Glory and praise be to Thee, O tender little Jesus. From the utmost depths of my heart I praise and adore Thee, that for love of me and of all mankind it was Thy will to lie in the manger, and to suffer such great poverty and misery. I praise and adore Thy tender limbs, and Thy tender hands and feet, and I magnify the inexpressible love which drew Thee forth from the bosom of the Heavenly Father, down to a poor and miserable stable.

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of heaven,
Have mercy on us. *

God the Son, Redeemer of the world, *
God the Holy Ghost, *
Holy Trinity, one God, *
Infant Jesus, *
Infant, very God, *
Infant, Son of the living God, *
Infant, Son of the Virgin Mary, *
Infant, begotten before the morning star, *
Infant, Word made flesh, *
Infant, wisdom of Thy Father, *
Infant, purity of Thy Mother, *
Infant, only Son of Thy Father, *
Infant, only-born of Thy Mother, *
Infant, image of Thy Father, *
Infant, Creator of Thy Mother, *
Infant, splendor of Thy Father, *
Infant, honor of Thy Mother, *
Infant, equal to Thy Father, *
Infant, subject to Thy Mother, *
Infant, joy of Thy Father, *
Infant, riches of Thy Mother, *
Infant, gift of Thy Father, *
Infant, gift of Thy Mother, *
Infant, precious fruit of a Virgin, *
Infant, Creator of man, *
Infant, our God, *
Infant, our Brother, *
Infant, perfect man from Thy conception, *
Infant, Father of ages, *
Infant, eternal Word, making Thyself dumb, *
Infant, weeping in Thy crib, *
Infant, joy of paradise, *
Infant, exiled from Thy people, *
Infant, strong in weakness, *
Infant, powerful in abasement, *
Infant, treasure of grace, *
Infant, fountain of love, *
Infant, author of all the blessings of heaven, *
Infant, repairer of the evils of earth, *
Infant, head of angels, *
Infant, expectation of nations, *
Infant, joy of the shepherds, *
Infant, light of the Magi, *
Infant, salvation of children, *
Infant, hope of the just, *
Infant, teacher of doctors, *

Be merciful.
Spare us, O Infant Jesus.
Be merciful.
Graciously hear us, O Infant Jesus.

From the bondage of the children of Adam,
Deliver us, O Infant Jesus. **

From the slavery of the devil, **
From the corruption of the world. **
From the lust of the flesh, **
From the blindness of mind, **
From perversity of will, **
From our sins, **
Through Thy most pure conception, **
Through Thy humble birth, **
Through Thy tears, **
Through Thy painful circumcision, **
Through Thy glorious epiphany, **
Through Thy devout presentation, **
Through Thy most holy life, **
Through Thy poverty, **
Through Thy sorrows, **
Through Thy obedience, **
Through Thy labors, **

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Infant Jesus.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Infant Jesus.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us, O Infant Jesus.

Infant Jesus, hear us.
Infant Jesus, graciously hear us.


Let us pray:

O Lord Jesus, Who didst vouchsafe so to annihilate the greatness of Thy Incarnate Divinity and most sacred Humanity, as to be born in time, and become a little child: grant that we may acknowledge infinite wisdom in the silence of a child, power in weakness, majesty in abasement; so that adoring Thy humiliations on earth, we may contemplate Thy glories in heaven. Who with the Father and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest, God, forever and ever. Amen.

Eternal Word takes flesh and becomes man: And the Word was made flesh? Let us thank this Son, and let us also thank His Mother, who, in consenting to be the mother of such a Son, consented also to be the Mother of our salvation, and Mother also of sorrows, accepting at that time the deep abyss of sorrows that it would cost her to be the Mother of a Son who was to come into the world to suffer and die for man.

O divine Word, become man for me, though I behold Thee thus humbled and become a little infant in the womb of Mary, yet I confess and acknowledge Thee for my Lord and King, but a king of love. My dearest Savior, since Thou hast come down upon earth and clothed Thyself with our miserable flesh, in order to reign over our hearts, I beseech Thee come and establish Thy reign in my heart also, which was once, alas, ruled over by Thine enemies, but is now, I hope, Thine, as I desire that it may be always Thine, and that from this day forth Thou mayest be its only Lord: Rule Thou in the midst of Thy enemies?

