​Baby Jesus wrapped in a swaddling corporal cloth.

What a beautiful, 'hour and moment' of Christmas Eve Mass last night was! 

And we at least get 8 more nights of potent moments as part of the Christmas octave, and 12 if you're going by Christmastide! ;-) 
 
That 'hour and moment' is too much to take in, all in one night, for us mere mortals.  I'm so very grateful for octaves, tides, and seasons in our liturgical year to give us time to unpack, diver deeper, and savor the mysteries of our beautiful redemption!  
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​My favorite image from last night's "Midnight Mass"  was seeing the infant Jesus lovingly and solemnly processed to the crèche, wrapped in a 'swaddling' corporal cloth by our pastor before he blessed the nativity scene. 
 
(The corporal cloth is the small cloth used on the altar beneath the chalice and paten during the Liturgy of the Eucharist at Mass in order to catch any particles or drops of the Precious Body or Blood of Jesus.) 
 
Seeing the figurine of the tender, newborn King wrapped in a corporal cloth beautifully deepened the image of Christ as being our Living Bread come down from Heaven for us, which is exactly what happens at Mass. Every. Single. Time.
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​We relive that 'hour and moment' in every Mass!  (You can literally think, 'Merry Christmas' every Mass!)
 
It also beautifully ties in with the image of placing tender new shoots of Christmas Wheat near Jesus in our manger scenes.  It's that poignant and sober reminder that our redemption was bought at a price, reflecting the length of Love's desire at hold nothing back, even being willing to be ground like wheat for us.
 
So, for those of us who have a hard time letting go of praying this beautiful Novena prayer, you don't have to!  I usually taper down with at least one a day during Christmastide, and think of it often at Mass or during Adoration, or when I'm outside late at night and admiring the beauty of a dark starry sky.  All those moments are linked for me to the mystery of the Incarnation and are great occasions to recite this prayer.  (I recently heard it was a favorite of Blessed Solanus Casey's too, and that he said it daily!) 
 
May we never tire of the wonderment and awe of that 'hour and moment'.  May we even return there often in our prayer giving thanks to God our Father for His wondrous gift of Love in Jesus, through Mary.
 
Merry Christmas! 

While my Christmas Novena site starts winding down for the season until next Advent, to follow more of my work throughout the year on art and prayer, visit my new site FortheLoveofBeauty.com.