We join in the singing of all the centuries

Hello, everyone! It's early on Christmas morning, and I should be in bed! Went to a lovely Midnight Mass tonight to welcome our Saviour into the world. Rejoice! Our King has come!

He whom the entire universe could not contain was contained within your womb, O Theotokos.

Madonna of the Rose Bower, by Stefan Lochner, circa 1440-42

Before I go to bed, I'd like to offer for your Christmas reading our dear Pope Benedict's Midnight Mass homily for this year. The full text can be found here. It is truly excellent, and I highly recommend you to read it!

An excerpt: (so hard to pick what to quote!)

Saint Luke does not say that the angels sang. He states quite soberly: the heavenly host praised God and said: “Glory to God in the highest” (Lk 2:13f.). But men have always known that the speech of angels is different from human speech, and that above all on this night of joyful proclamation it was in song that they extolled God’s heavenly glory. So this angelic song has been recognized from the earliest days as music proceeding from God, indeed, as an invitation to join in the singing with hearts filled with joy at the fact that we are loved by God. Cantare amantis est, says Saint Augustine: singing belongs to one who loves. Thus, down the centuries, the angels’ song has again and again become a song of love and joy, a song of those who love. At this hour, full of thankfulness, we join in the singing of all the centuries, singing that unites heaven and earth, angels and men. Yes, indeed, we praise You for Your glory. We praise You for Your love. Grant that we may join with You in love more and more, and thus become people of peace. Amen.

*Theotokos is Greek for "God-bearer," the first and foremost title for Mary. Essentially equivalent to the Latin title of Mater Dei -- Mother of God.

The Tree of Life my soul hath seen

This is one of my most favorite songs ever, and one of my favorite "Christmas" songs. It's not really a Christmas song per se, but it tends to be performed around this time of year. :) I added a video of it being sung at the bottom of the post, so you can follow along with the words.
I hope it moves you as much as it does me -- it often brings me to tears.


Jesus Christ the Apple Tree, circa 1784, New England area

The tree of life my soul hath seen,
Laden with fruit and always green:
The trees of nature fruitless be
Compared with Christ the Apple Tree.

His beauty doth all things excel:
By faith I know, but ne'er can tell
The glory which I now can see
In Jesus Christ the Apple Tree.

For happiness I long have sought,
And pleasure dearly I have bought:
I missed of all; but now I see
'Tis found in Christ the Apple Tree.

I'm weary with my former toil,
Here I will sit and rest awhile:
Under the shadow I will be,
Of Jesus Christ the Apple Tree.

This fruit doth make my soul to thrive,
It keeps my dying faith alive;
Which makes my soul in haste to be
With Jesus Christ the Apple Tree.

Choir of King's College, Cambridge
(video from about 1993, so excuse the dated look)

Christmas Novena to End Abortion (Please join us!)

Hello, all!

A pro-life friend of mine has started a 'project' gathering as many people together to pray a Christmas novena for an end to abortion. It would begin on the 16th. Currently the goal is for 500 novenas, with a potential goal of 1000 if we get enough people interested.

He describes the novena intention thus:

Let’s pray for all expectant mothers that they will respect and cherish the life they carry like Mary did, and for fathers that they may support the mother as St. Joseph supported Mary.

For those who don't know what a novena is, it is nine days set aside for a special or particular prayer intention. (the word 'novena' coming from the Latin for nine) Here is a little history behind the custom.

He has set up an email list on the website you can subscribe to so you can get daily reminders to pray the novena in your inbox. :)

There is also a Facebook event for it you can join. :)

Blessings to all, please pass the word around! And please sign up! It won't be very hard to do, trust me, and it's for a good cause!