By the crib wherein reposing, with His eyes in slumber closing, lay serene her Infant-boy, Stood the beauteous Mother feeling bliss that could not bear concealing, so her face o'erflowed with joy. Oh, the rapture naught could smother of that most Immaculate Mother of the sole-begotten One; When with laughing heart exulting, she beheld her hopes resulting In the great birth of her Son. Who would not with gratulation see the happy consolation of Christ's Mother undefiled? Who would not be glad surveying Christ's dear Mother bending, praying, playing with her heavenly Child For a sinful world's salvation, Christ her Son's humiliation She beheld and brooded o'er; Saw Him weak, a child, a stranger, yet before Him in the manger kings lie prostrate and adore. O'er that lowly manger winging, joyful hosts from heaven were singing canticles of holy praise; While the old man and the maiden, speaking naught, with hearts o'erladen, pondered on God's wondrous ways. Fount of love, forever flowing, with a burning ardor glowing, make me, Mother, feel like thee; Let my heart, with graces gifted all on fire, to Christ be lifted, and by Him accepted be. Holy Mother, deign to bless me, with His sacred Wounds impress me, let them in my heart abide; Since He came, thy Son, the Holy, to a birth-place, ah, so lowly, all His pains with me divide. Make me with true joy delighted, to Child-Jesus be united while my days of life endure; While an exile here sojourning, make my heart like thine be burning with a love divine and pure. Spotless Maid and sinless Woman, make us feel a fire in common, make my heart's long longing sure. Virgin of all virgins highest, prayer to thee thou ne'er denyest, let me bear thy sweet Child too. Let me bear Him in my bosom, Lord of life, and never lose Him, since His birth doth death subdue. Let me show forth how immense is the effect on all my senses of an union so divine. All who in the crib revere Him, like the shepherds watching near Him, will attend Him through the night, By thy powerful prayers protected, grant, O Queen, that His elected may behold heaven's moving light. Make me by His birth be guarded, by God's holy word be warded, by His grace till all is done; When my body lies obstructed, make my soul to be conducted, to the vision of thy Son. Amen.