The Anglo-Saxon Monk wishes his blessed readers a most solemnly joyful Christmas...
Blessing for Christmas Day, from the Anderson Pontifical. © British Library Board. London, British Library, MS Additional 57337 (Canterbury or Winchester, c. 1000), f. 104r. Public Domain: no copyright restrictions. Click on image to go to the source.
Blessed ones,
I hardly have the time, what with all the other prayers I'll be singing in just a few minutes, but because you are all so beloved, I have rushed off a translation of the Christmas Day blessing from the so-called Anderson Pontifical (above) written about the year 1000.
So, please, tomorrow, whether you be stuffing your Christmas bird or stuffing it down your face, whether playing games or engaging in similar, excessively indulgent behaviour, and be you knocking back mead or wine, please note that the Lord has made Christmas a holy day of solemnity. And therefore, at the very least, please make sure you sing the bits of the blessing written in red back to me.
Amen, and have a blessed Christmas!
MAY THE OMNIPOTENT LORD BLESS YOU, and your purpose may he arouse to the heavens, he who made this most holy day of the birth of his son to be solemn. AMEN
And he who made him, who is the bread of angels, to be the food of faithful souls in the manger of the church, may he both make you in the present world taste of the sweetness of eternal joys and in the future lead you to the full satisfaction of the eternal reward. AMEN
And he who in his infancy was willing to put on clothes of little value, may he himself clothe you in the ornaments of celestial robes. AMEN
May he deign to grant… ITEM ALIA
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