Other kings reign by the strength of arms, but Thou comest to reign by the power of love ; and therefore Thou dost not come with regal pomp, nor clothed in purple and gold, nor adorned with scepter and crown, nor surrounded by armies of soldiers. Thou comest into the world to be born in a stable, poor, forsaken, placed in a manger on a little straw, because thus Thou wouldst begin to reign in our hearts. Ah, my infant King, how could I so often rebel against Thee, and live so long Thy enemy, deprived of Thy grace, when, to oblige me to love Thee, Thou hast put off Thy divine majesty, and hast humbled Thyself even to appearing, first, as a babe in a cave; then as a servant in a shop; then as a criminal on a cross?

Oh, happy me, if, now that I have been freed (as I hope) from the slavery of Satan, I allow myself forever to be governed by Thee and by Thy love! O Jesus, my King, who art so amiable and so loving to our souls, take possession, I pray Thee, of mine; I give it entirely to Thee; accept it, that it may serve Thee forever, but serve Thee only for love. Thy majesty deserves to be feared, but Thy goodness still more deserves to be loved. Thou art my King, and shalt be always the only object of my love; and the only fear I shall have will be the fear of displeasing Thee. This is what I hope. Do Thou help me with Thy grace. O Mary, our dear Lady! it is for thee to obtain for me that I may be faithful to this beloved King of my soul.

O adorable Infant, I should not dare to present myself before Thee, did I not know that Thou Thyself invitest me to approach Thee. It is I, by my sins, who made Thee shed so many tears in the stable of Bethlehem, but since Thou art come upon earth to pardon penitent sinners, vouchsafe to pardon me. I sincerely repent of having despised Thee, my Lord and my God, who art so good and hast loved me so much. The grace that I ask is that I may love Thee henceforth with all my heart; inflame my soul entirely with Thy holy love. I love Thee, O my God, who hast become an Infant for me. Grant that I may never cease to love Thee.

O Mary, my Mother! Thou art all-powerful by thy prayers; I ask but one favor of thee, namely, that thou wilt pray to Jesus for me. Amen

O divine Infant, who, after the wonders of Thy birth in Bethlehem, wishing to extend to the whole world Thine infinite mercy, didst call the Wise Men by heavenly inspiration to Thy crib, which was thus converted into a throne of royal grandeur, and didst graciously receive those holy men, who were obedient to the divine call and hastened to Thy feet, acknowledging Thee and worshiping Thee as the Prince of Peace, the Redeemer of mankind, and the very Son of God; ah, renew in us the proofs of Thy goodness and almighty power; enlighten our minds, strengthen our wills, and inflame our hearts to know Thee, to serve Thee, and to love Thee in this life, meriting thus to enjoy Thee eternally in the life to come.

Most dear Lord Jesus Christ, who, being made a Child for us, didst will to be born in a cave to free us from the darkness of sin, to draw us unto Thee, and to set us on fire with Thy holy love; we adore Thee as our creator and redeemer, we acknowledge Thee and choose Thee for our king and Lord, and for tribute we offer Thee all the affection of our poor hearts. Dear Jesus, our Lord and God, graciously accept this offering, and that it may be worthy of Thine acceptance, forgive us our sins, enlighten us, and inflame us with that sacred fire which Thou camest to bring upon the earth and to enkindle in our hearts. May our souls thus become an altar, on which we may offer Thee the sacrifice of our mortifications; grant that we may ever seek Thy greater glory here on earth, so that one day we may come to enjoy Thine infinite beauty in heaven. Amen.

O almighty God, in the form of a little child! Make me worthy to meditate upon Thy greatness and power, Thy goodness and mercy, and Thy majesty as God and Man.

O divine Infant! With the most profound reverence, I contemplate Thy divine countenance, shedding its gentle and forgiving light, like the sun, on good and bad. Deign, O friendly eyes of my Jesus, to cast one look of grace upon me, and to give to my eyes sincere tears of repentance, that on my judgment day they need not fear Thy look of righteous anger.

O sweetest Jesus! Fervent with admiration, I praise Thy holy lips, filled with heavenly wisdom and uttering words of grace for the remission of sin. Lest, however, Thy divine Lips might one day be forced to pronounce the sentence of condemnation on me on account of my own words, I beseech Thee, O Lord, place a seal upon my lips, so that they may never be opened to utter an uncharitable opinion or a sinful word; may I ever preserve Thy truth and Thy love in my heart and upon my tongue. Amen.