A Prayer for Christmas, composed by one of our readers

Adoration of the Shepherds by Charles Le Brun (1689)

Christ is with us! 

Rejoice, the Christ child is born!
Not of lofty or rich estate,
but, God's only Son sent to us. 

Praise God the Father and Rejoice in Christ the Son,
Holy Emmanuel, come among us to save us from sin. 

You are beyond the power of speech,
yet all that we speak stems from You.
You are beyond the power of thought,
yet all that we can conceive of springs from You.
All things proclaim You,
All the joys and pain of the world meet in You.

All things utter a prayer to You,
a silent hymn composed by You.
You sustain everything that exists,
and all things move together according to Your Will.
You are the summit of all that exists.
You are one and You are all.

Lord Jesus may your light shine on our way,
as once it guided the steps of the Magi:
that we too may be led into your presence
and Worship you, the Child of Mary,
the Word of the Father,
the King of Nations,
the Saviour of Mankind;
to You be Glory Forever and Ever.
Amen.

This beautiful and thoughtful prayer as well as the image of the Adoration of the Shepherds by Le Brun were both sent to me by Anne, one of the Guild's supporters.

May I also wish all the Guild members and supporters and all readers of this blog a holy and joyful Christmas season!

Dylan Parry (A Reluctant Sinner)