The Marvels of The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ According to Mystics

In face of so many blasphemies thrown at Jesus and Mary in the past month--many, too repulsive to be mentioned--it seems fitting to air out some of the repulsive stench by recounting the marvelous birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ. By retelling the Nativity in a way that brings out the marvelousness will go a long way in repairing the injuries done to the Sacred Heart of the Infant Jesus.

At any rate, the Christmas liturgical season officially began on December 25th and will go until January 12 according to the USCCB liturgical calendar or until Candlemass on February 2 according to the traditional calendar.

Where the Gospels give only a summary description of the Nativity, Catholic mystics can add some details. As the Church teaches, private revelations, even when approved, do not have the same authority as official Revelation, nor even close to it. Their value does not lie in its historical accuracy but in providing the senses and imagination material to work with. It is like when a talented painter has created a scene of the Sermon on the Mount. It is not meant to be taken exactly and absolutely but to inspire. The same can be said of the work of a particularly talented sculptor who can portray the limp body of the Redeemer draped over the lap of His sorrowful mother so well as to elicit compassion and even draw tears on the viewers.

The writings of mystics should be taken solely as a means to incite piety and devotion, not doctrine or theology. Yet, we should admit that these are not simply works of naturally talented authors and artists. These works are assisted in a mysterious way by the Holy Ghost.

The life of Jesus and Mary is far from normal. It should not surprise anyone that the birth of a child whose very Incarnation was wrought with divine marvels would not be marvelous as well.

The book written by Raphael Brown, The Life of Mary, compiles the visions of four of the Church’s most famous mystics--Ven. Maria of Agreda, Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich, St. Bridget of Sweden and St. Elizabeth of Schoenau. It does an excellent job in bringing out how marvelous the birth of the Savior had been.

The book describes the birth of the Infant Jesus as such.

After reciting some prayers together with Mary, St. Joseph filled the manger with straw and moss and placed a cloth over it. Then he withdrew to the entrance of the cave. Looking back, he saw the holy Mother of God praying on her knees, surrounded by flames of dazzling supernatural light. Filled with reverent fear, he threw himself down on the ground and was soon rapt in an ecstatic sleep, Mary was kneeling, with her eyes raised to Heaven and her hands joined on her breast. Her countenance emitted rays of light, like the sun incarnadined, and shone in indescribable earnestness and majesty, all inflamed with burning love of God. Her body became so spiritualized with the beauty of Heaven that she seemed no more a human and earthly creature. Toward midnight a channel of brilliant light came down from the highest heaven and terminated in sparkling fire at the Blessed Virgin. In it was an extraordinary movement of celestial glories which took on the forms of choirs of angels.

Then, in the twinkling of an eye, the infant God was born, and transfigured as on Mount Thabor.

There the God-Man lay, naked, utterly clean and pure. And from Him radiated such marvelous light and splendor that the sun could not be compared to it. The angels could be heard gently singing canticles of wonderful sweetness.

When the holy Mother of God perceived that she had been delivered - for her child came forth without any pain or injury to her- she immediately bowed her head, placed a cloth over His tiny body, and adored Him with the greatest respect and reverence, saying: "Welcome, my God, and, my Lord, and my Son."

Then the divine Child suspended the effects of His transfiguration and assumed the appearance of one capable of suffering. The Babe now moved, shivered with cold, and stretching forth His little arms, cried out. Bending down, Mary tenderly clasped Him to her heart and with great joy warmed Him against her cheek and breast, while thousands of angels knelt and adored their incarnate Creator.

Nearly an hour after the birth, Mary called St. Joseph. Awakening and coming near, he perceived his Saviour in her arms and at once prostrated himself on the ground with the deepest devotion and humility. Only at her bidding did he rise. And with touching joy and gratitude he kissed the Babe's feet, and held the little Jesus in his arms, pressing Him to his heart, while tears of happiness moistened

Then, sitting on the ground, Mary laid her Son in her lap, and while St. Joseph handed her the linens, she began carefully and lovingly to wrap the divine Child in swaddling clothes, drawing them tight on His small body. Next she and Joseph gently placed the Infant in the manger.

At this point an ox from the neighboring fields entered the cave with the ass. They both approached the crib, knelt down before it, and breathed over it, as if to warm the Baby.

At the holy hour of the nativity of the Saviour, an extraordinary wave of rejoicing was manifest in Nature in many parts of the world. Many animals leaped with exultation. Flowers raised their faded stems. Plants and trees took on new life and gave forth sweet scents. A number of new springs flowed abundantly. The thrilling and consoling news of the birth of the Messiah was immediately announced by the holy angels to a small number of chosen souls. The Archangel Michael brought it to the patriarchs and prophets in Limbo, as well as to St. Ann and St. Joachim, and they all rejoiced together. Another angel informed St. Elizabeth and her baby St. John, who clearly expressed his joy by waving his little arms. His mother at once sent one of her servants to Bethlehem with some money and linen for Mary. The mystery of the Saviour's birth was revealed to the holy old priest Simeon and to Anna, Mary's former teacher, in the Temple in Jerusalem. In the Orient each of the three Magi was enlightened by angels concerning the Incarnation of the Redeemer of mankind, which they had long expected, and perceiving the mystic star, they set out on their pilgrimage to the Crib of the newborn King of kings. All good men everywhere felt a new supernatural joy at this time, and many of them believed that the Saviour had at last come into the world.

