The O Antiphons - O Magnum Mysterium

Gill Nativity

Christmas 2019

There are so many ancient mythical tales that surround Christmas, that we can be forgiven for thinking its all about fantasy. The tale that animals talk on Christmas night is one of those, but, and here I pause gently, this sort of tale seems to me to be one that can be used to a greater advantage. That animals , birds and aquatic creatures communicate is known well, that studying and understanding more those who share life on this planet, reveals a great mystery, which humbles us if we care to spend some time thinking about it, that the creator of all loves all and that glimpses of this love can be found in our animals and yes, in the way we interact and respect them.

There is an antiphon sung at Matins, O Magnum Mysterium, which pulls together two texts, Isaiah 1:3,

"The ox knows its master,
the donkey its owner's manger,
but Israel does not know,
my people do not understand."

This is a prophecy linked to the humble birth of the saviour, and that extraordinary story of the Visitation in Luke, when Elizabeth greets Mary:

'In a loud voice she exclaimed:

"Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the child you will bear!
But why am I so favoured,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?"'(Lk 1:42-43)

Put together in this beautiful text, we have a representation of utter self abasement by God, that the Saviour of the world will be known first by the real innocents of life, the creatures supposedly under our care, but alas often treated abominably by the human race. We can hear their voice in Elizabeth's greeting, and perhaps this Christmas might rmeber that one of the enduring symbols of God's love is the child Emmanuel, God with us, between the Ox and the Ass. There is no need to say anything else, except to enter into that mystery a bit more!

O magnum mysterium,
et admirabile sacramentum,
ut animalia viderent Dominum natum,
iacentem in praesepio!
Beata Virgo, cujus viscera
meruerunt portare
Dominum Iesum Christum.

Alleluia!

English translation

O great mystery,
and wonderful sacrament,
that animals should see the newborn Lord,
lying in a manger!
Blessed is the virgin whose womb
was worthy to bear
the Lord, Jesus Christ.

Alleluia!

Animals All

A Christmas Poem

It was the cat who always said;
'no pillow the babe had for his head,
just straw and wool and sweet mown hay,
tucked in a trough-the place Christ lay'.

The cat was Mary's, she had seen
an Angel come, saw Joseph's dream,
(whose twitching showed disturbing thought,
yet anxieties all came to nought).

Beside the manger, near the byre,
the cat gazed into the burning fire,
which Joseph stoked with stacks of wood,
flatbreads and baking cakes smelt good!

'A star', said Joseph, "A star on high-
Bright shining, brilliant in the sky!"
The cat stretched out her paws to play,
with wisps of fluttering golden hay!

Shepherds came, their clothing torn,
shy young men who looked forlorn.
In clumsy state all sat around
the babe and mother, on the ground.

The Ox and Ass with warm breath came,
nearer to that living flame,
their ancient hearts full of his light-
and gentle love this Christmas Night.

The chickens scratching in the dirt,
stopped, and cleaning feathers pert
bowed with honour, and gleaming eye,
knowing the child was God most high.

All understood, for them not odd-
to be so chosen by our God.
As on this Christmas, so Judgement Day,
animals all will lead the way!

Canon Robin Gibbons

Dec 2019