Happy Christmas!
Angel and Christmas Reflections: Let us talk about Angels. Angels are male spirits and spiritual warriors. Angels also serve Yahweh, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit as choir members in the Angelic Choirs in Heaven. An Angel Host is a spiritual army working for Yahweh, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit in Their people's on going warfare with Satan and Satan's demons.
Many people love to have angel statues sitting around their houses and gardens. These angel statues are cute and they make houses and gardens cozy, but they are females. Technically angel statues should be males, since real angels are male spirits. Having female angel statues, however, is symbolic of virginity and pure and holy women. Female angels are symbolic of good moral women.
The French text of Christmas Hymn Angels We Have Heard On High: the text was written by Les Anges dans Nos Campagnes and verses 1-4 were translated by James Chadwick for Crown of Jesus in 1862 and verses 5-7 were translated by George Ratcliffe Woodward (1848-1934). The refrain is Latin for, “Glory to God in the highest! Glory to God in the highest!” The music was Gloria (Barnes) and French carol melody, which was arranged by Edwin Barnes.
Angels We Have Heard On High!
“1. Angels we have heard on High!
Sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains.
Refrain: Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
- Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?
Refrain: Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
- Come to Bethlehem and see
Christ, Whose Birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.
Refrain: Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
- See Him in a manger laid,
Whom the choirs of angels praise;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
While our hearts in love we raise.
Refrain: Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
- Shepherds in the field abiding,
Tell us, when the seraph bright
Greeted you with wondrous tiding,
What you saw and heard that night.
Refrain: Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
- We beheld—it is no fable—
God incarnate, King of bliss,
Swathed and cradled in a stable,
And the angel strain was this:
Refrain: Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
- Choristers on High were singing
Jesus and His Virgin Birth,
Heavenly bells the while a-ringing
‘Peace, good will to men on earth.’
Refrain: Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!”
Let us look at Luke Chapter 2:1-21:
"2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made, when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, everyone into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the City of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the House and Lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with Child. 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished, that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her Firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a Manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the Angel of the LORD came upon them, and the Glory of the LORD shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the Angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great Joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, Which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a Manger.' 13 And suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the Heavenly Host praising God, and saying, '14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.' 15 And it came to pass, as the Angels were gone away from them into Heaven, the shepherds said one to another, 'Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing, which is come to pass, which the LORD hath made known unto us.'
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a Manger. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying, which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all they, that heard it, wondered at those things, which were told them by the shepherds.19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things, that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. 21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the Child, His Name was called Jesus, Which was so named of the Angel, before He was conceived in the womb" (KJV 1611).
My Green Irish Angel Statues: My Green Irish Angel Statues are really cute! They are only $1 each and they make great gifts. I have three kinds: 1. Cross-Bearing Angels, 2. Praying Angels, and 3. Angels Holding Butterflies. I like the Cross-Bearing Angels the best, because they are carrying Crosses. Each one bearing a Cross reminds us, that Jesus died on the True Cross to save every single person from death, Hell, Satan, Satan's Demons, Original Sin from Adam and Eve, and their personal sins. They're available exclusively at Jen's Furniture and Collectibles (JFC) on the corner High Street and Chestnut Street in between Circle K Gas Station and Zion Lutheran Church (NALC) in St. Marys, Ohio.
Stores Carrying My Books: My books, which I’ve written and published, are also available at the following stores: Brunner News Agency on Flanders Avenue in Lima, Ohio, Jen’s Furniture and Collectibles (JFC) on High Street in St. Marys, Ohio, The Menagerie at 1178 Indiana Avenue in the St. Marys Business Complex in St. Marys, Ohio, Readmore Hallmark Stores out at Eastgate Plaza and on Elm Street in Lima, Ohio, Wagner’s IGA Grocery Store in Minster, Ohio, in the Book Mart section of ohiobookmart.com, and in the Shop section of my website ohioirishlutheranpress.com .
Thank you and Happy Christmas!
James W. O’Flannery, President and Founder of Ohio Irish Lutheran Press (OIL Press)