glad tidings of great joy

glad tidings of great joy
© Teresa Newham

The idea of putting an angel on our 2017 Christmas card came to me early in the year, but I had no idea how it was going to work, or indeed what the angel would be doing.  It only really came together when I researched the wings.  This angel would be Gabriel - sweeping across the sky, blowing his trumpet for all he was worth!

For the title, I turned again to one of my favourite carols, While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night:

"Fear not," said he, for mighty dread 

Had seized their troubled mind, 

"Glad tidings of great joy I bring

To you and all mankind."

It's a reassuring message - the shepherds were no doubt terrified - and Gabriel makes it clear that this Good News is for everyone.  That's everyone, at every time -  as Catholics, we believe that Jesus is born anew in the human heart each Christmas, if we are prepared to receive Him.

That's some gift, isn't it?

Wishing your all peace and joy this Christmas, and a happy and blessed New Year.

Gabriel's Message

annunciation
hand-pulled linocut Christmas card
© Teresa Newham 2014

The angel Gabriel from heaven came,

his wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame;

'All hail,' said he, 'O lowly maiden Mary,'

most highly favoured lady: Gloria!

This year my Christmas card is based on Luke 1:26 - 38, where the Angel Gabriel appears to Mary and tells her she has been chosen to give birth to Jesus, an event known as the Annunciation. Inspiration came to me on the feast day of the Annunciation itself, which is 25th March;  and it took almost the whole nine months between then and Christmas for the cards to be cut and printed.

For know a blessed mother you shall be,

all generations praise continually,

your son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold,'

most highly favoured lady: Gloria!

In this picture, the Angel Gabriel is handing Mary a lily -  a symbol of her purity.  She is holding out her hand to receive it, indicating her willingness to do God's will.  Thanks to Mary's 'yes', Jesus our Saviour  is able to come into the world.

Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head,

'To me be as it pleases God,' she said,

'my soul shall laud and magnify God's holy name,'

most highly favoured lady: Gloria!

The carol known as Gabriel's Message, or The Angel Gabriel, tells the story of the Annunciation, and is one of my favourites.  The version we know today is based on a Basque Christmas carol and was translated by Sabine Baring-Gould (a name familiar to anyone who enjoys leafing through hymn books). You can listen to it by clicking on the first verse above.

Of her, Emmanuel, the Christ, was born

in Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn,

and Christian folk throughout the world will ever say:

most highly favoured lady: Gloria!

Wishing you and your loved ones peace and joy this Christmas, and every blessing for the New Year.