Puer natus est nobis
Puer natus est nobis et filius datus est nobis: cuius imperium super humerium eius: et vocabitur nomen eius magni consilii Angelus. Cantate Domino canticum novum quia mirabilia fecit.
Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given. Dominion is on his shoulder, and his name shall be called “The Angel of Great Counsel.” Sing unto the Lord a new song, for he has accomplished wondrous deeds.
So begins the Introit for the Mass of Christmas Day, and again it remains the Introit for today, the Octave Day of Christmas and the Feast of the Circumcision of the Lord. For indeed today is the eighth day following His glorious birth, the day when first his blood was shed for mankind.
“For, this day, is born to you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David. And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger.”
Indeed, sing to the Lord, for what deeds could be more wondrous than the God made Man? What could be more remarkable that the Son of God made flesh for our sake? For He came to redeem us through his Precious Blood, as the grave-like setting of his birth portrayed in the icon indicates. The first drops were shed on this day, the day he received his Most Holy Name!
“And after eight days were accomplished, that the child should be circumcised, his name was called JESUS, which was called by the angel, before he was conceived in the womb.”
It is no coincidence that this day also marks the beginning of the secular year. I should like to quote then, from the spiritual master Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen: “Let us, then, begin the year by circumcising our hearts…A new year, a new life! A new life indeed!—for if we circumcise in ourselves the ‘old man’ with his vices and passions, the ‘Christian’ can grow in us: we can become new creatures, purified by the Blood of Christ, vivified and nourished by His grace, so that it may no longer be we who live, but Christ who lives in us.”
What then, has this renewal to do with the music provided above? Well, as it states: Filius datus est nobis. Unto us a son is given. Unto us, to receive Him every day if we can, to let that Christian life grow in us, to become the new man. His Precious Blood, shed today, is given us every day if we choose to receive. Let us rejoice in music and song, with angels, and shepherds, and kings, for this great gift given us! Aside from the meditative introit, here is a giant playlist of Christmas songs to rejoice throughout this season:
Happy listening!
Sancta Caecilia, or pro nobis!