What gift can we possibly offer Jesus for His Birthday?
Saint Jerome is about four centuries after the birth of Christ, on a Christmas night, a pilgrim in Bethlehem. He longs to worship the Cave of Birth (Nativity) humbly and prays.
He heard in a vision the sweet Voice of the Divine Infant addressing him and he cried…
– Hieronymus, what will you offer Me today, the day of My birth?
O Divine Infant, You know, for You I have abandoned everything. . . and the court of the High Priests, and the greatness of Rome, and the pleasures and riches. . . And at this time my mind, my whole heart, my thoughts, and my life still, everything belongs to You! What else could I give You?
I have nothing else to give… today, the day of Your Birth.
Then he hears the voice of the Divine Infant saying to him:
– You have Jerome, you have something that you forget you do and today I want you to put that under My feet.
What is this Heavenly King, Love of my Love and Soul of my Life, I really have nothing else to give You… Tell me, sweet Jesus, what more can I give You?
… And after a moment of silence, he heard the Voice of Jesus, as a child, answering him!
– Jerome, give Me your sins!
– My sins, Holy God?!
What can You do about my sins?
– Jerome, give Me all your sins so that I can forgive them all.
And Saint Jerome burst into tears full of emotion, happiness, and love and worshiped the Divine Infant.
pregnant with the Divine Infant, Jesus Christ
Byzantine Christmas Carols
The Uncreated God came down on earth and dwelled in the Virgin
Herourem – herourem- herourerou-herourem
Hail Immaculate , Virgin Mary !
King of all and Lord, You came to Recreate Adam
Herourem – herourem- herourerou-herourem
Hail Immaculate , Virgin Mary !
Natives be glad and delight , orders of Angels Rejoice,
Herourem – herourem- herourerou-herourem
Hail Immaculate , Virgin Mary !
Look out for Him in the caves, in a manger He Is, the Lord,
Herourem – herourem- herourerou-herourem
Hail Immaculate , Virgin Mary !
From the east, the wise men come forth , bringing worthy gifts,
Herourem – herourem- herourerou-herourem
Hail Immaculate , Virgin Mary !
Herod the deceitful heard the message , and was in shock,
Terirem-terirem -tem,
Hail Immaculate, Virgin Mary !
A star showing God’s way , they saw , the wise men from Persia , began
(their journey)
Terirem-terirem -tem,
Hail Immaculate, Virgin Mary !
And ordered a wound, a trauma, and slaughtered Rachel’s infants.
(the Herod)
Terirem-terirem -tem,
Hail Immaculate, Virgin Mary !
Original text in Greek :
Ἄναρχος Θεὸς καταβέβηκεν καὶ ἐν τῇ Παρθένῳ κατώκησεν,
ἐρουρεμ-ἐρουρεμ-ἐρουρερου-ἐρουρεμ, Χαῖρε Ἄχραντε.
Βασιλεὺς τῶν ὅλων καὶ Κύριος, ἦλθες τὸν Ἀδὰμ ἀναπλάσασθαι,
ἐρουρεμ-ἐρουρεμ-ἐρουρερου-ἐρουρεμ, Χαῖρε Ἄχραντε.
Γηγενεῖς σκιρτᾶτε καὶ χαίρετε, τάξεις τῶν ἀγγέλων εὐφραίνονται,
ἐρουρεμ-ἐρουρεμ-ἐρουρερου-ἐρουρεμ, Χαῖρε Ἄχραντε.
Δεῦτε ἐν σπηλαίῳ κατείδομεν, κείμενον ἐν φάτνῃ, τὸν Κύριον,
ἐρουρεμ-ἐρουρεμ-ἐρουρερουρεμ, Χαῖρε Δέσποινα.
Ἐξ ἀνατολῶν μάγοι ἔρχονται δῶρα προσκομίζουσιν ἄξια,
ἐρουρεμ-ἐρουρεμ-ἐρουρερουρεμ, Χαῖρε Δέσποινα.
Ἤκουσεν Ἡρώδης τὸ μήνυμα κι ὅλος ἐταράχθη ὁ δόλιος,
τεριριριρεμ-τεριριριρεμ-τεμ καὶ ἀνανες, Χαῖρε Ἄχραντε.
Θεόδρομον ἄστρον θεώμενοι, μάγοι τῶν Περσῶν ἐξεκίνησαν,
τεριριριρεμ-τεριριριρεμ-τεμ καὶ ἀνανες, Χαῖρε Ἄχραντε.
Κάκωσιν προστάξας ὁ τύραννος, τῆς Ραχήλ τὰ τέκνα κατέσφαξεν,
τεριριριρεμ-τεριριριρεμ-τεμ καὶ ἀνανες, Χαῖρε Ἄχραντε.
αletheια 