Praying the Christmas Prayers of the Mystics for Advent:
Preparing for the Charm of Christmas Morning
(Part III)

–slowly savor the sweet sentiments of one of the prayers right now- 

Commemorating the birth of Christ on Christmas morning can be enhanced and enriched by praying the Christmas prayers of the mystics during the season of Advent. The intimate, sweet, and tender language expressed in their prayers can cultivate a calm and caring Christmas charm if we allow it.

So, slowly savor the sweet sentiments of one of the prayers right now by reading, reflecting, and responding to the intimacy of the words.

You are also encouraged to use the practice of the antiphon by praying a noted portion of the prayer in the beginning and end of the prayer to help cultivate an intimate, sweet, and tender mystical moment between you and God.

Antiphon: 

My utter fealty to prove,
Thou tiny Jesu, Light of Light!
Thy cradle so dear
Draws angels anear.
O Child-God! now
Trembling before that humble crib I bow. 

St. Therese of Lisieux
The Angels of the Crib

Thou Word of God, Thou Glory of God!
In awe I gazed on Thee above;
And now I see that Glory of God,
That Word of God, made Man through love.
O Child, whose light doth blind the sight
Of angels in high heaven divine!
Thou’rt come to save the world to-night,
And who can fathom that love of Thine?
In swaddling bands
The Child-God fies.
Lord of all lands!

Trembling before Thy face I veil mine eyes.
Yes, who can fathom this marvelous thing?
God makes Himself a little Child,
He, the eternal, almighty King,
Afar from His own heaven exiled!
Fain would I give Thee love for love!
Thee will I guard by day and night,
My utter fealty to prove,
Thou tiny Jesu, Light of Light!
Thy cradle so dear
Draws angels anear.

O Child-God! now
Trembling before that humble crib I bow.
While earth has power from heaven to bring
My King to want and cold and woe,
Heaven holds no longer anything
To keep me from that world below.
My wings shall shield Thy Baby-head;
Thee will I follow everywhere;
Beneath Thy tiny feet I’ll fling
The sweetest flowers and most fair.

Oh, would some radiant star might fall,
To form Thy cradle, Baby bright!
Would I the dazzling snow could call,
To be Thy curtains pure and white!
Would all the lofty hills might bow
In lowly homage at Thy feet!

Oh, would the fields might bloom for Thee,
Celestial blossoms heavenly sweet!
For all the flowers are smiles of God,
Are distant echoes from His throne,
Are notes that wander far abroad
From that great harp He holds alone.
Those notes of harmony divine
Relate His goodness unto men,
And in their melody combine
To tell His saving love again.

O that sweet melody,
Exquisite harmony,
Silence of flowers!
Ye tell His greatness,
His wonders, His powers!
Well know I, Jesu! that Thy friends,
Thy dearest friends, are livingflowers.
Thou travellest to earth’s farthest ends,
To cull them for heaven’s fadeless bowers.

Souls are the flowers with beauty rife
That draw Thee from the heavens high;
Thy tiny hand first gave them life,
And Thou for them wilt gladly die.
Mystery ineffable!
Thou, Word adorable,
Surely shalt one day weep
When Thou the harvest of those flowers shalt reap. 

Antiphon:

 My utter fealty to prove,
Thou tiny Jesu, Light of Light!
Thy cradle so dear
Draws angels anear.
O Child-God! now 

-now slowly savor these sweet sentiments
and allow a little time for reflection and responses-

 _______________

Pray the intimate prayer of St. Bernard of Clairvaux https://www.urban-initiatives.org/society-urban-monks/praying-christmas-prayers-mystics-advent-preparing-charm-christmas-morning-part

Pray the intimate prayer of St. Gertrude the Great https://www.urban-initiatives.org/society-urban-monks/praying-christmas-prayers-mystics-advent-preparing-charm-christmas-morning-0