Novena for the Nativity of Our Lord

O SON of the living God, O Desired of all nations (Agg. ii. 8), the Expectation, the Saviour of the world, do not permit that this glorious solemnity, which transported the angels with joy, and satisfied the longing desires of all the just, should pass without recalling to my mind the greatness of thy mercy, and the excess of that love which brought thee on earth. O Word made flesh and dwelling among us (St. John i. 14), O infinite Goodness, who wouldst rather save than condemn us; Eternal Greatness, who wouldst teach us to practise virtue by thy own example, prostrate at thy crib, there will I dwell, for I have chosen it (Ps. cxxxi. 14), or rather, O most beautiful above the sons of men (Ps. xliv. 3), I present thee my heart, that thou mayest prepare it to become the crib of thy nativity. I offer thee my memory, that it may dwell on the wonders of love, which the manger of Bethlehem exhibits to the world. I offer thee my will, that the view of my Lord and Master become subject to his creatures, may totally destroy its perverse inclinations O drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the Just One; let the earth be opened and bud forth a Saviour. (Isa. xlv. 8.) O brightness of eternal light (Wisd. vii. 26), come and show us the vanity of all that the world calls great. Adorable Infant, Sacred Babe of Bethlehem, in whose very name thy saints have found inexpressible sweetness. I wish I could unite in my heart the faith of the ancient patriarchs; the desires of the just who preceded thy coming; the purity of the angels who longed to announce thy birth; the tender love, the ineffable transports, which thy infant humanity has since excited in thy saints: that thus I may invite thee with more fervour, and receive thee with less indignity into the cold, wretched mansion of my heart. But, my sovereign Lord, though the dispositions of thy angels and saints are far beyond my reach, yet I have a resource of which thou wilt not forbid me to profit. I unite my heart to thine, O adorable Treasure of all thy creatures; I desire to become thy sanctuary, in union with the eternal charity with which thou didst long to be born, for man’s redemption. I unite my heart to that of thy Sacred Mother, and desire to receive thee with the transports of love with which she sighed to behold thee. O most pure Mother of God, deign to prepare the dwelling of thy Divine Infant in my heart—lay thy Sacred Babe therein; but I entreat of thee, by the anguish thou didst endure from the cold and misery to which thou wert obliged to expose him at his birth, that his tears may soften my heart, his love inflame it, and his mercy adorn it with a share in the perfect dispositions of thy pure soul. Amen.