EDITOR’S NOTE: The following column was part of the “Christmas Greetings” pages published in the Dec. 18, 2022, issue of The Catholic Post.

“King of kings, yet born of Mary,

as of old on earth he stood,

Lord of lords in human vesture,

in the Body and the Blood

He will give to all the faithful

his own self for heavenly food.”

During the National Eucharistic Revival, with its focus on “My flesh for the life of the world,” my thoughts on Advent and Christmas have been a bit different than in years past. I often listen to “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” (above), a hymn I didn’t even know until my adult years. With its haunting melody, this ancient hymn may not seem very “Christmasy” but these lyrics say otherwise and it has become one of my favorites. Why?

The melody evokes the profound mystery this season celebrates: God enters time and space as a human baby in the tabernacle of Mary’s womb and still remains with us as heavenly food. In fact, as my pastor, Father Thomas Szydlik, recently reminded us, even Christ’s birthplace has a eucharistic theme. Bethlehem means “House of Bread.” No coincidence there!

While we are preparing to celebrate the birth of Jesus and are anticipating His second coming, He is waiting for us right now. Jesus is still with us in the tabernacles of our churches across the country and around the world. It is phenomenal how God chooses to be tangibly present every single day. He longs to be with us and would love to have more of us visit Him more often. (I am reminding myself of this, too.)

As I have studied and prayed more about Mary’s role in God’s plan of salvation, I have realized that combining the rosary with a Holy Hour is beautiful. Mary is always leading us to her Son! With this new church year, and a new calendar year around the corner, my plan is to visit Jesus more often. And since I cannot drive, looks like I get to bring someone with me each time. Pretty clever, right?

I know my time in prayer will look different each time I go, but I think I may have all the verses of this beautiful hymn memorized soon. I hope to join with the seraphim and cherubim as they sing: “Alleluia, alleluia! / Alleluia, Lord Most High!”

Merry Christmas!

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KIM PADAN is a member of St. Paul Parish, Danville, and serves as the chair of the Spirituality Commission of the National Council of Catholic Women. Her quotes from “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” are taken from the Liturgy of St. James and paraphrased by Gerard Moultrie (1829-85).