Nineteen Hymns on the Nativity of Christ in the Flesh 18Hymn XVIII.

Resp.--Praise be to Him Who sent Him! (bis)

1. Blessed art thou, O Church, for lo! in thee is the sound,--of the great feast the festival of the King!--Sion is deserted, her gates are sore athirst,--and forsaken of festivals.--Blessed thy gates that are open yet not filled,--and thy halls that are enlarged yet suffice not!--In the midst of thee lo! is the sound, of the nations that cry out, and have put to silence the People.

2. Blessed art thou, O Church, that in thy festivals,--the Watchers rejoice amid thy festivity!--for one night the Watchers gave praise,--on the earth which withheld and refused praise.--Blessed thy voices that have been sown and reaped,--and in Heaven stored up in garners!--Thy mouth is a censer, and thy voices as perfumes, breathing vapour in thy festivals.

3. Blessed art thou, O Church, that all oblations,--are brought unto thee in this feast.--The Magi once among traitors, offered them to the Truth.--Blessed thy abode that He bowed Himself and dwelt therein, Son of the King Who is worshipped with gifts!--Gold from the West, and spices from the East,--are offered in Thy Festivals.

4. Blessed art thou, O Church, that there is not with thee,--a tyrant King slayer of babes! for he killed in Bethlehem the little ones at random,--that he might put to death the Child that gives life to all.--Blessed thy children that are envied and worshipped,--by Kings, for those are promised for Thy worship,--the crowns of the East:--he who trod down thy dear ones, shall be trodden down by thy beloved.

5. Blessed art thou, O Church, for lo! over thee,--Isaiah too exults in his prophecy,--"Lo a Virgin shall conceive and bear,--a Son" Whose name is great mystery!--O interpretation revealed in the Church!--two names that were joined and became one;--"Emmanuel,"--God be with thee ever, Who joined thee with His members!

6. Blessed art thou, O Church, in Micah who cried out,--"A Shepherd shall come forth from Ephrata":--for He came to Bethlehem to take--from thence the rod of Jesse and to rule the nations.--Blessed thy lambs that are sealed with His seal,--and thy sheep that are kept by His sword!--Thou art, O Church,--the abiding Bethlehem,--for in thee is the Bread of Life!

7. Blessed art thou, O Church, for lo! in thee rejoices,--Daniel also the man beloved,--who foretold that the glorious Messiah shall be killed,--and the city of holiness be laid desolate at His killing!--Woe to the People that was rejected and is not converted--Blessed the nations that were called and turned not away!--The bidden guests refused,--and others in their stead enjoyed their banquet.

8. Blessed art thou, O Church, for on thy, lute, lo! King David sings psalms in thee! In the Spirit he sings of Him "Thou art My Son and I--this day have begotten Thee" in the glories of holiness.--Blessed thy ears that have been purged to hear!--On His day watch thou as His Body and call on Him;--be taught by Sion,--which saddened His Feast; make Him glad Who has gladdened thee.

9. Blessed art thou, O Church, that all festivals--have taken flight from Sion and sheltered with thee!--In the midst of thee the wearied Prophets have found rest,--from the labour and the reproachthey bore in Judah.--Blessed the books unrolled in thy temples,--and the festivals celebrated in thy shrines!--Sion is forsaken,--and lo! today the nations shout in thy festivals.

10. Blessed art thou, O Church, in ten blessings,--which our Lord has given as a mystery complete:--for on ten all the numbers hang, therefore art thou perfect by ten blessings.--Blessed thy crowns that are twined--with all blessings mixed in every crown!--O blessed one,--with every blessing crowned, on me too send thy blessing!

11. Blessed art thou, Ephrata, mother of Kings, that from thee sprang the Lord of diadems!--Micah gave thee tidings that He is from everlasting, and the span of His times is not comprehended.--Blessed thine eyes which first of all discerned Him!--thee He deemed worthy to see Him when He appeared,--Chief of benediction,--and Beginning of gladness, thou didst receive first of all.

12. Blessed art thou, Bethlehem, that the towns envy thee,--and the fortified cities!--As they envy thee, so the women envy Mary,--and the virgins daughters of princes.--Blessed the maiden in whom He deigned to abide,--and the city wherein He deigned to sojourn;--a poor maiden,--and a small city, He chose Him to humble Himself.

13. Blessed art thou, Bethlehem, that in thee was the beginning,--for Him the Son Who from everlasting is in the Father!--It is hard to comprehend, that before Time He is,--Who in thee made Himself subject to Time.--Blessed thine ears, for in thee first was heard the cry--of the Lamb of God who exulted in thee!--Narrow though thy manger,--He spread Himself on all sides, and was worshipped of every creature.

14. Blessed art thou too, Mary, that thy name--is great and exalted because of thy child!--Thou canst tell then how and how long--and where He dwelt in thee, the great One in small room.--Blessed thy mouth that praised and enquired not,--and thy tongue that glorified and questioned not!--For His Mother was uncertain concerning Him,--even while she carried Him in the womb; who then shall suffice to comprehend Him?

15. O Woman, thou whom no man knew,--how can we behold the Son thou hast borne?--For no eyes suffice to stand--before the transfigurations of the glory, that is on Him.--For tongues of fire abide in Him--Who sent tongues by His Ascension.--Be every tongue warned,--that our questioning is as stubble, and as fire our scrutiny.

16. Blessed is he the priest who in the sanctuary,--offers to the Father the Son of the Father,--the fruit that is plucked from our tree, though it be wholly of the Divine Majesty!--Blessed the hands that are hallowed and offer Him!--and the lips that are spent in kissing Him!--The Spirit in the Temple--longed for His embrace; and at His Crucifixion rent the veil and went forth.

17. The Archangel gave thee greeting,--as the earnest of holiness--Earth became to him new Heavens,--when the Watcher came down and sang glory on it.--The sons of the Highest encompassed thy habitation--because of the Son of the King that dwelt in thee.--Thy abode below,--to the Heaven above was made like by the host of Watchers.