![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/599\/2012\/12\/Nativity-unknown-painter.jpg\" "\\"Nativity")
<\/a>\u00a0(Unknown Painter.\u00a0 From Vanderbilt Divinity School Library,<\/p>\nArt in the Christian Tradition)<\/p>\n
\u00a0In winter when the birds put down their flutes <\/em><\/p>\nAnd wind plays sharper than a fife upon the icy rain, <\/em><\/p>\nI sit in this crib, <\/em><\/p>\nAnd laugh like fire, and clap my golden hands: <\/em><\/p>\nTo view my friends the timid beasts-<\/em><\/p>\nTheir great brown flanks, muzzles and milky breath!<\/em><\/p>\nTherefore come, shepherds, from your rocky hill, <\/em><\/p>\nAnd bend about My crib in wonder and adore My joy.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u2014 from The Holy Child\u2019s Song<\/strong>, by Thomas Merton<\/em><\/p>\nand from Alexander Carmichael\u2019s collectin of\u00a0Scottish highland prayers,<\/p>\n
The Carmina Gadelica<\/strong><\/span>:<\/em><\/p>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thou art the joy of all joyous things,<\/p>\n
Thou art the light of the beam of the sun,<\/p>\n
Thou art the first door of hospitality,<\/p>\n
Thou art the surpassing star of guidance,<\/p>\n
Thou art the step of the deer on the hill,<\/p>\n
Thou art the grace of the swan swimming,<\/p>\n
Thou art the loveliness of all lovely desires<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Christmas Day \u00a0(Unknown Painter.\u00a0 From Vanderbilt Divinity School Library, Art in the Christian Tradition) \u00a0In winter when the birds put down their flutes And wind plays sharper than a fife upon the icy rain, I sit in this crib, And laugh like fire, and clap my golden hands: To view my friends the timid beasts- […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2483,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1126","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bites"],"yoast_head":"\n
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