Devotions at the Crib.
Maravovo, Guadalcanar, British Solomon Islands: Melanesian Mission Press, 1933.
THE CRIB is placed in the Church on Christmas Eve. The Bambino is placed either just before or just after the Midnight Mass.
The Priest blessed the Crib with a prayer like this:--
LORD Jesus Christ, bless, we pray Thee, this Crib and grant that it may help us to worship Thee in faith and love, like the Shepherds and the Wise men at Bethlehem; Who livest and rulest with the Father and the Holy Ghost for ever and ever. Amen.
Sometimes the Priest and people all go together to pray at the Crib. Sometimes the Procession stops there (makes a Station) and a prayer is said. It is good if people will go alone to the Church and pray by themselves at the Crib.
The Devotion is in six parts. On Christmas Day we usually say five parts, and on the Epiphany we say the sixth part. There are five Holy Days at this time, and it is good to say one of the parts on each Holy Day. The Days are--S. Stephen’s, S. John’s, Holy Innocents’, Sunday after Christmas and the Circumcision. Of course anyone can say any part on any day, and it is good and helpful for everyone to do so.
The Crib is taken out of the Church on the Octave of the Epiphany.
DEVOTIONS AT THE CHRISTMAS CRIB.
(Standing.)
IN the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
OUR Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen.
1. Priest: Let us think of the Angels and Archangels worshipping God in Heaven, and let us join with them in worship now.
Jesu! the very thought is sweet,
In that dear Name all heart joys meet;
But oh, than honey sweeter far,
The glories of Thy Presence are.No word is sung more sweet than this,
No sound is heard more full of bliss;
No thought brings sweeter comfort nigh,
Than Jesus, Son of God, Most High.Praise Him all ye Angels of His,
And praise Him all His hosts.(Kneel.)
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.Let us pray.
JESUS, at Thy Birth, the Holy Angels worshipped and adored Thee. Do Thou teach us to join our songs with their worship in heaven now. Amen.
2. Priest: Let us think about the Blessed Mother giving her loving worship to Jesus the Son of God.
He that is mighty hath magnified me,
And Holy is His Name.(Kneel.)
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.Let us pray.
JESUS, at Thy Birth, Thy Holy Mother blessed and worshipped Thee. Do Thou help us Thy children to bless and worship Thee as she did. Amen.
Holy Jesus, Thou for our sakes
Came to this poor world,
And the Holy Angels’ voices
Praised Thee.Born of Mary, Mother gentle,
Lying in a stall,
Yet the Lord of earth and heaven,
King of all.At that little stable Altar
With her baby sweet,
Mary lay her love and worship
At His feet.O! the joy and O! the gladness
In the Mother’s heart,
As in humble adoration
There she knelt.Jesus, grant, that we like Mary
May always love Thee,
And in heaven sing Thy praises
And adore.(Stand.)
3. Priest: Let us think about the Herald Angel of God saying to the shepherds--“See! I bring you good news of great gladness, for unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, Who is Christ the Lord.”
Glory to God in the Highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill towards men.(Kneel.)
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.Let us pray.
JESUS, at Thy Birth, the Holy Angels worshipped and adored Thee; teach us Thy children to worship and adore Thee. Amen.
(Stand.)
Hark! the herald-angels sing
Glory to the new-born 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 new-born King.Christ, by highest Heav’n adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
Late in time behold Him come,
Offspring of a virgin’s womb.
Veil’d in flesh the Godhead see!
Hail, the Incarnate Deity!
Pleased as Man with man to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! the herald-angels sing
Glory to the new-born King.Hail, the heaven-born Prince of peace!
Hail, the Sun of righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Risen 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 new-born King.4. Priest: Let us think about the shepherds who went quickly to Bethlehem to see this thing, and how they found Saint Mary and Saint Joseph, and the Baby lying in a manger.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.(Kneel.)
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.Let us pray.
