cum enim quietum silentium contineret omnia

When peaceful silence lay over all, and night had run the half of her swift course, down from the heavens, from the royal throne, leapt your all-powerful Word.
--Wisdom 18:14,15

Here is one of my favorite Christmas songs. It has drive and strong rhythm and seems very assertive and masculine. OK, maybe my testosterone needs adjusting, but it's not syrupy. I did not find quite my perfect version on YouTube tonight but here is a nice one by the Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus.



Personent hodie
Anonymous, 1582
1. Personent hodie
Voces puerulae,
Laudantes iucunde
Qui nobis est natus,
Summo Deo datus,
Et de virgineo
Ventre procreatus.

2. In mundo nascitur;
Pannis involvitur;
Praesepi ponitur
Stabulo brutorum
Rector supernorum;
Perdidit spolia
Princeps Infernorum.

3. Magi tres venerunt;
Munera offerunt;
Parvulum inquirunt,
Stellulam sequendo,
Ipsum adorando,
Aurum, thus et myrrham
Ei offerendo.

4. Omnes clericuli,
Pariter pueri,
Cantent ut angeli:
'Advenisti mundo:
Laudes tibi fundo
Ideo: Gloria
In excelsis Deo'.

I am going to be audacious and offer my own prose translation, clunky but going for overall concept.

Today the voices of children sound out, joyously praising, for we have a child, given by the Most High God, born of a virginal womb.

The ruler of the upper realms was born in the world, wrapped in swaddling clothes, placed in a manger with the beasts of the stable; and the prince of the lower realms has lost his spoils.

Three magi came and offered gifts, seeking the little one, following the little star, adoring him and offering gold, incense, and myrrh.

Let all clerks and children sing together with the angels: You have come to the world, glory be to you from the depths, wherefore Glory to God in the highest!

===================================

I wish you all a season of joy and heart's content. But more than a season, I wish abiding peace for you and yours and for all sentient beings.
--the BB

No Tanya Baum this year

When I attempted to set up the artificial tree Saturday morning the stand would not open up to perpendicularity, the way it is supposed to. I tried repeatedly. Finally, with my awesome strength, I tugged and one leg moved. Well, actually it bent and snapped off at the top.

I finally returned it tonight. You can imagine that by the evening of December 22 there were no such trees left of any size. I got my money back but had to tell all the kids "no tree this year."

We didn't have one last year, so this is not a first (or second) but since I had gotten all their hopes up, well....

I resist Christmas rather mightily until it is actually upon us. I do savor the Twelve Days.

Saturday afternoon I sat at the computer selecting photos and printing notecards with photos of New Orleans and California. Then I assembled them in mixed sets and have begun tying them in satin ribbon. I have picked up some bookstore gift cards. But I have not sent any cards or wrapped anything yet, or run to the post office. Still trying to figure out what to get for my best bud.

All right, this September, while in California, I finally delivered presents I wrapped in December of 2006. Can you tell I hate packaging things and putting them in the mail?

Why God, in Her wisdom, did not make me a parent. Hopeless.

My ex and I used to exchange presents on Epiphany. So much more sensible and we got to take advantage of the "post"-Christmas sales.

The kids may be disappointed but so am I. I was looking forward to a tree again.

Thanks to Mimi for sharing her tree with us. It cheered me up this evening.
--the BB