1960 Christmas message : address given on December 22, 1960.


1960

Christmas

Message



Digitized by the Internet Archive

in 2016

https://archive.org/details/1960christmasmesjohn



Christmas Address Given by His Holiness,
Pope John XXHI, on December 22, I960

“We saw His glory, the glory as it were of the Only-Begotten
of the Father, full of grace and truth.’ ’*

Venerable brethren and dear children throughout the whole

world: Peace and the apostolic 'blessing.

THE GOSPEL PROLOGUE OF ST. JOHN

May your acceptance of the greeting for a happy Christmas
reciprocate what We are offering you of the feast.

It is the inspiration of the first page of St. John’s Gospel,

of that prologue which gives the theme to the sublime poem
which hymns the mystery and the reality of the intimate and
sacred union between the world of God and the sons of men,
between heaven and earth, between the order of nature and that
of grace; it shines forth and transforms itself into a spiritual
triumph from the beginning of the world until its final dissolution.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God. All things were made by him. In Him
was life, and life was the light of men, and the light shineth in
darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. ”2 There
was a man called John, to bear witness to the light; he was not
the light but only a witness who invited men to accept the light.
The word of God by an ineffable stroke of divine condescension
assumed human nature and took up His abode on earth among
men and held familiar converse with them.

All who recognized Him, and in Him received the word of
God made man—let Us pronounce His holy and blessed name:
Jesus Christ, Son of God, Son of Mary—were united in the divine
sonship itself: “He gave them power to be made sons of God. “3

1. John 1, 14.
2. John 1, 1; 1, 4-5.
3. John 1, 12.

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They were therefore considered as His brethren, set apart with
eternity as their inheritance.

It is with this simple and basic reminder of doctrine and
history that the announcement of Christmas and of Bethlehem
comes to us. Sacred are these words which in lovely symphony
re-echo in this place and in that, diffusing at once sweetness
and beauty, later to break out together in the grand sweep of
that magnificent composition which is the triple poem of the
creation, of the Redemption at the price of Christ’s Blood, and
of the Church: one, holy, catholic, apostolic. Everything, that is,

offered to the divine teaching and to the perfecting of life here
below, for individuals and for nations that know how to profit
by it.

First, then, is the splendor of the Heavenly Father, glorified
in His Son, who draws us towards the indescribable wonder of
the relations existing between the Persons of the Most Holy
Trinity. Then the second John, the Evangelist, hastens to tell
us of the thoughts of the same Trinity for the benefit of man and
of the Church, the Mystical Body of Christ, and of individual
souls.

“We have seen His glory—grace and truth.” It is on these
words that the prologue ends; at that point also taking the note
of glorious acclamation: “We have seen His glory.”

What glory? That most exalted glory of the Word, who was
“in the beginning and before all ages,” and by making Himself
man, being the Only-Begotten of the Father, appeared “full
of grace and truth.” Note well those two words grace and truth.

GRACE

The word “grace” is the first that issued from the angel’s
lips as he announced to Mary the divine mystery; and it is grace
in its fullness, “hail full of grace.” It is later repeated in
various forms in Holy Writ and always it is an expression of
kindness and goodness.

“How abundant are Thy mercies, O Lord,” sings the
psalmist with the note of tenderness that fills the heart with

emotions— “Beneath the covert of Thy wings the children of men
shall put their trust; they are inebriated with the plenty of Thy
house, and the torrent of Thy pleasures .quenches their thirst.
For with Thee is the fountain of life, and in Thy light we shall

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see light. Extend O Lord Thy grace to those who acknowledge
Thee and grant Thy justice to the right of heart."**

What happiness, what goodness, what a delight it would be

to Us to speak to you of this grace!

TRUTH

But We have to admit to you, dear children, that it is es-
pecially with regard to truth that Our spirit feels itself uplifted,
as life’s pastoral experience provides ever more striking ex-
amples of what is of primary importance and a fitting subject
of study.

St. Augustine, in giving a title to the Divine Word made
visible at Bethlehem, names Him, without qualification, Truth,
as the Only-Begotten of the Father, resplendent in the riches

of His nature for the enlightenment of every creature, visible

and invisible, material and spiritual, human and supernatural.

