There was never a child so longed for as the Child Jesus, and none whose
infancy has been held in such loving remembrance. Centuries before his
birth the prophets of Israel preached to the people of his coming. Year
after year men waited eagerly for One who would teach them the way of
righteousness. On the night when he was born the angels of heaven
appeared in the sky with the glad tidings. His birthday ushered in a new
era.
We all know the story of his infancy in the Bethlehem manger, of his
boyhood in the little town of Nazareth, of the years of his ministry
throughout Judea, and of his crucifixion on Calvary. The narrative of
his life was written by the four evangelists, and has been told in
nearly every part of the world.
Many of the great painters have drawn the subjects of their best
pictures from the story in the Gospels. A favorite subject has been the
mother Mary holding the Babe in her arms, as in our illustration. To
understand why the other figures are included in the scene, a few words
of explanation are necessary.
In the early days of Christianity the followers of the new faith had to
endure great persecutions, and many laid down their lives for their
Master. The religious liberty we enjoy to-day is due to the courage and
loyalty of these early saints and martyrs. Much, too, is due to the work
of those teachers who are called the Fathers of the church. These saints
and heroes of the olden time have been honored in art and song and
story. It is fitting to associate their memory with that of him to whom
they gave their lives. This is the reason why in pictures of the Mother
and Child Jesus we often see them standing by.
Such pictures do not represent any actual historical event. The various
persons represented may not even be contemporaries. It is in a
devotional and not a literal sense that they worship the Christ child
together.
In our picture the Mother tends her Babe at one side while three saints
form an attendant company. The nearest is St. Stephen, the young man
"full of faith and power," who did "great wonders and miracles among the
people" of Jerusalem in the apostolic days. When false witnesses accused
him of blasphemy his face was like "the face of an angel." Nevertheless,
when his accusers heard his defence they were angry at his frank
denunciations, and casting him out of the city, stoned him to death.[9]
[Illustration: Fr. Hanfstaengl, photo.
John Andrew & Son. Sc.