What Can I Give Him?
by Christina Rosetti
What can I give Him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd,
I would bring a lamb.
If I were a wise man,
I would do my part,
Yet what can I give Him?
Give my heart.
from O Holy Night
by Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born.
Christmas Everywhere
by Phillips Brooks
Everywhere, everywhere, Christmas tonight!
Christmas in lands of the fir tree and pine,
Christmas in lands of the palm tree and vine,
Christmas where snow peaks stand solemn and white,
Christmas where cornfields lie sunny and bright!
For the Christ Child who comes is the Master of all;
No palace too great and no cottage too small.
from God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman
Author Unknown
God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember, Christ, our Saviour
Was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy.
Our Brother is Born
by Harry and Eleanor Farjeon
Now every child that dwells on earth,
Stand up, stand up and sing;
The passing night has given birth
Unto the children's king.
Sing sweet as the flute,
Sing clear as the horn,
Sing joy fro the children,
Come Christmas morn:
Little Christ Jesus
Our brother is born.
A Christmas Carol
by G.K. Chesterton
The Christ-child lay on Mary's lap,
His was like a light.
(O weary, wear were the world,
But here is all aright.)
The Christ-child lay on Mary's breast,
His hair was like a star,
(O stern and cunning are the kings,
But here the true hearts are.)
The Christ-child lay on Mary's heart,
His hair was like a fire.
(O weary, weary is the world,
But here the world's desire.)
The Christ child stood at Mary's knee,
His hair was like a crown,
And all the flowers looked up at Him,
And all the stars looked down.
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
by Charles Wesley
Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"...
Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"
from Carol 3
by Sor Juana Ines de la Crus
Today you see in a stable
the Word speechless,
Greatness in smallness,
Immensity in blankets.
Such wonders! ...
He who had no beginning,
his being of Time begins;
the Creator, as a creature,
is now subject to our griefs,
Such wonders!
from The Blessed Virgin Compares to the Air We Breathe
by Gerard Manley Hopkins
This air...
Minds me in many ways
Of her who not only
Gave God's infinity
Dwindled to infancy
Welcome in womb and breast,
Birth, milk, and all the rest...
Made Flesh
by Luci Shaw
After
The white-hot beam of annunciation
fused heaven with dark earth,
his searing, sharply focused light
went out for a while,
eclipsed in amniotic gloom:
his cool immensity of splendor,
his universal grace,
small-folded in a warm, dim
female space-
the Word stern-sentenced to be
nine months' dumb-
infinity walled in a womb,
until the next enormity-
the Mighty One, after submission
to a woman's pains,
helpless on a barn's bare floor,
first-tasting bitter earth.
Made Flesh
by Luci Shaw
After
The white-hot beam of annunciation
fused heaven with dark earth,
his searing, sharply focused light
went out for a while,
eclipsed in amniotic gloom:
his cool immensity of splendor,
his universal grace,
small-folded in a warm, dim
female space-
the Word stern-sentenced to be
nine months' dumb-
infinity walled in a womb,
until the next enormity-
the Mighty One, after submission
to a woman's pains,
helpless on a barn's bare floor,
first-tasting bitter earth.
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