A Prayer Beside the Manger

A Prayer Beside the Manger is a tender Catholic Christmas anthem for women’s voices, men’s voices, flute, and piano. Set in a gentle, prayerful style, the piece invites the listener into quiet contemplation at the Nativity, beginning beneath the stillness of a starry night and moving toward the humble manger where the Christ Child rests. The text reflects on the poverty and simplicity of Bethlehem: no crown, no scepter, and no place prepared for Him, yet there in the stable rests the King of Glory. The work connects the mystery of the Incarnation with the saving mission of Christ, looking from the manger toward the Cross, the thorn-crowned brow, and the path He came to walk for the salvation of the world. Its closing prayer offers not gold, myrrh, or outward sacrifice, but the heart itself laid before the Lord in love. Suitable for Christmas, Lessons and Carols, parish concerts, and devotional settings, A Prayer Beside the Manger is a reverent meditation on humility, mercy, and the gift of God made flesh.