Go into a palace in which a prince has been born, you will find the new-born prince surrounded by luxury and pomp; his cradle will be worthy of the throne which the child will one day occupy. Now in order to see the new-born Savior, the King of kings, he whom the royal David calls his Lord and Master, you will need to go to a cave, and you will find him in a manger in which he is laid; the straw which forms his bed, and the poor clothes which cover him. Who is the new-born baby who has only straw on which to rest?

If it had been his will to display his majesty and power, what a most splendid crown would have surmounted his brow, and what precious stones would have enriched his cradle. He made himself a child to gain our love. Let us go in spirit to visit the infant Jesus, and Joseph and Mary. He sees us walk into the cave of his nativity, and he turns his face towards us and smiles at us! And what is more lovely than his infant’s smile? O infant Jesus, we come to visit you, Mary, and Joseph, in spirit so that you may bless us. Let your face shine on us and we shall be saved. (Psa. 80:3). O Virgin Mary, we come to share your joy with you; bless us with your infant Child, Jesus. O Joseph, we come to congratulate you; God has found you worthy to be the putative father of his only begotten Son; obtain for us from your Divine Son, the joys that will bring smile to our faces.

God is also joyful that his eternally begotten Son has been born on earth. With whom shall he share his joy? He sent his angel to shepherds to announce the news of great joy. The shepherds were seized with sudden fear when the angel appeared to them because they believed that none could behold a celestial messenger and live. But the angel assures them that they should not be afraid. He then announced to them the birth of the Savior. They were shepherds, men of poor and humble station; they are the first to receive the good news of the birth of Jesus.

The angels are also joyful that the Son of God has been born. And a multitude of them could be heard singing the praises and glory of God. Oh! what a heavenly symphony orchestra the shepherds heard! The shepherds then went to the cave of the nativity, and adored him as their God, acknowledging the Holy Infant as the Messiah promised to their fathers. They offered to him their sincere homage.

After the angels had departed, the shepherds said one to another: Let us go over to Bethlehem and see for ourselves what the angel of the Lord has been announced to us. They immediately set out, and arriving at Bethlehem found, as the angel had told them, Mary with Joseph, and the Infant lying in a manger. Consider the promptitude with which the shepherds obeyed the voice of the angel. Forth they went with haste to the place to which they had been directed. Nothing could deter them from going to find their Savior, the Messiah, the Promise of many ages. Oh! When shall we obey with promptness the voice of the Lord!

Consider with what faith and devotion the shepherds entered the stable of Bethlehem, with what respect and awe they adored the Divine Infant. What a blessing for them to see their Savior! Their presence in the cave of the nativity is more acceptable to Jesus than the richest treasures of the earth, because they came with pure and innocent hearts and because they came to adore him. Imagine how they must have expressed their admiration and blessed fortune! And imagine the holy fervor which Jesus enkindled in the hearts of these good shepherds. Jesus, even in his infancy, is the joy and consolation of the souls of those who seek temporal and eternal happiness and of those who sigh day and night after the blessedness of being united with him.

Let us pray. Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of Our Savior, Jesus Christ, and of his Blessed Mother. Amen.