Gaudete Christus est natus!

Gaudete Christus est natus! December 24, 2011
What the angel announced to the Virgin Mary is finally fulfilled!  Above is a curious detail from the high altar of the Carthusian Monastery of Miraflores in Burgos, Spain.  It depicts the Annunciation, Gabriel stands on the left and the Virgin Mary on the right.  Between them, coming from above is a ray of yellow light and in the middle of this light is baby Jesus diving from heaven into the Virgin Mary’s head.  You don’t see it?  Look below at the red circle.
This is the only time I’ve seen baby Jesus diving from heaven into the womb of the Virgin Mary.  Though it’s an attempt to demonstrate the mystery of the incarnation, this depiction is very problematic.  It implies baby Jesus came down from heaven already in human form, while we know the Virgin Mary conceived him, formed him in her womb and gave birth to him.  If Jesus could come down from heaven already in human form, he would not have needed to be born of the Virgin Mary!  This is the mystery of Christmas, that God made man was born of the Virgin Mary.  That God became like us in all things but sin.
I’d like to share a beautiful medieval Christmas carol called Gaudete, Christus est natus, Rejoice, Christ is born.  There are many recordings and arrangements of this old carol, I enjoyed this particular one I found on youtube.  Below are the words in Latin and English (courtesy of Wikipedia).

 

Gaudete, gaudete! Christus est natus
Ex Maria virgine, gaudete!
Rejoice, rejoice! Christ is born
Of the Virgin Mary — rejoice!
Tempus adest gratiæ
Hoc quod optabamus,
Carmina lætitiæ
Devote reddamus.
The time of grace has come—
This that we have desired,
Verses of joy
Let us devoutly return.
Deus homo factus est
Natura mirante,
Mundus renovatus est
A Christo regnante.
God has become man,
To the wonderment of Nature,
The world has been renewed
By the reigning Christ.
Ezechielis porta
Clausa pertransitur,
Unde lux est orta
Salus invenitur.
The closed gate of Ezekiel
Is passed through,
Whence the light is born,
Salvation is found.
Ergo nostra contio
Psallat iam in lustro;
Benedicat Domino:
Salus Regi nostro.
Therefore let our gathering
Now sing in brightness
Let it give praise to the Lord:
Greeting to our King.

Pictures are mine, all rights reserved.


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