Make glad, O ye righteous; greatly rejoice, O ye heavens;
ye mountains, dance for joy. Christ is born, and like the cherubim the Virgin makes a throne, carrying at her bosom God the Word made flesh.
Shepherds glorify the new-born Child, magi offer the Master gifts.
Angels sing praises, saying: ‘O Lord past understanding, glory to Thee!’
It was the good pleasure of the Father: the Word became flesh, and the Virgin bore God made man.
A star spreads abroad the tidings: the Magi worship, the shepherds stand amazed, and the creation is filled with mighty joy.
O Mother of God, Virgin who hast borne the Saviour, thou hast overthrown the ancient curse of Eve.
For thou hast become the Mother of Him in whom the Father was well pleased, and has carried at thy bosom God the incarnate Word.
We cannot fathom this mystery: but by faith alone we all glorify it, crying with thee and saying:O Lord past all interpretation, glory to Thee!O come, let us sing the praises of the Mother of the Saviour, who after bearing child still remained Virgin.
Rejoice, thou Living City of God the King, in which Christ has dwelt, bringing to pass our salvation.
With Gabriel we sing thy praises; with the shepherds we glorify thee, crying: O Mother of God, intercede for our salvation with Him who took flesh from thee!
“Our Lord is coming to us and we must await his arrival with a vigilant spirit. We should not be fearful, like people caught doing wrong. We should not be distracted like those who have placed their heart entirely in earthly goods. . . .
. . .This meeting with Our Lord will not come unexpectedly for the Christian who has been on watch. For him He will not come like a thief in the night. There will be no surprises, because there will already have been many meetings with Him each day; meetings in the Sacraments and in ordinary happenings of the day which have been full of love and friendship.”
In Conversation with God, vol I, -Francis Fernandez