January 1, Mary Mother of God

On this Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God, to whom our church is dedicated, we remember you in our prayers, and wish you a blessed and grace-filled New Year.

Jesus and Mary rest, St. Joseph blows on the fire.
Detail from the Wildung altarpiece by Konrad von Soest

In the Bleak Midwinter

by Christina Rossetti (1830-1894)

In the bleak mid-winter,
Frosty wind made moan,

Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone;

Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
Snow on snow,
In the bleak mid-winter
Long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him,
Nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away
When He comes to reign.
In the bleak mid-winter
A stable-place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty,
Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, whom cherubim,
Worship night and day,

A breastful of milk,
And a mangerful of hay;

Enough for Him, whom angels
Fall down before,
The ox and ass and camel
Which adore.

Angels and archangels
May have gathered there,

Cherubim and seraphim
Thronged the air;

but His mother only,
In her maiden bliss,

Worshipped the beloved
With a kiss.

What can I give Him,
Poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd,
I would bring a lamb;
If I were a wise man,
I would do my part;

Yet what can I give Him -
Give him my heart.

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