^

The two Testaments contain the declaration of a doctrine
which has its roots in the essence and splendor of truth, which

shines forth from all ages, and is revealed to man, considered
as the masterpiece and the priest of the visible universe, just

as if it is a substance alive with a doctrine which extends be-

yond the developments of the twofold order, natural and super-

natural.

The first words of the Old Testament describe indeed the
origin of the world; the concluding words of- the new testament,
"come Lord Jesus," are the summing up of history, law and
grace.

For souls created by God and reserved for eternal destinies,
the search for and the discovery of truth is natural; for truth

is the immediate object of the inner activity of the human spirit.
Why is it called truth? Because it is a communication of

God; and between man and truth there is no merely accidental
relationship, but one which is necessary and of his essence.

TRUTH IN MAN AND IN THE CHRISTIAN

This truth, which is an outpouring of the Divine Word, shed
light on the past, and with its rays clarifies the present. It is

4. Ps. 35, 8-11.

5. Cf. De Trinitatis 15, 11: P.L. 42, 071.

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like the breath which gives assurance of life to come beyond
the final appearance of God for the Last Judgment here below,
which will decide the lot of each one for eternity.

The enlightening, the quickening, the making alive, con-
sidered in the physical world, but even more so in the spiritual,
acknowledged and established deep within the life of man, whose
features have something of the divine characteristics— “The
light of Thy countenance, O Lord is signed upon us”6—is a
source of joy for every soul. “Thou hast given gladness to my
heart.

But what it is more important to arouse and retain is that,
from man’s side, the attitude towards the recognition of truth
inspires a sacred and very serious responsibility to cooperate
with the plan of the Creator, Redeemer and Glorifier. And this
must be said all the more of the Christian who, by means of the
graces of the sacraments, clearly bears the sign of his belonging
to the family of God. Here exists and abides the dignity and the
greatest responsibility which has been placed on man. It is to be
said in the fullest possible sense to every Christian. It is to pay

honor to the Son of God, the Word made Flesh, who gives life
to all humanity and the whole social order.

Our Lord offered for men’s imitation 30 years of silence
so that they would learn to contemplate the truth in Him; and
three years of unremitting and persuasive teaching so that they

would grasp its example and life’s purpose.
The Divine Book is sufficient to fill us with this teaching

and to uplift us.

Union with Christ, Lord and Teacher—as He proclaimed
Himself— is therefore the triumph of truth, the highest knowledge,
the most perfect teaching.

John the Evangelist spoke of Him as the Divine Word raised
aloft in the light of the two Testaments: “The law was given by
Moses, grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. ’’^ On another
occasion the Divine Teacher repeated: “I am the light of the
world, he that followeth me walketh not in darkness. ’’9

Dear children, what is this light if it is not truth? In the
books of the Old Testament the reference to truth is common.

6. Ps. 4, 7.

7. Ibid.

8. John 1, 17.
9. John 8, 12.

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The psalmist repeats so many times this invocation of truth:
“Thy mercy and truth, O Lord, ever support me."^ Truth and
justice ever were and remain about Thee. Thy truth protects
me as a shield. Thy justice, Thy justice for ever; 0 Lord, truth
abides for ever. Truth will turn out (to be) of advantage to all

who know how to make use of it. All the ways of the Lord are
truth. The Lord loves truth, grace and glory.

^

THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT

In this light how attractive is the invitation to man to speak
always the truth with his neighbor, and how stern and terrible
the commandment never to utter falsehood against one’s neigh-
bor: “Thou shalt not bear false testimony against thy neigh-
bor’ '12 and to judge with truth and with a mind of peace at your
gates: “Speak ye truth everyone to his neighbor: judge ye truth
and judgment of peace in your gates. ’’13

St. Peter Canisius, doctor of the Church, in his famous
“Summa Doctrinae Christianae’’, 14 which was the catechism of
whole generations, expressed the negative and the positive parts

of this Commandment with penetrating and convincing words.

