THE CHRISTIAN MOTHER'S CRADLE HYMN
HUSH, my babe, lie still and slumber,
Holy angels guard thy bed,
Heavenly blessings without number
Gently falling on thy head.
How much better thou'rt attended
Than thy Saviour chose to be,
When from heaven He descended,
And became a child like thee.
Soft and easy is thy cradle,
Coarse and hard thy Saviour lay;
For His birthplace was a stable,
And His softest bed was hay.
Was there nothing but a manger,
Hapless sinners could afford
To receive the heavenly Stranger,
Their Redeemer and their Lord ?
See, the humble shepherds.round Him
Gaze with mingled love and fear;
Where they sought Him, there they found Him,
With His Virgin Mother near
Lo, He slumbers in His manger,
Where the horned oxen feed;
Peace, my darling, here's no danger,
Here no ox is near thy bed.
'Twas to save thee, child, from dying,
From the ever-burning flame,
Bitter groans and endless crying,
That this holy Infant came.
May'st thou live to know and fear Him,
Trust and love Him all thy days,
Then to dwell forever near Him,
See His face, and sing His praise.
                                                                 ~ Greetings to the Christ Child, 1879 ~

                                                PRAYER BEFORE MEDITATION

My God, I firmly believe that Thou art here present. I acknowledge that on account of my many sins I am utterly unworthy to appear before Thy sacred countenance. Yet, confiding in Thy infinite goodness and mercy, I venture to address Thee, to call upon Thy holy name, and meditate upon Thy commandments, in order that I may acquire a better knowledge of Thy holy will, and accomplish it with more fidelity. Wherefore enlighten my understanding that I may perceive what I ought to do or leave undone for the promotion of Thy glory and my own salvation; at the same time excite my will, that I may repent with my whole heart of my past sins, and resolve for the future to do all that Thou requirest of me. Grant me above all to know Jesus, my divine Teacher and Guide, more clearly, that I may love Him more dearly, and consequently labor, struggle and suffer with greater generosity and self-sacrifice in imitation of His example. Holy Mary, Mother of God and my Mother, show Jesus to me now, and let me study thy divine Son to the salvation of my soul. Holy Guardian Angel, keep far from me all distracting thoughts; my patron saint, come to my assistance. Amen.

Source: - Meditations on the Life, Teaching, and Passion of Jesus Christ
                                                (Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur: New York, December 31, 1900)