This is a Holy Communion Podcast. This is a prayer of the great mystical poet St. Ephrem the Syriac, who wrote many hymns about the Nativity. St. Ephrem was Syriac Christian deacon and theologian of the 4th century. Venerated in the East he is also considered a Doctor in the Roman Catholic Church. There are various public domain versions of this prayer available on the Internet.

St. Ephrem’s Nativity Prayer:

The feast day of your birth resembles You, Lord

Because it brings joy to all humanity.

Old people and infants alike enjoy your day.

Your day is celebrated

from generation to generation.

Kings and emperors may pass away,

And the festivals to commemorate them soon lapse.

But your festival

will be remembered until the end of time.

Your day is a means and a pledge of peace.

At Your birth heaven and earth were reconciled,

Since you came from heaven to earth on that day

You forgave our sins and wiped away our guilt.

You gave us so many gifts on the day of your birth:

A treasure chest of spiritual medicines for the sick;

Spiritual light for the blind;

The cup of salvation for the thirsty;

The bread of life for the hungry.

In the winter when trees are bare,

You give us the most succulent spiritual fruit.

In the frost when the earth is barren,

You bring new hope to our souls.

In December when seeds are hidden in the soil,

The staff of life springs forth from the virgin womb.

St. Ephraim the Syrian (AD 306-373)