For the negative part? Every false and deceiving witness
is forbidden in which there can be some risk in a judicial de-
cision, and even outside formal judgment, in which the good name
of the neighbor can in any way become less by whisperers,
detractors, malicious speakers, accusers and flatterers. For-
bidden is every lie and every abuse of the tongue against the
neighbor, and that in the same measure and in the same tone
as in the three preceding commandments, namely, not to kill,
not to commit adultery and not to steal.

For the positive part, on the other hand, honor is given to
speaking well and graciously of one’s neighbor, in defense of
and to his advantage; without deceit, without pretense, without

trickery.

10. Ps. 39, 12.

11. Cf. Ps. 83, 12.

12. Ex. 20, 16.

13. Zach. 8, 16.

14. Auctoritatem sacrae scripturae et sanctorum pat rum,
venetiis ex. bibliotheca aldina, 1571, p. 141.

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The teaching is all derived from the Old Testament which
is very rich in passages on this point of truth at the service of
innocence, justice and charity.

And in the New Testament—the Gospel and the apostolic
writings—what teaching on the substance, on the lofty wisdom
of truth, understood and lived, and of God’s Commandment!

By a glance at the passage in the Gospel of St. John, there is
revealed the interesting encounter of Christ with those whom He
had succeeded but recently in converting: “If you continue in my
word, you will be my disciples indeed; and you will know the
truth and the truth will make you free. ”15

But that conversation, from being interesting, becomes
terrible when Christ leads His questioners to conclusions dis-
couraging for every one who denies the known truth.

“You claim to be children of Abraham, do the works of
Abraham then. On the other hand, I know that you intend to kill
me, a man who has given you the truth, the truth that I know
from God Himself. If God were your Father, you would love
me also, because I too come from God who has sent me. But
you are children of the Devil, and you wish to carry out the

designs of him who is your father.”

On hearing these words, St. John says, the unfortunate
creatures took up stones to cast at Christ. But He hid Himself
and went out of the temple. 16 So was verified what was written
in the psalm: “Love the Lord all ye His saints, for the Lord
will require truth and He will repay abundantly all those who
act proudly. ”17 As it is said in the Book of Proverbs: “Buy
truth and sell not wisdom. ”18 Further on: “A deceitful tongue
loves not truth. ”19 And yet again: “He who in giving judgment
is an acceptor of persons . . . such a one for a morsel of
bread will betray the truth. ”20

Here, then, is the man, the believer, faced with truth which
imposes itself with sweetness and firmness.

THINK, HONOR, SAY AND DO WHAT IS TRUE

15. John 8, 30-32.
16. Cf. John 8, 39-59.

17. Ps. 30, 24.

18. Cf. Prov. 23, 23.

19. Ibid. 26, 28.

20. Ibid. 28, 21.

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Indeed the words of Christ place every man face to face with
his responsibility, namely to accept or to reject the truth by
inviting each one with persuasive force to abide by the truth, to
nourish his own truthful thoughts and to act in accordance with
the truth.

This message of greeting which We long to give you is
above all a solemn call to live it, in accordance with the fourfold
duty of thinking, honoring, saying and doing what is true. Such a

duty issues forth in a clear and uncontrovertible manner from
the words of the Bible which We have recalled to mind, from the
harmony, full of sweetness and at the same time strict con-
formity, of the Old and New Testaments.

Above all, then, think what is true: have clear ideas on the
great divine and human realities, of the Redemption, of the
Church, of morals and of law, of philosophy and of art. Have
the right ideas, or seek to form them for yourself conscientiously
and with a right intention.

Unfortunately, there is becoming usual, almost of daily
occurrence, a disconcerting casualness in reference to or in

discussion of arguments, in a form that denotes the lack of
preparation— to say the least about it—of those who take these
tasks upon themselves. For this reason, in one of Our recent
discourses aimed at safeguarding the institution of the family,
We have invited “all, who have the will and the means, to exer-
cise an influence on public opinion so that their intervention

may always be on the side of clarifying, not of the confusing of
ideas; in favor of right and respect. “21

Honor what is true: It is an invitation to be a radiant
example in all spheres of life— individual, family, professional,
social. Truth makes us free.22 it ennobles whoever professes
it openly and without human respect. Why, then, fear to honor it
and make it respected? Why descend to making pacts with one’s
conscience by accepting compromises out of harmony with
Christian life and practice when, on the contrary, he who has
the truth ought to be convinced that he has within himself the

light which dispels all darkness, the penetrating force which can
transform the world? Not alone in guilt is he who deliberately
obscures the truth, but just as guilty is he who, from fear of not

21. Message to the Sacred Roman Rota , Oct. 25, 1960. Acta
Apostolicae Sedis, 52, p. 901.

22. Cf. John, 8, 32.

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seeming complete^ and up to date, betrays it by the ambiguity

of his attitude.

