let all mortal flesh keep silence

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.

Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God -- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.'" From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came from Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.

~John 1:1-18 (NIV)

Allelu Yah.

Let all mortal flesh keep silence
And with fear and trembling stand;
Ponder nothing earthly minded
For with blessing in His hand
Christ our God to earth descending
Comes our homage to demand.

King of kings yet born of Mary
As of old on earth He stood
God of gods in human likeness
In the body and the blood:
He will give to all the people
His own self for heavenly food.

Rank on rank the host of heaven
Spreads its vanguard on the way
As the light of light descendeth
From the realms of endless day
That the powers of hell may vanish
As the darkness clears away.

At his feet the six winged seraph
Cherubim with sleepless eye
Veil their faces to the presence
As with ceaseless voice they cry:
Alleluia, Alleluia
Alleluia, Lord Most High!