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The Missing King On the slope of a high moun tain opposite the town of Grec- eio in the valley of Rieti, Italy, the traveler who goes in search of Franciscan Sanctuaries, will discover from afar a small mon astery, whose foundation goes as far back as the beginning of the 13th century. This mona stery is associated with a mir acle worked by God to show that the life of St. Francis and his friars should be a retired one, and should be passed in places secluded from the noise of the world. Let us first relate this mirac ulous event before narrating the account of the institution of the Crib, which afterward took place in this monastery. THE BOY AND THE BRAND Among the many in the town of Greccio who had resolved by the preaching of St. Francis to live a holy life was a rich man who frequently visited the Saint. The two often held long holy conversations. But this wealthy gentleman, being old and delicate, found it no easy task to ascend the steep moun tain leading to Francis’ solitary abode. Both desirous of not missing those instructions which filled his soul with heavenly consolation, he requested St, Francis to select his abode somewhere near him. St. Francis assented on con dition that a little boy should be placed in the piazza which stands in the middle of the town; that the boy should throw a firebrand; and that, wherever it should strike, there should be the place of his residence. The proposal was readily accepted since the rich man was convinc ed that the brand would not go beyond the piazza. • The boy was there with the brand, surrounded by the throng of people in a state of eager suspense. St. Francis ordered the boy to throw the brand; but lo! it went onward till it struck a rock a mile distant from the town, on the slope of a high mountain, where it left a black mark which can be seen even today. God having shown by a mir acle where the monastery should be built, and the mountain be ing the property of the man who accepted the proposal, he donat ed it to the friars, and there built a monastery for their use. Being in one of his usual re treats in preparation for the feast of the Nativity, St. Fran cis was inspired to represent the great mystery in such a way as S. eaSonS (jreet'uKjS RIVERSIDE SALES COMPANY NO. 1 — 5TH STREET AUGUSTA, GEORGIA Ifl/Jerry C^lirish maS HILL DRUG COMPANY 1432 Monte Sano Avenue Phones RE. 3-3621 — RE. 3-3661 AUGUSTA, GEORGIA PRESCRIPTION SERVICE MAIN OFFICt Twe Entrant**! A23 HOAD STBMT • **<> RIYNO105 STBKF WAITON WAY OFMCIi 1402 WAUON V/AY MEMBER) FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION J. Thomas Stuart Lessie K. Stuart STUART OFFICE SUPPLY School Supplies ~ Duplicating Machines Office Furniture -- Office Supplies (Formerly: Augusta Office Supply) 915 BROAD STREET -- P. O. BOX 932 PHONE PARK 4-3512 AUGUSTA, GEORGIA POULTRY PALACE WHOLESALE AND RETAIL CHICKENS AND EGGS 1204 Ellis Street Augusta, Georgia (Continued from Page 4B) Kathy had left him with the Faith that she had brought him, but his religious faith, since she had gone, burned low and flick ered like the candle he was holding. Suddenly there was a sharp rap on the door, and he could hear the muffled sound of a voice. “Open up, open up!” A moment later Jack Russell was in the room. “Jeff!” “Hello, Jack. Come in.” “I saw the light. On my way down town for some last-minute shopping before the stores close. You know how it is. Didn’t know you were back. I thought maybe somebody was camping Dial PA. 2-9937 to bring to the mind of the peo ple the birth of the Savior with all the attendant circumstances. He constructed a platform in a little chapel near the door which leads into the monastery. On it he built an artificial grot to, in the interior of which he placed the figure of Mary and of St. Joseph, and the ox and ass representing the two animals that were in the stable at the time of the birth of the Christ- Child. Then he placed outside, here and there, the figures of shepherds in the act of watching their flocks, and on high the heavenly messenger announc ing to them the birth of the Savior. DIVINE APPARITION On Christmas night a solemn Mass was sung in the chapel, St. Francis serving as deacon. Mass being over the figure represent ing the Divine Infant, which during Mass had been exposed on the altar, was carried in pro cession by the celebrant of the Mass to the spot, and was plac ed in the manger by St. Francis. No sooner had Francis depos ited the sacred figure than Christ appeared on his arms in tHe form of a beautiful Infant surrounded with an aureola of glory. The people were over come with a supernatural joy at the sight of the divine appari tion. The prodigious event was soon spread throughout the surround ing neighborhood, and among the friars who, desirous of imi tating the devotion of their Holy Father, introduced the pious custom of representing the “Grotto Crib” in the different churches of his order during the holy season of Christmas. In the course of time the de votion was introduced into other churches outside the Francis can Order, and later pious peo ple had the great mystery rep resented in some