Blessed is the Messenger who carried and brought great peace. The Father's mercies bent down toward us: He did not bring our debts up before Him, but made reconciliation with that Majesty out of His own riches.
Refrain: Glory to Your dawning, divine and human.
Praised is the Wise One who, for our life, mingled divinity with humanity—one from the height and one from the depth. He blended the natures like medicines, and the image appeared: God, Son of Man.
O Zealous One, when You saw Adam become dust and the accursed serpent devouring him, You poured strength into what had lost its savor and made him salt, by which the accursed serpent is blinded.
Blessed is the Merciful One who saw the spear beside Paradise blocking the way to the Tree of Life. He came and took a body capable of suffering, so that through the door opened in His side He might open the way into Paradise.
Praised is the Merciful One who did not resort to harshness and, without compulsion, conquered by wisdom. He gave humanity a pattern, so that by strength and wisdom they too might conquer with discernment.
Blessed is Your flock, for You are its Gate, its Staff, and its Shepherd; You are its Drink, its Salt, and its Visitor. O Only-Begotten, You have multiplied every kind of help for it.
The farmers came and bowed before the Farmer of Life. Rejoicing, they prophesied of Him: ‘Blessed is the Farmer by whom the soil of the heart is cultivated, who gathers His wheat into the storehouse of Life.’
The workers came and gave glory to the Shoot that sprang from Jesse's root and stock, the virgin Cluster from the thirsty vine: ‘May we become vessels for Your new wine, which renews all things.’
In You may the vineyard of my Beloved, which yielded wild fruit, find peace. Graft all its vines from Your plantings; let its fruit be nourished by Your blessings and please the Lord of the vineyard who was angered with it.
Because of Joseph, the carpenters came to the Son of Joseph: ‘Blessed is Your birth, Head of the carpenters, whose mark the ark bore and by whom the temporary tabernacle was fashioned for its appointed time.’
Let our craft praise You by its own name, for You are our glory. Make a yoke that is light and restful upon those who bear it. Make a measure in which no falsehood can exist, for it is full of truth.
Construct also a measuring vessel from justice: by it let the crooked be accused and the perfect vindicated. Weigh with it, O Just One, mercies and debts, as a Judge.
Sarah lulled Isaac, who like a servant carried on his shoulders the image of the King his Lord—the sign of His wood. On his hands were bonds and sufferings, a mystery of the nails.
Rachel cried to her husband, ‘Give me children.’ Blessed is Mary, in whose womb, though she did not ask, You dwelt in holiness, O Gift who poured Yourself out upon those who received You.
Hannah asked for a child with bitter tears; Sarah and Rebekah with vows and words; and Elizabeth too, through prayer after a long delay. After their distress, they received consolation.
Blessed is Mary, who without vows and without prayer, in her virginity conceived and gave birth to the Lord of all the sons of her companions—those who have been and those who will be: the chaste and the righteous, priests and kings.
What woman has ever cherished her child in her bosom as Mary did? Who would dare to name her own son Son of the Maker, Son of the Creator? What woman has ever called her son Son of the Most High?
Bridegrooms cried out with their brides: ‘Blessed is the Child whose Mother was the Bride of Holiness! Blessed is the wedding feast at which You were present: though its wine suddenly ran out, in You it multiplied again.’
The children cried out: ‘Blessed is He who became our Brother and Companion in the streets. Blessed is the day when, with branches, we give glory to the Tree of Life, who lowered His height to our childhood.’
The women heard that a virgin would conceive and give birth. Free women hoped that You would dawn from among them, and noble women that You would shine from among them. Blessed is Your height, which bent down and dawned from the poor.
The young girls who carried Him also prophesied: ‘I will belong to You, my Lord. Whether I am unattractive or beautiful, whether I am lowly, I am pure for You; I am set apart for You. For You I have exchanged the bridal chamber.’
Youth too is bold. The Word gathered the young girls—the wise daughters of the Hebrews—and in their songs He turned their chants into prophecy.