O
CHRISTIAN, for the love of Christ, and for thine own salvation,
occupy thy mind, during this holy night, with holy thoughts and
aspirations, in order to make thyself worthy of all the graces which
Christ will grant thee on His coming. Consider how St. Joseph and the
Blessed Virgin Mary, in obedience to the edict of Caesar, and in
perfect submission to the will of God, went to Bethlehem, and,
finding no room there, at last entered an open stable, where they
were content to stay. Does not the Son of God deserve all our love
when He thus humbled Himself for us? Tender Him your heart as an
abode, in the following
Prayer
of the Church
O
God, Who givest us joy by the annual expectation of our redemption,
grant that we may securely see Him coming as our Judge Whom we
joyfully receive as our Redeemer, Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who
livest and reignest with Thee forever. Amen.
– Goffine's
Devout Instructions
