Transcript

Behold, a new and wondrous mystery. My ears resound to the shepherd’s song, piping no soft melody, but chanting full forth a heavenly hymn. The angels sing, the archangels blend their voice in harmony, the cherubim hymn their joyful praise, the seraphim exalt his glory. All join to praise this holy feast of the Godhead here on earth and man in heaven. He who is above now for our redemption dwells here below, and he that was lowly is by mercy raised. Christ, finding the holy body and soul of the Virgin, builds for himself a living temple, and as he had willed, formed there a man from the Virgin and, putting him on, this day came forth, unashamed of the lowliness of our nature, for it was him no lowering to put on what he himself had made. Let that handiwork be forever glorified which became the cloak of his own creator. For as the first creation of flesh, man could not be made before the clay had come into his hand, so neither could this corruptible body be glorified until it had first become the garment of its maker. Come, then, let us observe the feast. Truly wondrous is the whole chronicle of the nativity. For this day the ancient slavery is ended, the devil confounded, the demons take to flight. The power of death is broken, paradise is unlocked, the curse is taken away, sin is removed from us, error driven out. Truth has been brought back, the speech of kindness diffused, and spreads on every side. A heavenly way of life has been implanted on the earth. Angels communicate with men without fear, and men now hold speech with angels. Why is this? Because God is now on earth and man in heaven. On every side, all things comingle. To him, then, whom out of confusion has wrought a clear path, to Christ, to the Father, and to the Holy Spirit, we offer all praise, now and forever. Amen.