31st December
Day 7 of the Octave of Christmas
Christ the Lord is born today;
today, the Saviour has appeared.
Earth echoes songs of angel choirs,
archangels’ joyful praise.
Today on earth his friends exult.
Glory to God in the highest, alleluia
12 Days of Christmas Carol:
On the seventh day of Christmas, my True Love gave to me seven Swans A-swimming: The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments – wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2)
Poem: Nativity Prayer of St Augustine of Hippo
Let the just rejoice,
for their justifier is born.
Let the sick and infirm rejoice,
For their saviour is born.
Let the captives rejoice,
For their Redeemer is born.
Let slaves rejoice,
for their Master is born.
Let free men rejoice,
For their Liberator is born.
Let All Christians rejoice,
For Jesus Christ is born.
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The featured image is “Nativity” (between 1304 and 1306), by Giotto, and is in the public domain, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