JESUS, at Thy Birth, the Holy Angels worshipped, and the shepherds came to worship too. Help us like them to seek Thee, to find and worship Thee. Amen.
(Stand.)
Once in royal David’s city
Stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her baby
In a manger for his bed:
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little child.He came down to earth from heaven,
Who is God and Lord of all,
And his shelter was a stable,
And his cradle was a stall;
With the poor, the scorned, the lowly,
Lived on earth our Savior holy.And, through all his wondrous childhood,
He would honor and obey,
Love and watch the lowly maiden
In whose gentle arms he lay:
Christian children all must be
Mild, obedient, good as He.For He is our childhood’s pattern,
Day by day like us He grew;
He was little, weak and helpless,
Tears and smiles like us He knew;
And He feeleth for our sadness,
And He shareth in our gladness.And our eyes at last shall see Him,
Through His own redeeming love;
For that Child so dear and gentle
Is our Lord in Heav’n above;
And He leads his children on
To the place where He is gone.Not in that poor lowly stable,
With the oxen standing by,
We shall see Him; but in Heaven,
Set at God’s right hand on high;
When like stars His children crown’d,
All in white shall wait around. Amen.Away in a manger,
No crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus
Laid down His sweet head.
The stars in the sky
Looked down where He lay--
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the hay.The cattle are lowing,
The poor baby wakes,
But little Lord Jesus
No crying He makes.
I love Thee, Lord Jesus,
Look down from the sky,
And stay by my cradle
Till morning is nigh.Be near me, Lord Jesus,
I ask Thee to stay
Close by me for ever,
And love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children
In Thy tender care,
And take us to heaven
To live with Thee there.5. Priest: Let us think of the Holy Catholic Church in all the world bringing worship to Jesus to-day.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.(Kneel.)
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.Let us pray.
JESUS, at Thy Birth, men and angels worshipped Thee. We pray thee to help us, Thy children, whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy precious Blood. Make us to reach the home in heaven with Thy Saints, and with the Father and the Holy Spirit to live for ever. Amen.
(Stand.)
O come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold Him
Born, the King of Angels;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.God of God,
Light of Light
Lo! He abhors not the Virgin’s womb;
Very God,
Begotten, not created;
O come . . .Sing, choirs of Angels,
Sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of Heav’n above:
“Glory to God
In the highest;”
O come . . .Yea, Lord, we greet Thee
Born this happy morning;
Jesu, to Thee be glory given;
Word of the Father,
Now in flesh appearing;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord. Amen.(Standing.)
6. Priest: Let us think of the Wise Men who came from the east, led by a star to Jesus: they rejoiced greatly when they saw the star, and when they came to the house and saw Jesus and His Mother, they worshipped Him.
We have seen His Star in the east,
And are come to worship Him.(Kneel.)
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.Let us pray.
JESUS, at Thy Birth, Wise Men came from afar to worship Thee. Teach us, like them, to bring to Thee our worship and our love: Who with the Father and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth world without end. Amen.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.(Stand.)
As with gladness men of old
Did the guiding star behold,
As with joy they hail’d its light,
Leading onward, beaming bright;
So, most gracious Lord may we
Evermore be led to Thee.As with joyful steps they sped,
Saviour, to Thy lowly bed,
There to bend the knee before
Thee Whom Heav’n and earth adore;
So may we with willing feet
Ever seek Thy mercy-seat.As they offer’d gifts most rare
At Thy cradle rude and bare;
So may we with holy joy,
Pure and free from sin’s alloy,
All our costliest treasures bring,
Christ, to Thee our heavenly King.Holy Jesus, every day
Keep us in the narrow way;
And, when earthly things are past,
Bring our ransomed souls at last
Where they need no star to guide,
Where no clouds Thy glory hide.In the Heav’nly country bright
Need they no created light;
Thou its Light, its Joy, its Crown,
Thou its Sun which goes not down;
There for ever may we sing
Alleluias to our King. Amen.