Honor the truth, then, with the firmness, the courage and
the knowledge of one who has strong convictions.

In addition, say what is true. Is not the mother’s admonition

to her baby to keep from lying the first school of truth, which
from habit and custom learned from earliest years, becomes
second nature, and prepares the truly honest man, the perfect
Christian, with words ready and sincere, and whenever necessity
demands it with the courage of a martyr and a confessor? This
is the testimony which the God of truth asks of each one of His
sons.

Finally, do what is true. It is a light in which every person

ought to immerse himself, and which sets the tone for each
single action of life. It is charity which obliges everyone to

exercise the apostolate of truth, so as to spread knowledge of

it, to defend its rights, to mould souls—particularly those of
youth, which are open and generous—and to allow themselves
to be impregnated with it to the deepest fibers of their being.

THE COUNTER-DECALOGUE

Think, honor, say and do what is true. In the uttering of

these basic demands of human and Christian life, a protest
rises to the lips from the heart: Where on earth is respect for
truth found? Are we not sometimes, and even very frequently,
confronted with a “counter-decalogue,” brazen and insolent,
which cancels the “not”—the prefix, that is, of every clear
and exact directive of the six of God’s Commandments which
follow “Honor thy father and thy mother?”

Is not the life that passes before our eyes, in practice, a

deliberate exercise of contradictions— fifth, kill; sixth, commit
adultery; seventh, steal; eighth}, bear false witness—as if by a
diabolical conspiracy against truth?

Yet there remains ever clear and valid the command of
divine law declared to Moses on the mountain: “Thou shalt not
bear false witness against thy neighbor.”^ This commandment-
like the others—is alive with all its consequences, positive
and negative: the duty to truth, to sincerity and to candor, which

23. Ex. 20, 16; Deut. 5, 20.

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is the correspondence of the human mind with reality; and the
sad possibility and— saddest of all— the fact of lying, of hypocrisy
and of calumny which obscure the truth.

We happen to be living between two concepts of human ways
of living together. On one side, the reality of the world examined,
studied and reduced to practice in accordance with the design of

God; on the other—We are not afraid to repeat it—the counter-
feit of this same reality, made easy by technical skill and the
ingenuity of man in recent times and right up to the present day.

Confronted by the fourfold ideal of thinking, honoring, saying

and doing what is true, and the daily spectacle of the open or

masked betrayal of this ideal, the heart fails to restrain its
anguish. And Our own voice trembles.

In spite of everything and everyone, “the truth of the Lord
abides forever”,^4 and ever desires to shine more brightly
before our eyes and be heard in our hearts. The feeling is rather
generally accepted by some that, once again, the times through
which the world is passing are momentous. But past history has
known much worse. And notwithstanding the noisy or cunning
voices of the more violent, let us be absolutely certain that the
spiritual victory will be with Jesus Christ, “who hangs from a
tree.”

UNQUIET TIMES

The ever more grave news of the storms which rage over
some parts of the world, and threaten not only the social order,
but more important, many souls which are weak and unstable
rather than of ill will or wicked, moves us in this Christmas
appeal to direct a word to those who have the highest respon-
sibilities in the public and social sphere, and to invite them, in
the name of Christ, to place their hand on their breast and act
honorably in these days of general danger. In reality, there is
matter of common interest; and every distinction between the
great ones and the little in life should be resolved in a united
effort in common.

We are glad, then, to raise Our priestly arms to those with
the greatest responsibilities, who preside over the organization
of the civil order—heads of state and of regional and civic ad-
ministrations—and then to all without exception: educators.

