RBWords

The Holy Night

We sate among the stalls at Bethlehem;
The dumb kine from their fodder turning them,
   Softened their horned faces
   To almost human gazes
   Toward the newly Born:
The simple shepherds from the star-lit brooks
   Brought their visionary looks,
As yet in their astonied hearing rung
   The strange sweet angel-tonge:
The magi of the East, in sandals worn,
   Knelt reverent, sweeping round,
   With long pale beards, their gifts upon the ground,
   The incense, myrrh, and gold
These baby hands were impotent to hold:
So let all earthlies and celestials wait
   Upon thy royal state.
   Sleep, sleep, my kingly One!

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

TO MY BELOVED READERS OF RBWORDS, I PROMISE A REMEMBRANCE AT THE CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS EUCHARIST!  I WILL BE SPENDING CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR’S IN HOUSTON AT MY HOUSE OF ASSIGNMENT, HOLY ROSARY PRIORY.  THE MONTH OF JANUARY WILL FEATURE A TRIP TO LUBBOCK, TX, TO SUBSTITUTE FOR THE DOMINICAN PASTOR ONE WEEKEND, AND TO NEW ORLEANS FOR A WEDDING ON ANOTHER WEEKEND.  NEXT YEAR WILL MARK THE 25^TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF RBWORDS!

A BLESSED AND MERRY CHRISTMAS, AND A HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU.  FR. R.B.WILLIAMS, O.P.