Text taken from The Liturgical Year,
by Abbot Guéranger, O.S.B.
Translated from the French by Dom Laurence Shepherd, O.S.B.
Volume 3.
Christmas - Book II.
Herrad of Landsberg (1130 - 1195) was a 12th-Century Alsatian Nun and Abbess of Hohenburg Abbey, in the Vosges mountains, France. She is known as the author of the pictorial encyclopaedia Hortus Deliciarum (The Garden of Delights). Herrad of Landsberg was born about 1130 at the Castle of Landsberg, the seat of a noble Alsatian family. She entered Hohenburg Abbey in the Vosges mountains, about fifteen miles from Strasbourg, at an early age. She became Abbess there in 1167 and continued in that Office until her death.
These illustrations are from a reproduction by Christian Maurice Engelhardt, 1818. The original perished in the burning of the Library of Strasbourg during the siege of 1870 in the Franco-Prussian War. The text was copied and published by Straub and Keller, 1879-1899.
Date: 1818.
Source: Hortus Deliciarum.
Author: Made at the Hohenburg Abbey, France, 1185 by Herrad of Landsberg (1130 - 1195) These illustrations are from a reproduction by Christian Maurice Engelhardt, 1818.
(Wikimedia Commons)
The Magi have reached Bethlehem; the humble dwelling of the King of the Jews has been thrown open to them; there, says Saint Matthew, they found the Child with Mary His Mother. Falling down, they adore the Divine King they have so fervently sought after, and for whom the whole Earth has been longing.
Here, we have the commencement of the Christian Church. In this humble stable, we have the Son of God made Man, presiding as Head over His mystical body; Mary is present, as the Co-Operatrix in the world's salvation, as as the Mother of Divine Grace; Juda is represented by this Holy Queen and her Spouse, Saint Joseph; the Gentiles are adoring, in the person of the Magi, whose faith is perfect now that they have seen the Child.
It is not a Prophet that they are honouring, nor is it to an Earthly King that they open their treasures; He, before whom they prostrate in adoration, is their God. "See, I pray you," says Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, "and attentively consider how keen is the eye of faith. It recognises the Son of God, whether feeding at his Mother's breast, or hanging on the Cross, or dying in the midst of suffering; for the Good Thief recognises Him on the Cross, and the Magi recognise Him in the stable; he, in spite of the nails which fasten Him, and they, in spite of the clouts [clothing] which swathe Him." [Second Sermon for The Epiphany.]
So that all is consummated, Bethlehem is not merely the birthplace of Our Redeemer; it is the cradle of the Church. Well did the Prophet say of it: And, thou, Bethlehem, art not the least among the princes of Juda [St. Matt. ii 6; Micah v 2].
Alsace, France,
also known as Hohenburg Abbey.
The previous image of The Three Magi (see, above)
was originally created in Hohenburg Abbey.
Photo: 29 June 2009.
Source: Own work.
Author: Mattana.
(Wikimedia Commons)
We can understand Saint Jerome leaving all the ambitions and comforts of Rome to go and bury himself in the seclusion of this cave, where all these Mysteries were accomplished. Who would not gladly live and die in this privileged place, sanctified as it is by the presence of Our Jesus, embalmed with the fragrance of the Queen of Heaven, filled with the lingering echoes of the songs of Angels, and fresh, even yet, with the memory of those ancestors of our faith, the holy Magi !
These happy Kings are not scandalised at the sight they behold on entering the humble dwelling. They are not disappointed at finding at the end of their long journey a weak Babe, a poor Mother, and a wretched stable. On the contrary, they rightly understand the Mystery. Once believing in the promise that the Infinite God would visit His creature, Man, and show him how He loved him, they are not surprised at seeing Him humble Himself, and take upon Himself all our miseries, that He might be like us in all save sin.
Their own hearts told them that the wound, inflicted on man by pride, was too deep to be healed by anything short of an extreme remedy; so that, to them, these strange humiliations at Bethlehem bespeak the design and action of a God.
