Studying in convent meant celebrating the Christmas with all its Zeal. And as the young we were taught so many Carols, they are so beautiful teaching the Spirit of Christmas. However, my absolute favourite, the one that makes me know it’s Christmas at last, is the setting of Christina Rossetti’s beautiful poem to music, ‘In the Bleak Mid-Winter’
Its absolutely amazing –
‘In the bleak midwinter, 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 midwinter, 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 midwinter a stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.
Enough for Him, whom cherubim, worship night and day,
Breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, whom angels fall 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 I can I give Him: give my heart.’
Love
Rekha Reddy
New Jersey
Must read Christmas Moments : ” Share the Love by giving to the Needy”, Jyothi Peterson
Must read 50 Stars of Christmas” : St Andrews Basillica, Arthukul Kerala – A tale of Religious Harmony!
