas’s time, in an old pair of laced felt glasses and handed boots, and holding a shovel. Martin recognized him by one to his guest, while he poured his tea into a saucer his felt boots. The man’s name was Stepanuitch and he and began to blow on it. was required to assist the dvornik. Stepanuitch began to Stepanuitch finished drinking his glass of tea, turned shovel away the snow in front of Martin’s window. Mar- the glass upside down, put the half-eaten lump of sugar tin glanced at him, and took up his work again. on it, and began to express his thanks. But it was evident “Pshaw! I must be getting crazy in my old age,” he said, he wanted some more. and laughed at himself. “Stepanuitch is clearing away “Have some more,” said Martin, filling both his own the snow, and I imagine that Christ is coming to see me. I glass and his guest’s. Martin drank his tea, but from time was entirely out of my mind, old dotard that I am!” to time glanced out into the street. Martin sewed about a dozen stitches, and then felt “Are you expecting anyone?” his guest asked. impelled to look “Am I expecting anyone? I am ashamed even to tell through the win- whom I expect. I am, and I am not, dow again. He expecting someone; but one word has kindled a fire looked out and in my heart. Whether it is a dream or something else, I saw that Stepa- do not know. Yesterday, I was reading the Gospel about nuitch had leaned Christ; how He suffered, how He walked on the earth. I his shovel against suppose you have heard about it?” the wall, and was “Indeed I have,” Stepanuitch replied Newsletter Twenty-Eight Page 9

