Where to go for the soul to appreciate its worth

A child has been born to us

O Holy Night has some striking words, good reason – along with its winning melody – for its popularity each Christmas. Central to its theme is the role of Christ in enabling us to recognize who we are in our fallen state: "Til He appears, and the soul felt its worth." Though we live in a humble state of war within ourselves and without, God was willing to become human, with the one person, Jesus, having two natures, which is the mystery of the incarnation.

One commentator offered this reflection about God's guidance on our soul's worth:

We can't know our true worth by ourselves. It took God to write the ultimate headline —written in the Word made flesh, expressed from all eternity, now born in time, and dwelling among us.

God became a baby! What a challenge to the arrogance of this age, in which fame, wealth and power are the idols heralded by a blind culture, where the goal is no longer "to enjoy the examined life founded on reason". Only with our eyes on the divine finger at work in our own life can we discern our own value, and that of each fellow human, as being reckoned fit for a relationship with God.

The carol, of French poetic origins, is traditionally translated this way:

O Holy night! The stars are brightly shining

It is the night of our dear Savior's birth

Long lay the world in sin and error pining

'Til He appears and the soul felt its worth

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn

Fall on your knees; O hear the Angel voices!

O night divine, O night when Christ was born

O night, O Holy night, O night divine!

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming

With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand

So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming

Here come the Wise Men from Orient land

The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger

In all our trials born to be our friend

He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger

Behold your King; before Him lowly bend

Behold your King; before Him lowly bend

Truly He taught us to love one another;

His law is love and His Gospel is Peace

Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother

And in His name, all oppression shall cease

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we

Let all within us praise His Holy name

Christ is the Lord; O praise His name forever!

His power and glory evermore proclaim

His power and glory evermore proclaim 

The Adoration of the Magi is a tapestry depicting the story of the Three Kings who were guided to the birthplace of Jesus by the star of Bethlehem. It is sometimes called The Star of Bethlehem or simply The Adoration. Ten tapestries of the same type were completed by the British company, Morris & Co., including one in 1894 for the Corporation of Manchester.

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