Traditional Catholic Prayers: Nativity of Christ

Traditional Catholic Prayers: Nativity of Christ

Vladimir Borovikovsky - Nativity of Christ (19th Century)

The little child Jesus is already here

The Kings and the shepherds adore without fear

There is much to behold for the wise and the fool:

Saint Joseph, the Virgin; the ox and the mule.

Let us adore the little child

With pleasure and happy cheer;

Let us adore as the Magi do

As the Magi adore Him here.

A child is born in Bethlehem;

Rejoice, therefore, Jerusalem.

Low in the manger lieth He,

Whose kingdom without end shall be...

All glory, Lord, to Thee be done,

Now seen in flesh, the Virgin's Son.[35]

Thou camest down, O heaven's King,

From starry sky,

And in a cave so poor and cold

I see Thee lie.

I see Thee tremble, blessed God;

Why should this be?

Thy sacrifice, O love Divine,

Is all for me.

About the field they piped full right,

Even about the midst of the night;

They saw come down from heaven a light:

Tirle, tirle--so merrily

The shepherds began to blow.[37]

Noel, Noel, Noel,

Tidings good I think to tell.

The boar's head that we bring here,

Betokeneth a prince without peer

Is born today to buy us dear.

Noel, Noel, Noel.

In dulci jubilo

Sing ye, and gladness show!

See our bliss reclining

In praesepio,

The very sun outshining

Matris in gremio.

Alpha es et O,

Alpha es et O.

Thy shining eyes, so blue and light,

Thy tender cheeks, so soft and bright;

I will remain forever Thine,

O dearest Son, O child Divine....

Hajej, nynej, Jesus dear,

Sleep in peace, and do not fear.

We shall bundle you to rest,

Keep you close to our breast.

Hajej, nynej, darling Child,

Son of Mary, Saviour mild.

As Joseph was a-walking,

He heard an angel sing:

This night shall be born

Our heavenly king.

He neither shall be born

In housen or in hall,

Nor in the place of Paradise,

But in an ox's stall.

He neither shall be clothed

In purple nor in pall,

But all in fair linen,

As were babies all..

The gates of Heaven's glory did spring open suddenly

So came we running to the crib,

I and also you,

A beeline into Bethlehem, Hopsa, trala loo:

"O, baby dear, take anything

Of all the little gifts we bring:

Have apples or have butter,

Maybe pears or yellow cheese;

Or would you rather have some nuts,

Or plums, or what you please.

Alleluja, alleluja;

AIle-, alle-, Alleluja."[44]

Now Christmas is here again,

And Christmas is here again,

And Christmas we'll have till Easter.

Then Easter is here again,

And Easter is here again,

And Easter we'll have till Christmas.

Now He is with us forever,

And He is with us forever,

For He is here now and comes again.

Joseph, dearest Joseph mine,

Help me rock my baby fine!

What Gabriel foretold

Is now fulfilled,

Eia, Eia,

The Virgin bore a child

As the Father's wisdom willed.

Eia, Eia.

Joseph, dearest Joseph mine,

Help me rock my baby fine!

The blessed light of Saints above,

Sweet hope of mortals here below,

Art thou, O Jesu, who the love

Of human home and hearth didst know.

O Mary, thou art full of grace,

Who careth for Jesus with tender love,

And kissed his blessed, smiling face

Whilst in thine arms he took his rest.

O Joseph, thou of all our race

Elected wast to guard the fame

Of Mary, Virgin full of grace,

And give her Son a father's name.

O Mary! Joseph! holy twain

From Jesse's root and David's seed,

Who ushered in salvation's reign,

Help all who at Christ's altars plead.

The sun declineth towards the west,

And dusk of night is drawing near,

O take to God the heart's behest

Of each and all who linger here.

Sweet home of Nazareth, in thee

All grace and virtue can we see;

Lord, grant each Christian home to be,

Like thine, a holy family.

Praise God, who served, whilst here on earth,

Joseph, and her who gave him birth; .

Whom with the Father, we adore,

And Holy Ghost, for evermore. Amen.

Hymn for the Nativity

Sons of men, do you truly speak of justice? Dwellers on the earth,
do you truly judge with fairness?
We confess with unshakable faith
that God, who was made man
and who was given birth by a Virgin.
Before all time he was begotten.
of an immeasurable Father;
now we adore him who became incarnate
in a Virgin’s womb.
He is the creator of all,
himself remaining invisible and distinct from creation.
So we are able to say:
in you, Lord, is clemency; glory be to you.
O Holy God,
you have deigned to be born, a tiny child, from a Virgin.
O God, holy and strong,
you have willed to rest in the arms of Mary.
O God, holy and immortal,
you have come to rescue Adam from hell.
O immaculate Virgin, Mother of God, full of grace,
Emmanuel, whom you have carried,
is the fruit of your womb.
In your maternal bosom you have nourished all men.
You are above all praise and all glory.
Hail, Mother of God, joy of the angels.
The fullness of your grace
goes beyond what the prophets foretold.
The Lord is with you,
you have given birth
to the Saviour of the world.