“Well, now, I was reading how He walked on the earth, pecting Christ, and was all the while thinking of Him how He came to the Pharisee, and the Pharisee did not and His deeds, and his head was filled with the different treat Him hospitably. Suppose, for example, He should speeches of Christ. come to me, or anyone else, Two soldiers passed by. One wore boots furnished by I said to myself, I should not even know how to re- the crown, and the other one wore boots that Martin had ceive Him. While I was thus thinking, I fell asleep, and I made. Then the master of the house next door passed by heard someone call me by name. I got up. The voice, just in shining galoshes, followed by a baker with a basket. as if someone whispered, said, ‘Be on the watch; I shall Now a woman in woolen stockings and rustic bash- come tomorrow.’ And this happened twice. Well! Would mak on her feet passed by the window and stood near the you believe it, it got into my head? window-case. I scolded myself—and yet I am ex- Martin saw she was a stranger, pecting Him.” dressed in shabby summer clothes, Stepanuitch shook his head, and and with a child. She was stand- said nothing. He finished drinking ing by the wall with her back to the his glass of tea and put it on the wind, trying to wrap up the child, side; but Martin picked up the glass but she had nothing to wrap it in. and filled it once more. From behind the frame, Martin “Drink some more for your good could hear the child crying, but the health. You see, I have an idea woman was unable to pacify it. that—when Christ went about on Martin went to the door, ascended this earth—He disdained no one, and had more to do the steps, and cried, “My good woman. Hey! My good with the simple people. He always went to see the simple woman!” people. He picked out most of His disciples from among The woman turned around. folk like such sinners as we are, from the working class. “Why are you standing in the cold with the child?” He said that whoever exalts himself, shall be humbled, Martin asked. “Come into my room where it is warm and he who is humbled shall become exalted. He said and you can manage it better. Here, this way!” that you call me Lord, and I wash your feet. He said that whoever wishes to be the first, the same shall be a ser- Astonished, the woman descended the steps and en- vant to all. Because, He said, blessed are the poor, the tered the room. humble, the kind, the generous.” “There, sit down, my good woman, nearer to the stove Stepanuitch forgot about his tea. Being an old man, he where you can get warm, and nurse the little one.” was easily moved to tears, and as he was listening, they “I have no milk for him. I myself have not eaten any- rolled down his face. thing since morning,” said the woman. “Come, now, have some more tea,” said Martin, but Martin spread a towel on the table, upon which he Stepanuitch made the sign of the cross, thanked him, put bread and a dish of cabbage soup along with a dish turned down his glass, and arose. of shchi. “Thanks to you, Martin Avdyeitch, for treating me “Eat, my good woman; and I will mind the little one.” kindly and satisfying me, soul and body.” The woman crossed herself and began to eat, while Mar- “You are welcome,” said Martin. “Come in again—al- tin sat on the bed near the infant. The little one kept cry- ways glad to see a friend.” ing, and in an attempt to silence him, Martin waved his Stepanuitch departed; and Martin poured out the rest finger in front of the child’s mouth. The little one looked of the tea, drank it, put away the dishes, and sat down at his finger, and became quiet; Martin withdrew it, be- again by the window to stitch on a patch. He kept stitch- cause his finger was black and soiled with wax. Then the ing away while looking through the window. He was ex- infant began to smile, and Martin was glad. While the Christmas 2020 Page 10 woman was eating, she told Martin about herself. The woman made the sign of the cross. Martin did like- “I am a soldier’s wife,” she said. “It is now seven wise and accompanied her to the door. months since they sent my husband away and there have Once the woman left, Martin ate some shchi, washed been no tidings. I worked as a cook, then the baby was the dishes, and returned to his work. He still remem- born and no one cared to keep me with a child. This is bered the window, and when the window grew darker the third month that I have been struggling along without he looked out to see who was passing by. Acquaintances a place. I used up all I had. I wanted work, but no one and strangers passed by; nothing out of the ordinary. would take me. They said I am too thin. I have just been Suddenly an old woman selling apples stopped in front to the merchant’s wife, where a young woman I know of his window. Only a few apples were left in her basket, lives, and so they promised to take us in. I thought that as she had evidently nearly sold them all. Over her shoul- was the end of it. But she told me to come next week, der, she also had a bag full of wood chips that she had and she lives a long way off. I got tired out; and it tired gathered and she was on her way home. The bag being my darling child too. Fortunately, our landlady takes pity heavy, she lowered it onto the sidewalk and she suddenly on us for Christ’s sake and gives us a room, else I don’t noticed a little boy in know how I should manage to get along.” a torn cap snatch an Martin sighed. “Have you no warm clothes?” apple from the bas- “Yesterday I pawned my last shawl for a twenty-ko- ket. He was about to pek piece.” make his escape, but the old woman caught The woman took the child and Martin went to the parti- the youngster by his tion, rummaged round, and found an old coat. sleeve. He struggled “It is a poor thing,” he said. “Yet you may turn it to to tear himself away; some use.” but the old woman The woman took the coat and burst into tears. grasped him with both hands, knocked off his cap, and “May Christ bless you, little grandfather!” the woman caught him by the hair. said. “He must have sent me to your window. My little Martin threw his awl upon the floor, sprang to the door baby would have frozen to death. When I started out, it and rushed out into the street. The old woman was threat- was warm, but now it has grown cold. And He, the Baty- ening to take the screaming youngster to the policeman, ushka, led you to look through the window and take pity and the boy was defending himself. on me, an unfortunate.” “I did not take it,” he said. “What are you beating me Martin smiled. “Indeed, He did that! I have been look- for? Let me go!” ing through the window for some wise reason.” Martin tried to separate them, and said, “Let him go, ba- Then Martin told the soldier’s wife his dream, and how bushka; forgive him, for Christ’s sake.” he heard the voice—how the Lord promised to come and “I will forgive him so that he won’t forget it till the new see him that day. broom grows. I am going to take the little villain to the “All things are possible,” said the woman. police.” She rose, wrapped her little child in her coat, and, as she “Let him go, babushka,” Martin pleaded, “he will never started to take leave, she do it again. Let him go, for Christ’s sake.” thanked Martin again. The old woman let the boy go and he started to run, but “Take this, for Christ’s Martin kept him back. sake,” said Martin, “Ask the babushka’s forgiveness,” he said, “and don’t giving her a twenty- you ever do it again. I saw you take the apple.” kopek piece; “redeem The boy burst into tears, and begged forgiveness. your shawl.” “There now! That’s right; and here’s an apple for you.” Newsletter Twenty-Eight Page 11

