Friday - 05/24/2013

A Christmas Psalm

The eternal Son of the Father,
born of the Virgin Mary. . .

Sing for joy to God our help;
with exultant voice raise a shout of joy
to the Lord God living and true.
Because the Lord is the Most High,
the awesome, great King over all the earth.
The most holy Father of heaven,
our King before all ages,
sent from on high the beloved Son
who was born of the Blessed Virgin, Holy Mary.
He called out: "You are my Father,"
and God placed him as the first born,
the highest above all the kings of the earth.

. . .in Bethlehem of Judah. . .

On that day the Lord sent his mercy
and his song in the night.
This is the day the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad.
For to us is given the most holy beloved child,
born for us along the way
and placed in a manger
because there was no room for him at the inn.
Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to those of good will.

. . . as King of all creation. . .

Let the heavens rejoice and earth exult,
let the sea and all that is in it roar,
let fields and everything in them sing for joy.
Sing to the Lord a new song,
sing to the Lord all the earth!
For the Lord is great and highly to be praised;
more awesome than all gods.
Bring to the Lord, families of nations,
bring to the Lord glory and honour,
bring to the Lord the glory due his name.

. . . calls us to service. . .

Cast off the weight of sin
and take up the Lord's holy cross,
follow the Lord's most holy commands
to the very end.
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be forever. Amen.

- St. Francis of Assisi