Short Poem of St. Ambrose on Advent

[Stone]

This beautiful poem by St. Ambrose speaks eloquently of “Thy cradle here shall glitter bright, and darkness breathe a newer light.”

O COME, Redeemer of the earth, and manifest thy virgin-birth.
Let every age in wonder fall: such birth befits the God of all.
Begotten of no human will but of the Spirit, Thou art still the Word of God in flesh arrayed, the promised fruit to man displayed.
The Virgin’s womb that burden gained, its virgin honor still unstained.
The banners there of virtue glow; God in his temple dwells below.
Proceeding from His chamber free that royal home of purity a giant in twofold substance one, rejoicing now His course to run.
O equal to the Father, Thou! gird on Thy fleshly mantle now; the weakness of our mortal state with deathless might invigorate.
Thy cradle here shall glitter bright, and darkness breathe a newer light where endless faith shall shine serene and twilight never intervene.
All praise, eternal Son, to Thee, whose advent sets Thy people free, whom, with the Father, we adore, and Holy Ghost, for evermore. Amen.