Martin took an apple from the basket. “I will pay you to ask Martin to pay for the apple. Martin stood gazing for it, babushka,” he said to the old woman, and gave it after them as they walked away. to the boy. Returning to his room, he picked up his awl and sat “You ruin them that way, the good-for-nothings,” said down to work again. the old woman. “He ought to be treated so that he would After a little while, it grew darker, so that he could not remember it for a whole week.” see to sew, and he saw the lamplighter passing by light- “Eh, babushka, babushka,” said Martin, “that is right ing the street-lamps. according to our judgment, but not according to God’s. If “It must be time to make a light,” he muttered, so he the boy is to be whipped prepared his little lamp, hung it up, and returned to his for an apple, then what work. He had one boot finished, which he turned around ought to be done to us and looked at, saying to himself, “Well done.” for our sins?” He put away his tools, swept off the cuttings, cleared The old woman was off the bristles and ends, set the lamp on the table, and silent, and she and the took the Gospels from the shelf. He intended to open the boy stood listening as book where he had yesterday put a piece of leather as a Martin told the parable mark, but it happened to open at another place. At the of the master who for- moment Martin opened the Testament, he recollected his gave a debtor all that he owed him, and how the debtor last night’s dream and it seemed he could hear someone went and began to choke one who owed him. stepping behind him. Martin turned and it was as though “God has commanded us to forgive,” said Martin, “else people were standing in the dark corner; he was at a loss we, too, may not be forgiven. All should be forgiven, and to know who they were. the thoughtless especially.” A voice whispered in his ear, “Martin—ah, Martin! Did The old woman shook her head and sighed. “That is so, you not recognize me?” but the trouble is that they are very much spoiled.” “Who?” Martin asked. “Then we who are older must teach them,” said Martin. “Me. It was I.” And Stepanuitch stepped out from the “That is just what I say,” said the old woman. “I myself dark corner. He smiled, and like a little cloud faded away. have had seven of them—only one daughter is left.” “And it was I,” said the voice. And the woman with her The old woman then began to relate where and how she child stepped out of the dark corner. She smiled, the child lived with her daughter, and how many grandchildren laughed, and they also vanished, she had. “And it was I,” continued the voice. And both the old “Here,” she says, “my strength is small, and yet I have woman and the boy with the apple stepped forward. Both to work. I pity the youngsters—my grandchildren—but smiled and vanished. what nice children they are!” Martin’s soul rejoiced; he crossed himself, put on his The old woman grew quite sentimental and pointed at spectacles, and began to read where it had happened to the boy. “Of course, it is a childish trick. God be with open. On the upper part of the page he read: him.” “For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat; She was about to lift the bag up on her I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a shoulder when the boy said, “Let me stranger, and ye took me in.” carry it, babushka; it is on my way.” And on the lower part of the page he The old woman nodded, put the read this: bag on the boy’s back, and side “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto by side they walked off down the one of the least of these my brethren, street. The old woman even forgot ye have done it unto me.” Daughters of Mary, e Canticle of Simeon Now dismiss y servant, Mother of Israel’s Hope O Lord, in peace, according to y word: For mine own eyes have seen y salvation, which OF ou hast prepared in the sight of all the peoples, a Handmaids THE light to reveal ee to the nations and the glory of Family y people Israel.

Christmas 2020 Newsletter Twenty-Eight

Lo, How A Rose E’er Blooming CHRISTMAS Words: verses 1-2, 15th Century German. Translated by Theodore Baker, 1894. verses 3,4 Friedrich Layritz (1808-1859). Translated by Harriet Reynolds Krauth, 1875. verse 5, 15th Century German. Translated by John C. Mattes, 1914. Music: ’Es Ist Ein Ros Entsprungen (Rhythmic)’ German from Köln, 1599. Setting: Michael Praetorius, 1609. copyright: public domain. This score is a part of the Open Hymnal Project, 2010 Revision. = 100

1. Lo, how a Rose e’er bloom ing from ten der stem hath sprung! 2. Is ai ah ’twas fore told it, the Rose I have in mind; 3. The shep herds heard the sto ry pro claimed by an gels bright, 4. This Flow’r, whose fra grance ten der with sweet ness fills the air, 5. O Sa vior, Child of Ma ry, who felt our hu man woe,

Of Jes se’s lin eage com ing, as men of old have sung. With Mar y we be hold it, the vir gin mo ther kind. How Christ, the Lord of glor y was born on earth this night. Dis pels with glor ious splen dor the dark ness ev ery where; O Sa vior, King of glo ry, who dost our weak ness know;

It came, a flow’r et bright, a mid the To show God’s love a right, she bore to To Beth le hem they sped and in the True Man, yet ve ry God, from sin and Bring us at length we pray, to the bright

cold of win ter, When half spent was the night. men a Sa vior, When half spent was the night. man ger found Him, As an gel her alds said. death He saves us, And light ens ev ’ry load. courts of Hea ven, And to the end less day!

Is 11:1-10, Mt 1:20-21, Heb 2:14-15, Lk 2:1-18 7 6 7 6 6 7 6 Christmas 2020 Thank for helping us to fight for the restoration and salvation of the Family! Page 13

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