Merry Christmas


I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas, and that we all remember that, according to the Catholic liturgical calendar, Christmas is just beginning! While Christmas is over for secular America after the Christmas afternoon meal, we celebrate Christmastide through the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord on January 13. This period includes the feasts of the Holy Innocents, the Holy Family, Mary Mother of God, and more. I have posted the hymn “What Child Is This?” below, because I think the tune and lyrics are beautiful. I especially like verse two that connects the incarnation to the cross.

What Child is this who, laid to rest,
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The babe, the son of Mary!

Why lies He in such mean estate
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce him through,
The Cross be borne for me, for you;
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The babe, the son of Mary!

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh;
Come peasant, king to own Him.
The King of kings salvation brings;
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Raise, raise, the song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby;
Joy, joy, for Christ is born,
The babe, the son of Mary!

Photo taken by me on Dec. 23, 2007

This entry was posted on December 25, 2007 at 4:20 pm and is filed under Christmas, Liturgical Year. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

2 Responses to “Merry Christmas”

  1. Rob Says:
    December 25, 2007 at 8:37 pm

    Merry Christmas!

  2. NiceneHobbit Says:
    December 26, 2007 at 4:26 pm

    Hope everyone had a happy, blessed Christmas Day. Our 8 PM Christmas Eve Mass was absolutely beautiful…full organ, piano, flute, classical guitar, and…bells! A warmish Christmas Day here in the Northwest…some of my summer flowers are still blooming and yesterday we saw a cherry tree in full blossom!

    David, you’re right…for Catholics, the real Christmas Season has just begun. From now until Epiphany, and really, until Candlemas on Feb. 2nd. But, I’ll be keeping it without all the outward acoutrements. Today…most happily…my tree is coming down, the creche is being put away, the Christmas CDs are being packed away. My house can become uncluttered again. I do love the Holidays and I am always just as happy to be done with them. Oh well, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to one and all.

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