I hope everyone had a blessed Christmas spent with all of the people they love. I was at my in-laws (hence why this is a day late - my apologies)
Colombian Christmas Novena - Day 9
Prayer for Everyday:
O Most Gracious God of infinite love, You loved humankind so much, You gave
us in Your Son the best pledge of Your love, so that Jesus, made man in the
womb of a Virgin and born in a manger, would be our health and remedy. I, on
behalf of all humanity, give You infinite thanks for such a sovereign benefit.
In return for this great gift, I offer You the poverty, simplicity, humility and other
virtues of Your Incarnate Son. I implore You by His divine merits, the discomforts
He suffered when He was born, and sweet tears He shed in the manger, that
You prepare our hearts with profound humility, a burning love and with total
disdain of all that is material and earthly, so that the newborn Jesus will find in
our hearts His crib and abode forever.
–Amen.
(Glory Be… 3 Times)
Meditation
The night closed entirely on the fields of Bethlehem. Rejected by men and
seeing themselves without shelter, Mary and Joseph have left the inhospitable
town, and have taken refuge in a grotto at the foot of a hill. The Queen of Angels
continued riding the donkey that had served her during the trip and in the cave
they found a gentle ox.
The Divine Child, unknown by His human creatures, will have to turn to the aid of
the irrational beasts to heat with their warm breath the icy air of that winter night,
and they, in turn, show Him with this humble act, the respect and adoration that
Bethlehem had denied Him.
It is now midnight, and, suddenly we see within that manger, empty just moments
before, the awaited Divine Child, prophesied and longed-for for four thousand
years with such ineffable yearnings. At His feet the Blessed Mother is prostrate
in such a fashion that no one can imagine. Joseph also approaches Him and
pays Him homage; and so then commences his mysterious and imponderable
role of foster father of the Redeemer of mankind.
The multitude of angels who descend from heaven to contemplate that
unparalleled wonder, break out in joy and make the air vibrate in the harmonies
of the "Gloria in Excelsis,” the same echo of adoration that takes place around
the throne of the Almighty, made audible for an instant to the ears of poor earth.
Summoned by the angels, the shepherds of the region rush to worship the
"newborn" and present their humble offerings.
The mysterious Star of Jacob is already shining in the East, and the splendid
caravan of the Magi begin their journey to Bethlehem, which in a few days time
will come to lay at the feet of the Divine Child gold, frankincense and myrrh,
which are symbols of love, adoration and mortification. Oh, adorable Child! We
who have done this Novena to prepare ourselves for the day of your Nativity,
also wish to offer you our humble adoration; do not reject it: come to our souls,
come to our hearts full of love. Enflame in our hearts the devotion to Your Holy
Childhood, not only limited at the time of your Nativity, but always and forever; a
devotion that faithfully and zealously propagated will lead us to eternal life,
freeing us from sin and sowing in us all Christian virtues. –Amen.
Prayer to the Blessed Virgin
O Heavenly Queen, by your great virtues and especially for your humility, you
merited God’s favor to choose you for His mother. I beg you to prepare my soul
and the souls of all those who at this time are praying this Novena for the spiritual
birth of your beloved Son.
Oh, sweet Mother! Instill in me something of that profound contemplation and
great tenderness you felt while you awaited His coming, so that you make us less
unworthy to see Him, love Him, and adore Him for all eternity. - Amen.
(Hail Mary… 3 Times)
Prayer to St. Joseph
O great St. Joseph, husband of Mary and foster father of Jesus! I give infinite
thanks to God for having chosen you for such a great ministry and for having
bestowed upon you all the gifts proportionate to such greatness. I beseech you,
for the love you had for the Divine Child, that you embrace my earnest desires to
see Him and receive Him sacramentally, while we wait to see Him and enjoy Him
in His Divine Essence in heaven. - Amen.
(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be...)
Poem to be said Every Day
L: My Sweet Jesus,
my adorable child!
R: Come to our souls!
(¡Ven a nuestras almas!)
Come, without delay!
(¡Ven no tardes tanto!)
Chorus: (Instruments are played)
¡Ven, ven, ven! ¡Ven a nuestras
almas, Jesus, ven, ven, ven, ven!
¡Ven a nuestras almas, Jesus,
ven, ven a nuestras almas!…¡No
tardes, tanto no tardes, tanto
Jesus ven, ven!
L: Oh Eternal Wisdom
of the Sovereign God
You have humbled Yourself to
the level of a Child!
Oh Divine Infant,
Come, to teach us
The prudence that makes us
truly wise!
R: Come to our souls!
Come, without delay! Etc…
L:Oh, Holy Root of Jesse!
From the highest heavens
You present to the world
Your fragrant flower
O Most Sweet Child!
Who has been called
Lily of the Valleys
Beautiful flower of the field!
R:Come to our souls!
Come, without delay! Etc…
L:Oh light of the East,
Sun of rays eternal
In darkness we see
the light of your splendor!
Child so precious,
Joy of Christians,
Show us the smile
of your sweet lips!
R: Come to our souls!
Come, without delay! Etc…
L:King of all nations,
Holy Emmanuel
Israel's longing,
shepherd of the flock!
Child who shepherds
with gentle whispers,
the unruly sheep
and the meek lamb!
R:Come to our souls!
Come, without delay! Etc…
L: Open the heavens
and rain from above
Heavenly dew,
holy mist!
Come, beautiful Child!
Come, God Incarnate!
Shine, beautiful star,
Blossom flower of the field!
R:Come to our souls!
Come, without delay! Etc…
L:Come! For Mary
prepares her arms
Where her Child will be seen
in a short while!
Come! For Joseph,
with sacred yearning
Prepares himself to be
a tabernacle of Your love!
R:Come to our souls!
Come, without delay! Etc…
L:Help of the weak,
Refuge of the suffering,
Comforter of the sad,
Light of the exiled!
Life of my life,
My beloved dream,
My constant friend,
My Divine brother!
R:Come to our souls!
Come, without delay! Etc…
L:Behold my eyes,
in love with You!
I kiss your feet;
I kiss your hands,
Prostrate on earth,
I extend my arms to You,
My weeping says even more
than my words!
R:Come to our souls!
Come, without delay! Etc…
L:Come, O Savior,
for whom we sigh!
R:Come to our souls,
Come, without delay!
The Memorare to the Child Jesus
Remember, O Sweet Holy Child Jesus, that You have said to Venerable Sister
Margaret of the Blessed Sacrament, and to all of your devotees, these words so
full of consolation for our poor, burdened and suffering humanity: “Draw from this
Divine Heart. Ask all that you desire through the merits of My Holy Childhood.
Nothing will be refused to you.”
(Here mention your request…)
Full of confidence in Thee, O Jesus, Who are Truth itself, we come to make
known all our misery to you. Help us to lead a Holy life in order to attain a
Blessed Eternity. Grant us through the infinite Merits of Your Incarnation and of
Your Childhood, the graces of which we are most in need.
No, we shall not be deceived in our hope. We abandon ourselves to Thee, O
Omnipotent Child, in virtue of Your Divine Promise, You will favorably receive
and deign to grant our prayer.
- Amen.
