Blessed be he who in his love stooped to redeem mankind!

Blessed be the King who make himself poor to enrich the needy!

Blessed be he who came to fulfill the types and emblems of the prophets!

Blessed be he who made creaton rejoice with the wealth and treasure of his Father!

Blessed be he whose glory the dumb sang with hosannas!

Blessed be he to who little children sang new glory in hymns of praise!

Blessed be the new King who came that new-born babes might glorify him!

Blessed be he unto whom children brought faltering songs to praise him among his disciples!

Ephrem the Syrian, c.306-373, Syrian hymn writer and theologian

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One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.

When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them.