Fragment from an ancient eucharistic liturgy

Traditional Catholic Prayers: Nativity of Christ

Traditional Catholic Prayers: Nativity of Christ

Vladimir Borovikovsky - Nativity of Christ (19th Century)

The little child Jesus is already here

The Kings and the shepherds adore without fear

There is much to behold for the wise and the fool:

Saint Joseph, the Virgin; the ox and the mule.

Let us adore the little child

With pleasure and happy cheer;

Let us adore as the Magi do

As the Magi adore Him here.

A child is born in Bethlehem;

Rejoice, therefore, Jerusalem.

Low in the manger lieth He,

Whose kingdom without end shall be...

All glory, Lord, to Thee be done,

Now seen in flesh, the Virgin's Son.[35]

Thou camest down, O heaven's King,

From starry sky,

And in a cave so poor and cold

I see Thee lie.

I see Thee tremble, blessed God;

Why should this be?

Thy sacrifice, O love Divine,

Is all for me.

About the field they piped full right,

Even about the midst of the night;

They saw come down from heaven a light:

Tirle, tirle--so merrily

The shepherds began to blow.[37]

Noel, Noel, Noel,

Tidings good I think to tell.

The boar's head that we bring here,

Betokeneth a prince without peer

Is born today to buy us dear.

Noel, Noel, Noel.

In dulci jubilo

Sing ye, and gladness show!

See our bliss reclining

In praesepio,

The very sun outshining

Matris in gremio.

Alpha es et O,

Alpha es et O.

Thy shining eyes, so blue and light,

Thy tender cheeks, so soft and bright;

I will remain forever Thine,

O dearest Son, O child Divine....

Hajej, nynej, Jesus dear,

Sleep in peace, and do not fear.

We shall bundle you to rest,

Keep you close to our breast.

Hajej, nynej, darling Child,

Son of Mary, Saviour mild.

As Joseph was a-walking,

He heard an angel sing:

This night shall be born

Our heavenly king.

He neither shall be born

In housen or in hall,

Nor in the place of Paradise,

But in an ox's stall.

He neither shall be clothed

In purple nor in pall,

But all in fair linen,

As were babies all..

The gates of Heaven's glory did spring open suddenly

So came we running to the crib,

I and also you,

A beeline into Bethlehem, Hopsa, trala loo:

"O, baby dear, take anything

Of all the little gifts we bring:

Have apples or have butter,

Maybe pears or yellow cheese;

Or would you rather have some nuts,

Or plums, or what you please.

Alleluja, alleluja;

AIle-, alle-, Alleluja."[44]

Now Christmas is here again,

And Christmas is here again,

And Christmas we'll have till Easter.

Then Easter is here again,

And Easter is here again,

And Easter we'll have till Christmas.

Now He is with us forever,

And He is with us forever,

For He is here now and comes again.

Joseph, dearest Joseph mine,

Help me rock my baby fine!

What Gabriel foretold

Is now fulfilled,

Eia, Eia,

The Virgin bore a child

As the Father's wisdom willed.

Eia, Eia.

Joseph, dearest Joseph mine,

Help me rock my baby fine!

The blessed light of Saints above,

Sweet hope of mortals here below,

Art thou, O Jesu, who the love

Of human home and hearth didst know.

O Mary, thou art full of grace,

Who careth for Jesus with tender love,

And kissed his blessed, smiling face

Whilst in thine arms he took his rest.

O Joseph, thou of all our race

Elected wast to guard the fame

Of Mary, Virgin full of grace,

And give her Son a father's name.

O Mary! Joseph! holy twain

From Jesse's root and David's seed,

Who ushered in salvation's reign,

Help all who at Christ's altars plead.

The sun declineth towards the west,

And dusk of night is drawing near,

O take to God the heart's behest

Of each and all who linger here.

Sweet home of Nazareth, in thee

All grace and virtue can we see;

Lord, grant each Christian home to be,

Like thine, a holy family.

Praise God, who served, whilst here on earth,

Joseph, and her who gave him birth; .

Whom with the Father, we adore,

And Holy Ghost, for evermore. Amen.

Hymn for the Nativity

Sons of men, do you truly speak of justice? Dwellers on the earth,
do you truly judge with fairness?
We confess with unshakable faith
that God, who was made man
and who was given birth by a Virgin.
Before all time he was begotten.
of an immeasurable Father;
now we adore him who became incarnate
in a Virgin’s womb.
He is the creator of all,
himself remaining invisible and distinct from creation.
So we are able to say:
in you, Lord, is clemency; glory be to you.
O Holy God,
you have deigned to be born, a tiny child, from a Virgin.
O God, holy and strong,
you have willed to rest in the arms of Mary.
O God, holy and immortal,
you have come to rescue Adam from hell.
O immaculate Virgin, Mother of God, full of grace,
Emmanuel, whom you have carried,
is the fruit of your womb.
In your maternal bosom you have nourished all men.
You are above all praise and all glory.
Hail, Mother of God, joy of the angels.
The fullness of your grace
goes beyond what the prophets foretold.
The Lord is with you,
you have given birth
to the Saviour of the world.