Israel, too, is in expectation of the Messias, but he must be mighty and wealthy and exalted above all other kings in Earthly glory; the Magi, on the contrary, see, in the humility and poverty of this weak Babe of Bethlehem, the indications of the true Messias.
The Grace of God has triumphed in these faithful men; they fall down before Him, and, full of admiration and love, they adore Him.
Adoration of the Magi.
Artist: Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (1617–1682).
Date: 1655 - 1660.
Current location: Toledo Museum of Art,
Ohio, United States.
Source/Photographer: JAFwsBSXui7rdg at Google Cultural Institute.
(Wikimedia Commons)
Who could describe the sweet conversations they held with His Blessed Mother ? For the King, Himself, of Whom they were come in search, broke not, even for their sakes, the voluntary silence He had imposed on Himself by becoming an Infant. He accepted their homage, He sweetly smiled upon them, He Blessed them; but He would not speak to them; Mary, alone, was to satisfy, by her sublime communications, the holy curiosity of the three Pilgrims, who represented the entire human race. How amply must she not have rewarded their faith and love, by announcing to them the Mystery of that Virginal Birth, which was to bring salvation to the world; by telling them of the joys of her own maternal heart; and by describing to them the sweet perfections of the Divine Child !
They, themselves, would fix their eyes on the Blessed Mother, and listen to her every word with devout attention; and, oh !, how sweetly must not Divine Grace have penetrated their hearts through the words of her whom God, Himself, has chosen as the means to lead men to the knowledge and the love of His sovereign Majesty !
The star which, but an hour ago, had brightly shone for them in the heavens, was replaced by another, of a lovelier light and stronger influence; and it prepared them for the contemplation of that God Who calls Himself the bright and Morning Star ! [Apoc. xxii 16]. The whole world seemed now a mere nothing in their eyes; the stable of Bethlehem held within it all the riches of Heaven and Earth. They had shared in that long expectation of the human race, the expectation of four thousand years — and now it seemed but as a moment, so full and perfect was their joy at having found the God who, alone, can satisfy the desires of man's heart.
They understood and entered into the merciful designs of their Emmanuel; they gratefully and humbly contracted with Him the alliance He so mercifully made, through them, with the human race; they adored the just judgements of God, Who was about to cast off an unbelieving people; they rejoiced at the glories of the Christian Church, which had thus been begun in their persons; they prayed for us, their posterity in that same Church.
We, dear Babe of Bethlehem !, — we, the Gentiles, who, by our regeneration, have become the posterity of these first Christians — we adore Thee as they did, Since their entrance into Bethlehem, long ages have passed away; but there has been an unbroken procession of people and nations tending towards Thee under the guidance of the Star of Faith.
We have been made members of Thy Church, and we adore Thee with the Magi. In one thing are we happier than these firstborn of the Church; we have heard Thy sacred words and teachings, we have contemplated Thy sufferings and Thy Cross, we have been witnesses of Thy Resurrection, we have heard the whole Universe, from the rising to the setting of the Sun, hymning Thy Blessed and Glorious Name; well may we adore and love Thee as King of the Earth !
The Sacrifice, whereby all Thy Mysteries are perpetuated and renewed, is now offered up daily in every part of the world; the voice of Thy Church is heard speaking to all men; and all this light and all these graces are ours ! The Church, the ever-enduring Bethlehem, the House of Bread of Life, gives Thee to us: and we are for ever feasting on Thy adorable beauty. Yea, sweet Jesus, we adore Thee with the Magi.
And thou, O Mary !, teach us, as thou didst teach the Magi. Unfold to us, and each year more clearly, the sweet Mystery of thy Jesus, and, at length, win us over unreservedly to His service. Thou are our Mother; watch over us, and suffer us not to lose any of the lessons He teaches us. May Bethlehem, wherein we have entered in company with the holy Magi, work in us the renovation of our whole lives.
Let us close the day by reciting some of the ancient Hymns written in honour of the Mystery of our New-Born King. Let us begin with the Hymn composed by Saint Ambrose, followed by a Prayer from the Breviary of the Gothic Church in Spain.
