During the Christmas season this year, the Emerging Scholars Network is posting works by Christina Rossetti. As a thoughtful poet who engaged deeply with faith, Rossetti wrote a number of poems about the church calendar. Her imagery is rich and thoughtful, and we hope this poetry helps you to reflect on what it means to celebrate Christ’s birth. For material from our archives on Advent click here. To God be the glory! – Hannah
Christmastide.
Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, Love Divine;
Love was born at Christmas,
Star and Angels gave the sign.Worship we the Godhead,
Love Incarnate, Love Divine;
Worship we our Jesus:
But wherewith for sacred sign?Love shall be our token,
Love be yours and love be mine,
Love to God and all men,
Love for plea and gift and sign.
Source: Christina Rossetti, The Complete Poems, ed. R. W. Crump (New York: Penguin Books, 2001), p. 423.
About the author:
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Hannah:
I’ve not been a serious reader of Rosetti’s poetry. I guess I should have been. In the past few days I’ve come through a painful hospital stay. I’m better now. These poems you’ve posted are helping in God’s cure.
Thank you!
And Merry Christmas!
Jim Sire on Christmas day.
Hi Dr. Sire, I’m so sorry to hear that you’ve been in the hospital, and very glad that you’re feeling better. And I’m deeply glad to hear that Christina Rossetti’s poetry has been so moving to you. I didn’t know she engaged so deeply with Advent either, until I started looking up some of her poetry for these posts. Honored to have been able to share them with you and other readers.
Merry Christmas to you!