fitting place within their private homes. The custom has been intro duced in Italy, to have little children deliver a short but fer vent panegyric in honor of the Santo Bambino in the Francis can church of Ara Coeli. These innocent children pour forth words of fervor as to move the most obstinate sinners. One cannot leave the sacred place without being overcome with religious emotions, for it seems like listening to those angelic choirs who sang around the Grotto of Bethlehem over 19 centuries ago. ANOTHER MIRACLE The origin of the little Image of Ara Coeli has often been ask ed. For the benefit of the read er I here give its origin as re lated by a Franciscan Brother, once a member of the monastery of St. Savior in Jerusalem; “One day a saintly Franciscan Brother conceived the idea to carve, from the wood of an olive tree that had grown in the Garden of Gethsemane, a small figure of the Christ-Child. Hav ing no paint with which to beautify his little image, he re sorted to prayer. Instantly the figure before hi mtook on the color of human flesh. Some years after, this same Image was taken aboard ship by the saintly Brother whom obedi ence had called to another mon astery. Strange to say the ship car- ryin the Image and the good Brother was wrecked off the coast of Italy. Some days later the little Image was found on a beach by a beautiful little boy, who, after he had safely deposit ed it in the hands of the Father Guardian of the monastery of Ara Coeli, miraculously dis appeared.” This unique statue of olive wood carved by the saintly Spanish Franciscan Brother is kept in a shrine in the sacristy of Ara Coeli. It is clothed in white robes of rich silk, and has been decorated by grateful clients of the Bambino with so many jewels of priceless value that the dress of the Holy In fant is almost entirely covered with them. out here or something.” “I came back today.” “Say, this place looks gloomy. Yo utoo. Like a ghost in that candlelight.” “I guess I am a kind of ghost, Jack. Everything’s dead here.” “Say, fella, I didn’t mean to put you in mind of Kathy — I mean, this is no time to be gloomy. It’s Christmas Eve. I know what. We’re having a par ty over at Pete’s house tonight. Come over and hang on a few.” “I might just do that, Jack.” “Sure, fella. Well, I’ll see you later. Stay here and you’ll get pneumonia like — I mean, you come on over to that party. Well, I’d better be going now.” THE UNFINISHED STATUE Yes, he could go to Pete’s par ty, live it up with that universi ty crowd. They always had a businessman like Jack Russell along, for laughs. They could have an artist, for laughs. But he had not come back for that. What was it? he won dered. What pulled him across the ocean back to this house, and on this day, of all days? He set his candle down on a rough table, the one he used to mix his paints on. As he did he remembered the table’s short leg, and the ingenious sugges tion Kathy used to have for fixing it. He looked around in the semi-darkness for some thing to slip under the leg. He’d get a fire going and eat out here, not in the cold kitchen. In the corner he stumbled over a carved figure, a foot high — unfinished. He exam ined the statue — a bearded man, in robes, his hand out stretched, bearing a gift. A half-formed memory nag ged him, then broke on him like a flood. It was his last promise to Kathy. He had been work ing on a group of figures for the new creche for their parish church. He had carved them all except for one of the Three Kings. After Kathy’s death he had simply packed up what he had finished and dumped the figures at the rectory door. He had forgotten until this moment that he had never completed the job. Moving the figure closer to the candle, he appraised it with a professional eye. Just an hour or two more of work and this journeying gentleman who waited so long to complete his journey . . . That’s me, he thought, the missing king, fol lowing something, following a promise. It was nearer three hours when he got up from his work, satisfied. He looked out the front window. People were pass ing by, hurrying along to Mid night Mass in a light snowfall. He put on his coat and hat, blew out the candle, and step ped out into the snow to join them. Under his arm he carried a gift. THE BULLETIN, December 27, 1958—PAGE 5-B PIANO SERVICE POLLARD PIANO TUNERS JA. 4-2548 Quality Recapping New Tire Sales & Service BROWN TIRE CO. If You Re-Tire — Can’t Retread CHAMBLEE, GA. 5039 Peachtree Rd. Glendale 7-6005 Robert Brown, Owner GRAY OPTICAL CO. FRAMES & LENSES FITTED COMPLETE $7.95 16 Edgewood, N. E. MU. 8-1154 — Atlanta, Ga. A Merry Christmas And A Happy New Year FROM W. k HHBAX CLrJ., ias SIG COX Air Conditioning Refrigeration Automatic Heating 1431 Greene St. Phone PA. 2-3556 Augusta, Georgia A MERRY CHRISTMAS E. J. McMahon & Company Plumbing and Heating Contractors 540 Bohler Ave. Augusta, Ga. Phones PA. 4-3506, PA. 4-3507 WALKER MOTOR COMPANY "YOUR FORD DEALER" Broad At 14tli Street Augusta, Georgia COFfPOFt/KTJfyKT REALTORS REAL ESTATE AND RENTING INSURANCE — MORTGAGE LOANS AUGUSTA, GEORGIA AUGUSTA FEDERAL SAVINGS & LOAN ASS'N. • 3Vz % ON INSURED SAVINGS 767 BROAD STREET