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 Nine – December 24
The Eternal Word was His Own and made Himself our own.
O sweet Jesus, Eternal Word made flesh, I give You thanks for making Yourself ours. In
the manger, You give Yourself to abide in each one of Your disciples as an interior
Teacher who explains His lessons, makes them enjoyable and communicates the
strength to practice them. You came down on earth to speak with man, become his
brother and give Yourself entirely to him.
What am I to do, O my lovable Child, in the presence of the excess of Your gift? I want
to give myself in my turn and give You love for love. I place my will in Your hands, since
it is the unique obstacle between You and me. I do not want You to have called me in
vain. Behold my heart, my body, my soul, my life, my death; I bring You everything. I
offer it to You by the most pure hands of Your divine Mother, who is also my Mother,
and by the hands of Saint Joseph, Your foster Father and my protector. Receive every-
thing, keep everything until the day of eternity, when I will no longer be able to lose
You, but will rejoice eternally over having given myself to You. 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…
