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In the 20th century, Irish-American songwriter George M. Cohan composed a song called "Give my Regards to Broadway" in which he makes a reference to one of New York City's legendary landmarks: Herald Square.

"Remember me to Herald Square" was the appeal made by the American jockey Johnny Jones in the play bearing his name. Today, Herald Square is the site of Macy's flagship department store, but in the days of Mr. Cohan, it was the site of the New York Herald Tribune, one of the many daily newspapers of that bygone era.

In those days, it was not uncommon for boys peddling the newspaper to cry in a loud voice something like, "Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Titanic sinks! Many lives lost!"

The newspaper's headline was often reason enough to entice the potential reader to part with a nickel, the average cost of a daily newspaper a century ago.

According to the dictionary, a herald is "any bearer of important news; a messenger." In St. Luke's narrative of the birth of Christ, an angel, one of God's heralds, allays the fears of a terrified Mary and Joseph.

The evangelist writes: "The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone round them. The angel said, 'Do not be afraid; I bring you news of great joy, joy to be shared by the whole people. Today in the house of David a savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord'" (Lk 2:9-11).

One of my former professors in the seminary, noted Scripture scholar Rev. James Turro, pointed out that those angelic messengers of God figure prominently in New Testament accounts of Jesus' coming: His annunciation, His birth and His early days on earth. The angelic presence at these rich moments in the story of Jesus hints of the divinity of the child that is born.

Let us not forget that one of most memorable of Christmas carols is, "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing," the words of which are a ringing affirmation of the Good News of Christ's birth and our profound need to sing the praises of the Lord.

One of the many reasons we are called upon to rejoice at Christmas is because of the angels' tidings of great joy.

The secular world has generally dismissed the Good News of Christmas by largely ignoring it. We are normally greeted with the bland, inoffensive "Happy Holidays." That has missed the point of why Christmas is unlike any other holiday: In the person of the infant Christ, God has drawn near to us. He is Emmanuel, a name which means "God is with us" (Mt. 1:23).

As another herald of the Gospel, St. John, wrote in his Gospel, "The Word was made flesh and lived among us, and we saw His glory" (Jn. 1:14).

On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, my parish, Sacred Heart in Troy, will, by the grace of God, become Herald Square. Together with that great Apostle to the gentiles, St. Paul, we will proclaim joyfully to the congregation assembled for Christmas Mass the Good News that the prophecy of Isaiah (62:11) has been fulfilled: "Your savior comes!"

(Father Yanas is pastor of Sacred Heart parish in Troy.)[[In-content Ad]]

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