24. Ps. 116, 2.

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parents and teachers, to all who work with head or hand or
heart; to those, and We emphasize this, who are responsible
for public opinion, which is being formed or deformed by means
of the press, radio and television, by the cinema, by meetings
and exhibitions of every kind, literary or artistic—writers,
artists, producers, directors, scenery designers.

To all Our children, and particularly to those called by
some special mission to give testimony to the truth, as well as
to all who aim at living their individual and family life in the
holy light of Christian teaching, there are directed the thoughts

which rise spontaneously in Our heart and which, We are sure,
will be received with due consideration by men of honesty and
sincerity.

No, dear children, never lend yourselves to any counter-
feiting of truth. Have a horror of that.

Do not avail yourselves of these marvellous gifts of God,
such as light and sound and color, and their applications in

technical and artistic forms—printing, journalism, television— to
distort man’s natural inclination toward truth, on which is
erected the edifice of His nobility and greatness. Do not avail
yourselves of them to drive to ruin consciences as yet unformed
or wavering.

Hold in holy terror the spreading of the germs that dese-
crate love, break up the family, mock religion and shake the
foundations of the social order, which is based on both individual

interests and a brotherhood that is harmonious and respectful
of the rights of each person. Work together also to render
ever more pure and less infected the air which is breathed, of
which the first victims are always the innocent and the weak.
Know how to build with quiet perseverance and untiring endeavor
the conditions for better times, healthier, more just, more se-
cure.

Dear children: We are once again drawn to the vision of
Bethlehem, to the Light of the Word Incarnate, to His grace and
truth, who desires to win all to himself.

CONSTANT IN FAITH

The silence of that holy night and the contemplation of that
scene of peace are most eloquent. Let us direct our steps to
Bethlehem with innocent eyes and welcoming hearts.

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It is from near this Word of God, made Man for us, near
this “goodness and kindness of God our Saviour” that We have
pleasure once again in looking with great respect and affection
especially toward the highest representatives of public power,

variously distributed over the diverse and most important points
of the globe, and toward those responsible for the education of
the growing generation and for public opinion, encouraging each
one to take ever more timely thought of his own duties and his
own responsibilities and to occupy his position with sincerity
and courage.

We have confidence in God and in His light. We have confi-
dence in men of good will, satisfied that Our words may rouse
in the hearts of all upright men a note of manly generosity.

It sometimes happens that some faint voice, as if in a note
of prophecy, reaches Our ear in a whisper of exaggerated fear
which later excites weak fantasies.

St. Matthew, the first of the Evangelists, tells us that Jesus
in the evening of a day of great labor retired to a mountain alone

to pray. The ship of His disciples, remaining on the lake, was
tossed about by the winds, and during the night Jesus came down
softly to the waves and in a loud vice said: “Have confidence
and fear not; for I am here.”

“Lord, if it is Thou,” said St. Peter, “bid me come to
Thee upon the waters.”

And Jesus said: “Come.”
And Peter, going from the boat, hastened to approach His

Divine Master. But the violence of the wind made him afraid and,
beginning to sink, he cried out: “Lord save me I” Jesus im-
mediately took him by the hand and drew him toward Himself
and said: “Man of little faith, why didst thou doubt?”

And when all were reunited in the boat, the wind ceased.25

Dear children, even on the night on the lake, this episode
is one of enchanting clearness. The humble successor of St.
Peter is not experiencing any temptation to dismay. We feel
strong in faith and, in the company of Jesus Christ, We can
cross not only the tiny lake of Galilee, but also all the seas of
the world. Christ’s word is enough for safety and for victory.

This is one of the most beautiful pages of the New Testa-
ment. It is encouraging and of good omen. After this vision, We
desire to end Our Christmas message with a phrase of the Old

25. Cf. Matt. 14, 22-32.

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Testament, and express the living substance of the conversation
which renders so dear the opening of the heart of a father and a

pastor to his spiritual children.

It is the end of the meeting between the holy King Ezechias
and Isaias, the greatest prophet of Israel. The latter had
alarmed the king with threats of an invasion in the near future
and of great disasters. To this Ezechias replied: ‘‘The word of
the Lord which you have reported to me is good; enough for me
is peace and truth in my days. ”26

26. Cf. Is. 39, 8.

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