Tuesday before Christmas

The following hymn is composed by St. Peter Damian, in honor of the Blessed Virgin.


May all earth and heaven be glad and resound with the praises which, in this double choir, are sung to the maternity of the Virgin.

Yea, this Virgin, Mother of the Word, is made the gate of heaven; she gave God to the world, and, by this, opened heaven to us.

This happy Mother of Jesus conceived Him without humiliation, and bore Him without a moan; such a Mother could not be under the law put on Eve.

O that rich treasury of Mary's womb! it held the price which purchased our redemption, setting us free from the yoke of our debt.

The Son of the eternal Father dwelt within her; the Holy Ghost overshadowed her; what is such a Virgin's womb, but a new-made heaven?

To thee, Most High, Who wast born of the Virgin, be praise! Honor ineffable be to the Father, and to the Holy Spirit.

Amen.


The following prayer is from the Gallican Sacramentary:

Benign Creator of the light, visiting an unworthy people! the oracles of the prophetic predictions, which were announced in the past ages, thou didst fulfill by the mouth of John, thou didst perfect by His works, thou didst accomplish by His mission. Grant to thy people, making supplication to thee, to serve thee without fear; that, through the bowels of thy mercy, we, being filled with knowledge, may deserve to be directed by Truth.