the Crib of the Child is surrounded by martyrs
There are the innocent children, the babes of Bethlehem and Juda, who were cruelly slaughtered by the hands of brutal hangmen. What does this mean? Where is now the rejoicing of the heavenly hosts, the silent bliss of the Holy Night? Where is the peace on earth? Peace on earth to those of goodwill. But not all are of goodwill. For the Son of the eternal Father descended from the glory of heaven, because the mystery of iniquity had shrouded the earth in the darkness of night.
Saint Edith Stein
The Mystery of Christmas
Léon Cogniet (French, 1794 – 1880)
Oil on canvas, 1824
Musée des Beaux Arts, Rennes
Carmelite Quotes 
I saved the picture. Awesome painting! Blood was spilled at the birth and death of our Lord.
Gosh,that’s moving. Nothing saccharine about this Saint. Very evocative painting. If I’d been able to conceive,and this had happened to me, I can’t imagine the suffering.
Isn’t that the truth!