In addition, we have a Hymn of the Magi, from the Church of Syria's admirable Poet, Saint Ephrem.
As our offering to Our Lady, we will recite a beautiful Sequence, which our own dear England used to sing in the Middle Ages:
They, themselves, would fix their eyes on the Blessed Mother, and listen to her every word with devout attention; and, oh !, how sweetly must not Divine Grace have penetrated their hearts through the words of her whom God, Himself, has chosen as the means to lead men to the knowledge and the love of His sovereign Majesty !
The star which, but an hour ago, had brightly shone for them in the heavens, was replaced by another, of a lovelier light and stronger influence; and it prepared them for the contemplation of that God Who calls Himself the bright and Morning Star ! [Apoc. xxii 16]. The whole world seemed now a mere nothing in their eyes; the stable of Bethlehem held within it all the riches of Heaven and Earth. They had shared in that long expectation of the human race, the expectation of four thousand years — and now it seemed but as a moment, so full and perfect was their joy at having found the God who, alone, can satisfy the desires of man's heart.
They understood and entered into the merciful designs of their Emmanuel; they gratefully and humbly contracted with Him the alliance He so mercifully made, through them, with the human race; they adored the just judgements of God, Who was about to cast off an unbelieving people; they rejoiced at the glories of the Christian Church, which had thus been begun in their persons; they prayed for us, their posterity in that same Church.
English: The Magi Journeying.
Français: Les rois mages en voyage.
Artist: James Tissot (1836–1902).
Date: Between 1886 and 1894.
Current location: Brooklyn Museum, United States.
Credit line: Purchased by public subscription.
Source/Photographer: Online Collection of Brooklyn Museum;
Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2006, 00.159.30_PS1.jpg.
(Wikimedia Commons)
We, dear Babe of Bethlehem !, — we, the Gentiles, who, by our regeneration, have become the posterity of these first Christians — we adore Thee as they did, Since their entrance into Bethlehem, long ages have passed away; but there has been an unbroken procession of people and nations tending towards Thee under the guidance of the Star of Faith.
We have been made members of Thy Church, and we adore Thee with the Magi. In one thing are we happier than these firstborn of the Church; we have heard Thy sacred words and teachings, we have contemplated Thy sufferings and Thy Cross, we have been witnesses of Thy Resurrection, we have heard the whole Universe, from the rising to the setting of the Sun, hymning Thy Blessed and Glorious Name; well may we adore and love Thee as King of the Earth !
The Sacrifice, whereby all Thy Mysteries are perpetuated and renewed, is now offered up daily in every part of the world; the voice of Thy Church is heard speaking to all men; and all this light and all these graces are ours ! The Church, the ever-enduring Bethlehem, the House of Bread of Life, gives Thee to us: and we are for ever feasting on Thy adorable beauty. Yea, sweet Jesus, we adore Thee with the Magi.
And thou, O Mary !, teach us, as thou didst teach the Magi. Unfold to us, and each year more clearly, the sweet Mystery of thy Jesus, and, at length, win us over unreservedly to His service. Thou are our Mother; watch over us, and suffer us not to lose any of the lessons He teaches us. May Bethlehem, wherein we have entered in company with the holy Magi, work in us the renovation of our whole lives.
Photo: Alexander R. Pruss.
Current location: National Gallery of Art,
Washington, DC. America.
This File: 23 November 2007.
User: User:Jan Arkesteijn.
(Wikimedia Commons)
In addition, we have a Hymn of the Magi, from the Church of Syria's admirable Poet, Saint Ephrem.
As our offering to Our Lady, we will recite a beautiful Sequence, which our own dear England used to sing in the Middle Ages:
Flos pudicitiae,
Aula munditiae,
Mater misericordiae,
Salve, Virgo serena . . .
O flower of purity !,
Sanctuary of chastity !,
Mother of mercy !,
Hail, gentle Maid !
The Magi wonder at the emergence
of the bright new Star.
Image: FREE BIBLE IMAGES
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