God, Who should punish thee, is born an Infant, and has lost all accents to affright thee, since the accents of a Child, being cries of weeping, move us sooner to pity than to fear; thou canst not apprehend that Jesus Christ will stretch out His hands to chastise thee, since His Mother is occupied in swathing them in linen bands.
"Be of good cheer, then, O sinners," says St. Leo, "the birthday of the Lord is the birthday of peace and joy." "The Prince of Peace" was He called by Isaias [9:6]. Jesus Christ is a Prince, not of vengeance on sinners, but of mercy and of peace, constituting Himself the mediator betwixt God and sinners. "If our sins," says St. Augustine, "are too much for us, God does not despise His blood." If we cannot ourselves make due atonement to the justice of God, at least the Eternal Father knows not how to disregard the Blood of Jesus Christ, Who makes payment for us.
A certain knight, called Don Alphonsus Albuquerque, making once a sea voyage, and the vessel being driven among the rocks by a violent tempest, already gave himself up for lost; but at that moment espying near him a little child, crying bitterly, what did he do? He seized him in his arms, and so lifting him towards Heaven, "O Lord," said he, "though I myself be unworthy to be heard, give ear at least to the cries of this innocent child, and save us." At the same instant the storm abated, and he remained in safety. Let us miserable sinners do in like manner. We have offended God; already has sentence of everlasting death been passed upon us; Divine justice requires satisfaction, and with right. What have we to do? To despair? God forbid! let us offer up to God this Infant, Who is His Own
