Merry Christmas! Wild and Sweet, the Christ-child has come

Unlike all others ever born, the Christ has come among us to serve and to die and to raise us up. Gracias a Dios! Merry Christmas all! Let the unworthy, the poor, the needy, the sinners, let all rejoice that God is with us, Emmanuel.

This poem, written during the Civil War, poignantly touches the love and gratitude felt by those who know about the Prince of Peace.

I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

Till ringing, singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men.”

- H.W. Longfellow