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Show Santa Claul JfU At, ySuaa 2(My' Ondeod Saint Assailing the Santa Claus myth as 'foolish fiction' and rival of the Holy Child, the Rev. John S. Martin, Mar-tin, editor of the Catholic Review, I declared in a 1949 editorial that Santa the saint has been lost in Santa the sugar daddy and that' the whole idea is bad psychology and bad pedagogy. "Our children learn about the reindeer, but have never heard of ! I L i the ox and the ass," Father Martin continued and recommended that we: "Leave the man in the red suit to those who have nothing better ... for whom life must end In disillusion and dospalr." Father Martin's sentiments are reminiscent of Martin Luther's vigorous campaign against neglect , of the central idea of Christmas, ! which is the birth of Jesus. So, German childien have been taught that the Christkind brings the presents Christkind being depleted deplet-ed as the messenger of the Infant Jesus sent earthward : at Christmastime Christ-mastime to bring happiness to good children. The modern conception of Santa Claus Is, of course. 99 per cent fictional fic-tional and strictly American. But the , p 1 r i t of generosity and thoughtfulness as typified by Santa San-ta Claus is neither sugar daddy-ish nor essentially American. Unfortunately Unfortu-nately not all chldren who await Santa have learned from their mothers' lips the story of the Holy Child. |