A sermon of St Bernard---thoughts in celebrating the Incarnation and birth of Chirst
The whole world awaits Mary's reply
You have heard, O Virgin, that you will conceive and bear a son; you have heard that it will not be
by man but by the Holy Spirit. The angel awaits an answer; it is time for him to return to God who
sent him. We too are waiting, O Lady, for your word of compassion; the sentence of condemnation
weighs heavily upon us.
The price of our salvation is offered to you. We shall be set free at once if you consent. In the
eternal Word of God we all came to be, and behold, we die. In your brief response we are to be
remade in order to be recalled to life.
Tearful Adam with his sorrowing family begs this of you, O loving Virgin, in their exile from
Paradise. Abraham begs it, David begs it. All the other holy patriarchs, your ancestors, ask it of
you, as they dwell in the country of the shadow of death. This is what the whole earth waits for,
prostrate at your feet. It is right in doing so, for on your word depends comfort for the wretched,
ransom for the captive, freedom for the condemned, indeed, salvation for all the sons of Adam, the
whole of your race.
Answer quickly, O Virgin. Reply in haste to the angel, or rather through the angel to the Lord.
Answer with a word, receive the Word of God. Speak your own word, conceive the divine Word.
Breathe a passing word, embrace the eternal Word.
Why do you delay, why are you afraid? Believe, give praise, and receive. Let humility be bold, let
modesty be confident. This is no time for virginal simplicity to forget prudence. In this matter alone,
O prudent Virgin, do not fear to be presumptuous. Though modest silence is pleasing, dutiful
speech is now more necessary. Open your heart to faith, O blessed Virgin, your lips to praise, your
womb to the Creator. See, the desired of all nations is at your door, knocking to enter. If he should
Mary's Song to God...Luke 1
Magnificat
My soul rejoices in the Lord
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation.
For he has shown me such favour -
me, his lowly handmaiden.
Now all generations will call me blessed,
because the mighty one has done great things for me.
His name is holy,
his mercy lasts for generation after generation
for those who revere him.
He has put forth his strength:
he has scattered the proud and conceited,
torn princes from their thrones -
but lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things;
the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel,
he has remembered his mercy as he promised to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.
pass by because of your delay, in sorrow you would begin to seek him afresh, the One whom your
soul loves. Arise, hasten, open. Arise in faith, hasten in devotion, open in praise and thanksgiving.
Behold the handmaid of the Lord, she says, be it done to me according to your word.
Canticle
Te Deum
God, we praise you; Lord, we proclaim you!
You, the Father, the eternal -
all the earth venerates you.
All the angels, all the heavens, every power -
The cherubim, the seraphim -
unceasingly, they cry:
"Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts:
heaven and earth are full of the majesty of your glory!"
The glorious choir of Apostles -
The noble ranks of prophets -
The shining army of martyrs -
all praise you.
Throughout the world your holy Church proclaims you.
- Father of immeasurable majesty,
- True Son, only-begotten, worthy of worship,
- Holy Spirit, our Advocate.
You, Christ:
- You are the king of glory.
- You are the Father's eternal Son.
- You, to free mankind, did not disdain a Virgin's womb.
- You defeated the sharp spear of Death, and opened the kingdom of heaven to those who believe
in you.
- You sit at God's right hand, in the glory of the Father.
- You will come, so we believe, as our Judge.
And so we ask of you: give help to your servants, whom you set free at the price of your precious
blood.
Number them among your chosen ones in eternal glory.
Bring your people to safety, Lord, and bless those who are your inheritance.
Rule them and lift them high for ever.
Day by day we bless you, Lord: we praise you for ever and for ever.
Of your goodness, Lord, keep us without sin for today.
Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us.
Let your pity, Lord, be upon us, as much as we trust in you.
In you, Lord, I trust: let me never be put to shame.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. |
