Inspired by the book Bethléem, ou l’École de l’Enfant-Jésus, (Bethlehem, or the School
of the Child Jesus) by Msgr. Jean-Joseph Gaume
Day Four – December 19
The Eternal Word was rich and made Himself poor.
O sweet Jesus, Eternal Word made flesh, I give You thanks for embracing poverty with
all its consequences for love of men. You come down from heaven to rest upon a bit of
straw. You exchange the company of Angels for that of two animals. You enkindle the
Seraphim, yet You shiver in the cold. You hold up the heavens, yet You must be carried
in others’ arms. You give nourishment to all that breathes, yet a little milk is needed to
maintain Your life. You make the Saints happy, yet You weep. O my God, how Your ex-
amples preach to me! In them I discover the beauty of true poverty, which consists in
despising all that is perishable in order to relish that which is eternal.
O little Jesus, veritable Poor Child of Bethlehem, I want to renounce everything in
order to find You. Detach my heart from the earth by all the means You will see fit, for
I want You to be the unique treasure of my soul here on earth. O Jesus, Eternal
Wisdom, be truly my God and my All. Amen.
Invocation
O divine Child Jesus, who for the salvation of the world wanted to be born in a stable,
lying on straw in the manger, have mercy on me.
Mary and Joseph, pray to the Child Jesus for me.
Glory be to the Father…