Organist Son flew in from college Saturday night, and then we rose early on Sunday so he could play at an event at a local parish: the Secular Franciscans’ celebration of the 800th anniversary of the Christmas Crib at Greccio. I have a friend who is a member, and she referred him to play. It was one of those incidents – constant through daily life, if you are paying attention – in which responding to nudges of the Spirit brings just what you need - and perhaps didn’t know you needed – into your life.
The parish is, appropriately, St. Francis of Assisi, and it’s predominantly African-American, in a community that has suffered quite a bit economically over the past decades. I had attended my friend’s profession, celebrated there, last year. We went to the marvelous, welcoming parish Mass, after which the service would happen. The prayer service was lovely (Organist valiantly coping with the (maybe shouldn’t have been) surprise that the organ was a Hammond, a type which he’d never played before…)
It was simple: prayers and some readings – including the account of the event from Thomas of Celano – but the prayers are worth sharing and perhaps incorporating into your own final spiritual preparation for Christmas:
We adore you humbled in the manger, O Sun of Justice, who took it upon yourself to provide the satisfaction due to Divine Justice, so that you could show us the mercy we did not deserve. In your goodness, make us grateful for so great a gift, and never let us spurn your love.
We adore you hidden in the manger, O Lamb of God, who willingly assumed the penalty due for the sins of all. Obtain for us, in your goodness, pardon for all our sins, and give us the grace we need to live our lives as a continual sacrifice for you.
We adore you hidden in the manger, O Light of the World, who was born in the darkness of night to show the state in which men were without you, and their need to be enlightened by you. In your goodness, dispel the shadows from our minds, so that we may enlightened by you. I never mistake evil for good, and always follow the light of your truth.
We adore you humbled in the manger, O Prince of Peace, who by being born into the world at a time of peace, wanted to show us the precious effects of your presence. In your mercy, grant that we may enjoy your peace: peace with you by faithfully observing your most holy law, peace with our neighbor by sincere compassion for all his failings, and peace with ourselves by constant mastery of our weaknesses.
We adore you humbled in the manger, O divine Infant, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life; the Way by your commandments, the Truth by your example, the Life by the reward which you have laid up for us in Heaven. In your goodness, help us to observe your commandments and faithfully imitate your example. Then, having followed you as the Way and imitated you as the Truth in this valley of tears, we may deserve to enjoy Life with you in Heaven.
We adore you humbled in the manger, O Divine Wisdom, who accepted pain and humiliation in order to teach us the true path that leads to life. Grant that, by imitating you, we too may accept humiliation and suffering, and find glory in being your disciples, crucified with you throughout our lives.
We adore you hidden in the manger, O Gate of Heaven, who so patiently bore all the discomforts of poverty to teach us the vanity of earthly things. As you accepted the offerings of the poor shepherds, accept the offerings of our praises and of ourselves. Give us the grace to live as strangers to earthly delights, so that we may never depart from you, who alone can lead us to eternal life.
Prayer to the Infant Jesus:
Come to me, O Divine Savior, and dwell in my heart. Instruct me by your example and aid me by your grace, so that I may be poor in spirit, humble in heart, like a stranger on earth, mortified and obedient, as you were in the manger.
You became a child, O Divine Jesus, that I might become a perfect human being. You were wrapped in swaddling clothes to free my soul from the bonds of sin. You were born in a stable, in order to lead me to your glory. You descended to earth, to lift me to Heaven. You were rejected by your people, to welcome me to your kingdom. You were born in the company of animals to merit for me the company of the saints and the angels in heaven.
You became weak to make me strong, poor to enrich me, humble to exalt me, subject to all sufferings in order to free me from all evils and gain for me all blessings. Grant, O Lord, that I do not condemn myself by rejecting these great gifts. Rather, help me to embrace them as you embraced your cross, so that I might reach the glory of Heaven. Amen.
Yes, thank you for sharing those prayers.
This is beautiful. Thank you. Perfect reflections for dinner time prayer.