We are almost there...
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O my Jesus, for many the road to Bethlehem is long, arduous and exhausting, much as it was for Our Lady and St. Joseph. Though we see in the distance the lights of the little town and hear the festive songs of the marketplace, for many the arrival at our destination is a disappointment. Enlighten our hearts - for darkness is not dark for you! Make us understand that it is exactly our poverty and misery which attracts you most and prompted you to come down for our salvation. You did not despise the poverty and meanness of the stable as the place of your birth; on the margins of respectability, amidst the dumb beasts. Neither did you reject the poor illiterate shepherds who came to adore you... O Infant God, help us to be steadfast in our faith, confident you will reject no one who comes to you. Open our hearts to accept your merciful love... to believe in your love... "Not pit is so deep, that your love is not deeper still." Amen.
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+Psalm+
.Your ways O Lord make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior.
Good and upright is the Lord;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
he teaches the humble his way.
All the paths of the Lord are kindness and constancy
toward those who keep his covenant and his decrees,
The friendship of the Lord is with those who fear him,
and his covenant, for their instruction. Ps. 25
Art: Arrival in Bethlehem, Luc-Olivier Merson, 1846-1920
Beautiful artwork. Do you know when it was painted?
ReplyDeleteHid Diane, Luc-Olivier Merson lived 1846-1920.
ReplyDeleteThe vision of St. Hildegard of Bingen and the Holy Father's Christmas address to the Curia can be found on Roman Catholic Imperialist for today, Thursday, December 23. I mentioned Scivias, Bk 3. But I believe I'm wrong about that. Wasn't aware that she had another book of visions. Sorry about that. Very interesting read.
ReplyDeleteHark, a herald voice is calling;
ReplyDelete"Christ is nigh," it seems to say;
"Cast away the dreams of darkness,
O ye children of the day."
Startled at the solemn warning,
Let the earth-bound soul arise;
Christ, her Sun, all sloth dispelling,
Shines upon the morning skies.
Lo, the Lamb, so long expected,
Comes with pardon down from heaven;
let us haste, with tears of sorrow,
One and all to be forgiven.
So when next He comes with glory,
Wrapping all the earth in fear,
May He then as our defender
On the clouds of heaven appear.
Honor, glory, virtue, merit,
To the Father and the Son,
With the co-eternal Spirit, While eternal ages run.
O Emmanuel, our king and lawgiver, the expectation of all nations and their Saviour: come and save us, O lord our God.
Hymn for Lauds during Advent; seventh and last of the Great Antiphons preceeding Christmas.