Fragment from an ancient eucharistic liturgy

Traditional Catholic Prayers: The Birth of Christ, Glory to God in the highest, Te Deum

Traditional Catholic Prayers: The Birth of Christ, Glory to God in the highest, Te Deum

The birth of Christ.

Luke Chapter 2

2:1 And it came to pass that in those days there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled.
2:2 This enrolling was first made by Cyrinus, the governor of Syria.
2:3 And all went to be enrolled, every one into his own city.
2:4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem: because he was of the house and family of David.
2:5 To be enrolled with Mary his espoused wife, who was with child.
2:6 And it came to pass that when they were there, her days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
2:7 And she brought forth her first born son and wrapped him up in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger: because there was no room for them in the inn.
2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds watching and keeping the night watches over their flock.
2:9 And behold an angel of the Lord stood by them and the brightness of God shone round about them: and they feared with a great fear.
2:10 And the angel said to them: Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy that shall be to all the people:
2:11 For, this day is born to you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David.
2:12 And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger.
2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts, praising God and saying:
2:14 Glory to God in the highest: and on earth peace to men of good will.

Glory to God in the highest, and upon earth peace,
Good-will among men:
We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we give thanks to Thee,
We worship Thee, we glorify Thee,
For Thy great glory.
O Lord the King in heaven, God the Father Almighty,
O Lord the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ,
And Holy Spirit:
O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
Who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us:
O Thou who takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer:
O Thou who sittest at the right hand of the Father, have mercy upon us:
For Thou only art holy, Thou only art the Lord,
Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father.Amen.

Every day will I bless Thee,
And praise Thy Name for ever,
And for ever and ever.
Vouchsafe, O Lord, through this day also
That we may be kept without sin,
Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers,
And praised and glorified be Thy Name
For ever and ever. Amen.
Blessed art Thou, O Lord: teach me Thy judgments.
Blessed art Thou, O Lord: teach me Thy judgments.
Blessed art Thou, O Lord: teach me Thy judgments.
O Lord, Thou hast been our refuge from generation to generation:
I have said: O Lord, have mercy upon me,
Heal my soul, for I have sinned against Thee.
O Lord, to Thee have I fled for refuge: teach me to do Thy will,
For Thou art my God,
For with Thee is the fountain of life.
In Thy light shall we see light:
Extend Thy mercy to them that know Thee.

TE DEUM

-

We praise thee, O God, we acknowledge thee to be the Lord.
All the earth doth worship thee, the Father everlasting.
To thee all Angels cry aloud, the Heavens, and all the Powers therein.
To thee Cherubim and Seraphim continually do cry.

Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth;
Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty of thy glory.
The glorious company of the Apostles praises thee.
The admirable company of the Prophets praises thee.
The white robed army of Martyrs praises thee.
The holy Church throughout all the world doth acknowledge thee;
The Father, of an infinite Majesty.
Thine adorable, true, and only Son;
Also the Holy Spirit, the Comforter.
Thou art the King of Glory, O Christ.
Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father.

Thou, having taken upon thee to deliver man, didst not disdain the Virgin's womb.
When thou hadst overcome the sting of death, thou didst open the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers.
Thou sittest at the right hand of God, in the glory of the Father.
We believe that thou shalt come to be our Judge.

We therefore pray thee, help thy servants, whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious Blood.

Make them to be numbered with thy Saints, in glory everlasting.
O Lord, save thy people, and bless thine heritage.
Govern them, and lift them up for ever.
Day by day we bless thee.

And we praise thy name for ever, yea for ever and ever.
Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin.
O Lord, have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us.
O Lord, let thy mercy be upon us,as we have hoped in thee.
O Lord, in thee have I trusted, let me not be confounded for ever.

V. Blessed art thou, O Lord the God of our fathers.

R. And worthy to be praised and glorious for ever.

V. Let us bless the Father and the Son with the Holy Spirit.

R. Let us praise and magnify him for ever.

V. Blessed art thou, O Lord, in the firmament of heaven.

R. And worthy to be praised and glorious and exalted for ever.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto thee.

V. The Lord be with you.

R. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

O GOD, whose mercies are numberless and the treasure of whose goodness has no end, we give thanks to thy most gracious Majesty for the gifts thou hast bestowed, beseeching thy mercy that, as thou grantest the petitions of them that ask, so, not forsaking them, thou wilt prepare them for rewards to come, through Christ Jesus our only Lord and Saviour Who lives and reigns with Thee in the Unity and Power and Bond of Love of the Holy Spirit our Paraclete unto the endless ages of ages to come. R. Amen.

ABIDE WITH US O LORD

FOR IT IS TOWARD EVENING