On the Nativity of Christ in the Flesh

Resp.— Praise be to Him Who sent Him! (bis)

1. Blessed are you, O Church, for lo! In you is the sound—of the great feast the festival of the King!— Sion is deserted, her gates are sore thirsty—and forsaken of festivals.— Blessed your gates that are open yet not filled—and your halls that are enlarged yet suffice not!— In the midst of you lo! Is the sound, of the nations that cry out, and have put to silence the People.

2. Blessed are you, O Church, that in your festivals,— the Watchers rejoice amid your festivity!— for one night the Watchers gave praise—on the earth which withheld and refused praise.— Blessed your voices that have been sown and reaped—and in Heaven stored up in garners!— Your mouth is a censer, and your voices as perfumes, breathing vapour in your festivals.

3. Blessed are you, O Church, that all oblations,— are brought unto you in this feast.— The Magi once among traitors, offered them to the Truth.— Blessed your abode that He bowed Himself and dwelt therein, Son of the King Who is worshipped with gifts!— Gold from the West, and spices from the East—are offered in Your Festivals.

4. Blessed are you, O Church, that there is not with you—a tyrant King slayer of babes! For he killed in Bethlehem the little ones at random—that he might put to death the Child that gives life to all.— Blessed your children that are envied and worshipped,— by Kings, for those are promised for Your worship,— the crowns of the East:— he who trod down your dear ones, shall be trodden down by your beloved.

5. Blessed are you, O Church, for lo! Over you—Isaiah too exults in his prophecy—Lo a Virgin shall conceive and bear—a Son Whose name is great mystery!— O interpretation revealed in the Church!— two names that were joined and became one—Emmanuel,— God be with you ever, Who joined you with His members!

6. Blessed are you, O Church, in Micah who cried out—“A Shepherd shall come forth from Ephrata”:— for He came to Bethlehem to take— from thence the rod of Jesse and to rule the nations.— Blessed your lambs that are sealed with His seal,— and your sheep that are kept by His sword!— You are, O Church,— the abiding Bethlehem—for in you is the Bread of Life!

7. Blessed are you, O Church, for lo! In you rejoices—Daniel also the man beloved,— who foretold that the glorious Messiah shall be killed,— and the city of holiness be laid desolate at His killing!— Woe to the People that was rejected and is not converted— Blessed the nations that were called and turned not away!— The bidden guests refused—and others in their stead enjoyed their banquet.

8. Blessed are you, O Church, for on your, lute, lo! King David sings psalms in you! In the Spirit he sings of Him “You are My Son and I— this day have begotten You” in the glories of holiness.— Blessed your ears that have been purged to hear!— On His day watch as His Body and call on Him—be taught by Sion—which saddened His Feast; make Him glad Who has gladdened you.

9. Blessed are you, O Church, that all festivals— have taken flight from Sion and sheltered with you!— In the midst of you the wearied Prophets have found rest—from the labour and the reproach they bore in Judah.— Blessed the books unrolled in your temples,— and the festivals celebrated in your shrines!— Sion is forsaken—and lo! Today the nations shout in your festivals.

10. Blessed are you, O Church, in ten blessings,— which our Lord has given as a mystery complete:— for on ten all the numbers hang, therefore are you perfect by ten blessings.— Blessed your crowns that are twined— with all blessings mixed in every crown!— O blessed one—with every blessing crowned, on me too send your blessing!

11. Blessed are you, Ephrata, mother of Kings, that from you sprang the Lord of diadems!— Micah gave you tidings that He is from everlasting, and the span of His times is not comprehended.— Blessed are your eyes which first of all discerned Him!— you He deemed worthy to see Him when He appeared—Chief of benediction,— and Beginning of gladness, you received first of all.

12. Blessed are you, Bethlehem, that the towns envy you—and the fortified cities!— As they envy you, so the women envy Mary,— and the virgins daughters of princes.— Blessed the maiden in whom He deigned to abide—and the city wherein He deigned to sojourn—a poor maiden,— and a small city, He chose Him to humble Himself.

13. Blessed are you, Bethlehem, that in you was the beginning—for Him the Son Who from everlasting is in the Father!— It is hard to comprehend, that before Time He is—Who in you made Himself subject to Time.— Blessed your ears, for in you first was heard the cry— of the Lamb of God who exulted in you!— Narrow though your manger—He spread Himself on all sides, and was worshipped of every creature.

14. Blessed are you too, Mary, that your name— is great and exalted because of your child!— You can tell then how and how long— and where He dwelt in you, the great One in small room.— Blessed your mouth that praised and enquired not—and your tongue that glorified and questioned not!— For His Mother was uncertain concerning Him—even while she carried Him in the womb; who then shall suffice to comprehend Him?

15. O Woman, you whom no man knew—how can we behold the Son you have borne?— For no eyes suffice to stand— before the transfigurations of the glory, that is on Him.— For tongues of fire abide in Him— Who sent tongues by His Ascension.— Be every tongue warned—that our questioning is as stubble, and as fire our scrutiny.

16. Blessed is he the priest who in the sanctuary,— offers to the Father the Son of the Father—the fruit that is plucked from our tree, though it be wholly of the Divine Majesty!— Blessed the hands that are hallowed and offer Him!— and the lips that are spent in kissing Him!— The Spirit in the Temple— longed for His embrace; and at His Crucifixion rent the veil and went forth.

17. The Archangel gave you greeting—as the earnest of holiness— Earth became to him new Heavens,— when the Watcher came down and sang glory on it.— The sons of the Highest encompassed your habitation— because of the Son of the King that dwelt in you.— Your abode below—to the Heaven above was made like by the host of Watchers.