But of all the human race those who merited to be the first to see the Christ Child were the poor, humble, and devout shepherds of Bethlehem. During this holy night, three of their leaders, while watching over their flocks in the fields about a mile from the grotto of the Nativity, noticed with amazement a strange, luminous cloud hovering above hill in which the cave and manger were located. And as they were staring up at the sky, all of a sudden a bright light came down toward them, bathing them in its celestial radiance. Then within the light they perceived the splendid Archangel Gabriel in human form, and at first these simple men were filled with intense fear, until Gabriel said to them reassuringly: "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy for all the people. For there has been born to you today in the town of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign to you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger."

While he was speaking, the radiance around him became still brighter, revealing seven other great angels of extraordinary beauty and then a whole multitude of the heavenly host, all praising God and chanting in sweet harmony, to a soft and joyful melody: "Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth Peace to Men of Good Will!"

Everything about this description can do only good to the soul as long as the person has the right disposition of soul, as long as he is of good will. In the face of purity, the impure is called back to purity. In the face of innocence, sinners are called to repent from sinful ways. In the face of glory, mankind is reminded of eternal reward and punishment. In the presence of the Divine, all of creation, even plants and animals, is summoned to adore.

The Twelve Great Marvels by St. Bonaventure

St. Bonaventure, the greatest Franciscan theologian who put the spirit of St. Francis in written doctrine, wrote down in his 22nd sermon marvels surrounding the birth of Jesus compiling from “histories” common to the learned of his time. He is considered by some as the second founder of the Franciscan order having united it from certain disunity. He was a great mystic and is named as the Seraphic Doctor. It is well known that while writing the biography of St. Francis, his contemporary, the Angelic Doctor, St. Thomas Aquinas found him in ecstasy and said; "Let us leave a saint to work for a saint," and withdrew. True to the spirit of St. Francis, his ardent love overflows into his writings. Following is his list of twelve marvels that happened marking the Nativity of the Lord.

Bless, O my soul, the Lord who liberated Jerusalem, His city, from its many tribulations, He the Lord our God. Confess the Lord, O children of Israel, for He has shown His majesty to a sinful nation. (Tobias 13:19/3/7)

On this day, He liberated His city showing His majesty to a sinful nation, not only by sending His Son to be born, but by bedecking and adorning the day, hour and time of His Nativity with miracles.

The miracles shown to the sinful nation at the time of the Nativity of Christ are these, according to various histories.

First, a fulgent star appeared in the sky in parts of the East, which displayed the form of a most pure Infant, and over it was a shining cross to signify that He who was born would spread His doctrine, life and death throughout the whole world.

Second, in the middle of the day from Capitoline Hill in Rome, a golden circle that appeared near the sun was seen – [also] by the Emperor and the Sibyl – and in it was a most pure Virgin giving birth to an Infant, signifying that He who was born was the Monarch of the world and came to demonstrate the splendor of the paternal glory and figure of His substance.

Third, the temple of peace in Rome fell to the ground. When it was built, the devils were asked how long it would last, and they responded that it would stand until a Virgin gave birth to a Son, as a sign that He who was born would destroy the works and practices of vanity.

Fourth, in Rome a large gush of oil sprung up from the ground and flowed into the Tiber, to show that a source of piety and mercy had been born.

Fifth, on the night of the Nativity, the vinae Engaddi, from which perfume is made, sprouted, flourished, extended its branches and produced its scented liquid, to show that He who was born would make the spiritual world flourish, grow and give fruits, and that its fragrance would attract the whole world.

Sixth, 30,000 criminals were killed by the Emperor, to show that He who was born would subject the whole world by His Faith and that the rebels would be lost in Hell.

Seventh, all the sodomites in the whole world died, both male and female, according to Jerome commenting on the Psalm: The light was born for the just, which shows that He who was born came to reform nature and to promote chastity.

Eighth, brute animals spoke in Judea, among them, two oxen, to make us understand that He who was born would transform the most bestial men into rational persons.

Ninth, all the idols of Egypt were destroyed when the Virgin gave birth; according to Jeremiah that sign was given to the Egyptians to make them understand that He who was born was the true God and the only One worthy of adoration with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Tenth, when the Infant was laying in the Manger, the ox and donkey knelt before Him, as if they had reason, and adored Him, which makes us understand that He who was born would call both the Jews and the Gentiles to His religion.

Eleventh, the whole world was in peace as described, to show that He who was born would love and promote universal peace and that His elect would enjoy eternal peace.

Twelfth, in the East three suns appeared in the sky, which progressively merged into a single celestial body to show that by the birth of Christ the world would be informed of the Triune God, and that Divinity, spirit and flesh had been united in one Person.

About all these things, our souls should bless God and venerate Him because He liberated us and His majesty was shown to us, a sinful nation.

Many skeptics will challenge the veracity of the sources quoted by St. Bonaventure. Even if one were to concede many points, the one that still stands out is his admiration of these events he himself has labeled “marvels.” Modern sensibilities will certainly balk at several of these events especially criminals being killed and sodomites dying. Doubtless, these will trigger many liberals.

However, to all men of goodwill, to all men who desire the salvation of mankind, to all who yearn for a world made into the image and likeness of the Christmas spirit, nothing is more desirable than innocence, purity and virtue, and nothing more repelling than sin and vice. Even the two events in question, though very controversial, affirm that sin leads to eternal death and virtue leads to eternal life.

If there is one thing that the world has not eliminated from the true Christmas spirit, despite the commercialization, despite the horrible portrayal of blasphemies, despite the materialism of the world, despite the heresies and idolatry is the allure of innocence and purity in its holiest form. It is a season to remember that the pure of heart will see God.

1)     Doctoris Seraphici S. Bonaventurae, Opera Omnia, Iussu et Auctoritate R.mi P. David Fleming, Edita, Studio et Cura PP. Collegii A S. Bonaventura. Tomus IX, Page 123.