Jesus, Mercy Incarnate

St. Alphonsus and St. Faustina, can lead us to a deeper sense of wonder at the Holy Childhood of Christ, and to a deeper apprecia- tion of the many blessings He brought to us simply by dwelling among us as a babe in the arms of Mary. 2. Blessings Brought to us by the Christ Child The first thing a theologianmight want to know is why our Lord bothered to come among us a little child at all. Why this infancy preamble, if all the really important work — His teachings, mira- cles, death and resurrection—were only to come later, in his adult ministry? Why did He not just appear one day out of the desert as a fully grown human being? St.Alphonsus addressed this question in his discourses and meditations for the Novena of Christmas: The Son of God, in becoming man for our sake, might have appeared in the world at the age of a perfect man, as Adam appeared when he was created; but as children gener- ally attract to themselves greater love from those who take care of them, therefore he chose to appear upon earth as an infant, and as the poorest and most abject infant that was ever born.... He became man to make himself visible to [us]...And to render himself still more attractive in our eyes, he would make his first appearance as a little child, that in this guise he might be the more charming and irresistible.... 6 Surely, this is part of the mystery of our Lord’s Nativity. After all, who is not touched and gladdened by the presence of a pure, innocent, and affectionate child? What heart is so hardened that it cannot be melted, even if only for an instant, by the attentions and delight of one of these little ones? Therefore, it was to draw near to mankind in a way that would fill us with joy, and draw our affec- tions toward Himself that our Lord chose to come among us, first of all, as a little child. In fact, the Savior expressed His affection for St. Faustina in the very same way. Several times in her life He appeared to her as a 23 Saint Faustina and Devotion to the Christ Child