The Byzantine liturgy suggests we should feel proud at Christmas: Here’s why

Public Domain

Pray this little prayer before the crib and rejoice in the Mother we've been given!

What can God do in your life with one Bible verse a day?

Subscribe to Aleteia's new service and bring Scripture into your morning:
Just one verse each day.

In his last Advent homily of this year, the preacher of the pontifical household, Father Raniero Cantalamessa, cited the Byzantine liturgy of vespers on Christmas Eve.

The prayer invites us to feel a “holy pride,” because we get to claim Mary as our own, a fellow human like us, and our mother!

Let us make the prayer our own in front of the crib this year.

What can we offer you as a gift, O Christ our God, for having appeared on earth taking on our own humanity? Each of the creatures shaped by your hands offers you something to give you thanks: the angels offer you their song, the heavens the star, the magi their gifts, the shepherds their wonder, the earth a cave, the desert a manger. But we offer you a virgin Mother!

Read more:
We have Mary in the same way Jesus did

Support Aleteia!

Enjoying your time on Aleteia?

Articles like these are sponsored free for every Catholic through the support of generous readers just like you.

Thanks to their partnership in our mission, we reach more than 20 million unique users per month!

Help us continue to bring the Gospel to people everywhere through uplifting and transformative Catholic news, stories, spirituality, and more.

Support Aleteia with a gift today!

Donate now!