22. The miracle of Christmas

22. The miracle of Christmas

 

The bells were ringing for the most joyful celebration of Christians, Christmas, and the hearts of all the people poured out numerous wishes like a fragrant aroma for a Merry Christmas and many happy years of peace and joy!

The same wishes were repeated once more, after the Christmas Mass, to the spiritual father of a group of young children, who were visiting the monastery of the Archangels, up the mountain, to celebrate the birth of the God-man Jesus Christ.

 -May God give you, my beloved children, many happy and blessed years. I wish you may also embrace the sweet Holy Infant of Bethlehem, as those blessed shepherds embraced Him, when they visited Him one cold night in the cave where He was born.

-We would very much like, our reverend father, for you to talk to us about that night and the miracle of the birth of our Christ!

21. The divine Infant of Bethlehem

21. The divine Infant of Bethlehem

No-one ever doubted that the presence of a small baby is one of the strongest joys of earth, which brings great happiness. At the sight of the innocent infant and his angelic smile, even hard-hearted people soften and their hearts become peaceful.

A baby does not distinguish between good and bad people. He smiles at all of them innocently and honestly. He spreads out his little hands to everybody in order to enjoy their love and hugs.

No-one is ever afraid of an innocent infant. Infants never harm anyone. Inadvertently, the only feeling they may provoke is the sense of the wide gap between their innocence and the cunning that older people have. That's why when you look at them, you remember the lost greatness of innocence which you also once had. Really, how many times have we wished we were innocent like them!

20. The night of Christmas

20. The night of Christmas

It was slowly getting dark and the sun was disappearing behind the mountains of Bethlehem. The cold and frost made the inhabitants of this small village, as well as all those who came from distant places to be registered at the place of their birth, go inside their homes early. Soon the streets were deserted and no one was walking about outside.

To tell the truth not everyone, because just outside the village a pious man, leading a donkey with a young girl on its back, who looked like she was pregnant, was anxious to arrive at a house in time before it got too late.

Every now and then, he was trying to give her courage, because he saw that the time to give birth had come and the young girl was extremely tired from the trip which had taken several days.

4. Christmas Melody

4. Christmas Melody

Christmas Eve

It's Christmas Eve and all Christians are getting ready to celebrate the most joyful holiday of Christianity. The small beautiful village near the forest, where our little Angela lives, is decorated with countless Christmas lights.

It is snowing continuously outside and fires are burning in all the houses.

Many people are moving with sleds because of the snow. In the small village square, which is white from snow, a big fir tree is decorated with many lights.

The children take no notice of the cold and snow and wrapped up in their thick warm clothes, go from house to house singing carols. Others prefer playing snowball fights. Some of them are making beautiful snowmen. Their laughter sounds throughout the small village, which these days is living fully the spirit of Christmas. Although it is already dusk and soon the first stars will light up the winter sky, they don’t want to stop their games yet.

3. The Christmas tree

3. The Christmas tree

Angela’s joy

Today Angela is very happy. Her mother told her that in a little while Christina would be coming home. Christina is her older sister who is studying at university.

Angela loves her so much that when she found out that she was leaving to study far away, she was upset for a month.

Christina adores her little sister and cares for her as a mother would, in every way.

Angela, in return, respects her as a big sister but also as a most trusted friend. All that is in her heart she shares with her sister Christina. They are close sisters which makes their mother, Sophia, happy for her daughters.

From the moment she heard that her sister was coming home, Angela immediately ran to pick the prettiest flowers from the garden to give to her.  Next she went to little Joseph, who had just woken up, and told him that Christina was coming home and that he must get ready quickly.