Come, Come, Emmanuel (12th century). 1. Come, come, Emmanuel; ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile, deprived of the Son of God. Rejoice, rejoice; Emmanuel shall be born for you, O Israel. 2. Come, O Rod of Jesse's stem; from the enemy's talon, from the cave of hell's depths and the pit of the abyss lead forth your own. Rejoice, rejoice; Emmanuel shall be born for you, O Israel. 3. Come, come, O Dayspring; comfort us by your coming; drive away the mists of night and the dread shadows of night. Rejoice, rejoice; Emmanuel shall be born for you, O Israel. 4. Come, Key of David; unlock the heavenly realms; make safe the way on high, and close the paths of the regions below. Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall be born for you, O Israel. 5. Come, come, Adonai, who upon Sinai's summit gave the law to your people in the majesty of glory.
Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall be born for you, O Israel. A Child Is Born to Us (Trier, 15th century). 1. A child is born to us, the ruler of the angels; in this world is nourished the Lord of lords. 2. He is laid in a manger beneath the hay of the asses. They knew the Lord Christ, the King of the heavens. 3. Hence Herod feared—with great grief—and slew the boys, the infants, in his spite. 4. May he who was born of a virgin on this present day lead us with grace to the joys on high. 5. O and A, and A and O, with songs in the choir, with canticles and organ, let us bless the Lord. Of the Father's Heart Begotten (Aurelius Clemens Prudentius, 4th century). 1.
Begotten of the Father's heart before the beginning of the world, surnamed Alpha and Omega, he himself the source and end of all things that are, that have been, and that hereafter shall be. 2. He himself commanded, and they were created; he himself spoke, and they were made—earth, heaven, the deep of the sea, the threefold frame of things, and whatever flourishes within them beneath the lofty orb of sun and moon. 3. He put on the form of a perishable body, limbs subject to death, lest the race should perish from the seed of the first-formed man, whom the law of guilt had plunged into the deep of hell. 4. O blessed birth, when the virgin in childbearing brought forth our salvation, made fruitful by the Holy Spirit, and the boy, Redeemer of the world, uttered his sacred countenance. 5.
Let the height of heaven sing, sing all you angels, whatever power exists anywhere, let it sing in praise of God; let none of the tongues fall silent, and let every voice sound together. 6. Behold, he whom the seers of ancient ages sang of, whom the faithful pages of the prophets pledged, shines forth, the long-promised one; let all things praise him together. 7. Hail, Judge of the dead, hail, King of the living, who at the right hand in the citadel of the Father art renowned for thy powers, who shalt come thence as the just avenger of all crimes. 8. Let old men and youth, let the choir of little ones, the throng of mothers and of virgins, the simple maidens, in harmony of voice resound with chaste accord. 9.
To you, O Christ, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, be the hymn, the glory, perpetual praise, the giving of thanks, honor, power, victory, and dominion eternally. Whom Shepherds Praised (14th century). 1. Whom shepherds praised, to whom the angels said, 'Be afraid no longer; the King of glory is born.' 2. To whom the magi walked, bearing gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and offered these sincerely to the King of glory born. 3. To Christ the King, to God born, given to us through Mary, let praise, honor, and glory truly resound, as is fitting. The Angel to the Virgin (in the Dublin Troper, ca. 1360; mentioned by Chaucer in the Miller's Tale). 1. The angel, entering into the chamber of the virgin, soothing the virgin's dread, said, 'Hail! Hail, queen of virgins;
you shall conceive and bear, untouched, the Lord of heaven and earth, salvation, a man; you who are made the gate of heaven, the marrow that heals sins.' 2. 'How should I conceive, I who have not known a man? How should I break what I have vowed with a firm mind?' 'The grace of the Holy Spirit shall accomplish all these things; do not fear, but rejoice, secure that your chastity shall remain pure within you—the power of God.' 3. To this the noble virgin, answering, said to him: 'I am the humble handmaid of the Almighty God. To you, the heavenly messenger, privy to so great a secret, I consent, and desiring to see done what I hear; I am ready to obey the counsel of God.' 4. O Mother of the Lord, who restored peace to the angels and to mankind when you bore Christ; entreat your Son to show himself favorable to us, and to blot out sins:
granting aid that we may enjoy a blessed life after this exile. Let Them Resound Today (14th century). 1. Let the voices of little children resound today, praising joyfully him who is born for us, given by God Most High, and brought forth from a virgin's womb. 2. He is born into the world, wrapped in swaddling clothes, laid in a manger, in the stable of the beasts, the ruler of those on high. The prince of hell lost his spoils. 3. Three magi came, they seek the little one, they seek the little one, following the little star, adoring him, offering him gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 4. Let all the young clerics and the boys alike sing as the angels: You have come into the world; I pour out praises to you. Therefore, glory to God in the highest. Sleep, Jesus! (Latin copied by Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834) from a print in a German village;
date uncertain). Sleep, Jesus; your mother smiles, who sees so sweet a sleep; sleep, Jesus, my little tender one. If you do not sleep, your mother weeps, singing among the threads she prays in tenderness: Come gently, little sleep. Who Created Heaven (Nunnery of St. Mary, Chester, ca. 1425). 1. He who created heaven—lully, lully, lu—is born in a stable—by, by, by, by, by—the King who rules the age—lully, lully, lu. 2. Joseph bought a little cloth—lully, lully, lu—the mother wrapped the boy—by, by, by, by, by—and lays him in the manger—lully, lully, lu. 3. Among the animals—lully, lully, lu—lie the joys of the world—by, by, by, by, by—sweet above all things—lully, lully, lu. 4.
The mother of the Lord gives suck—lully, lully, lu—she kisses the little one—by, by, by, by, by—and adores the Lord—lully, lully, lu. 5. Pray, Mother of the Lord—lully, lully, lu—that he may give us joy—by, by, by, by, by—in everlasting glory—lully, lully, lu. O Come, All Ye Faithful (John Francis Wade, 1711–1786). 1. O come, all you faithful, joyful and triumphant, come, come to Bethlehem: behold the King of the angels born. O come, let us adore the Lord. 2. God of God, Light of Light, a maiden's womb bears him, true God, begotten not made. O come, let us adore the Lord. 3. Let the choir of angels now sing hosanna; let the hall of the heavenly ones now sing: glory, glory to God in the highest. O come, let us adore the Lord. 4.
Lo, leaving their flock, the lowly shepherds, called to the cradle, hasten near; and let us too with exulting step make haste: O come, let us adore the Lord. 5. Therefore, to you, Jesus, who are born on this present day, be glory; the Word of the eternal Father made flesh. O come, let us adore the Lord. Glory, Praise, and Honor (Hymn for Palm Sunday; Theodulph, bishop of Orléans, 9th century). Glory, praise, and honor be to you, O King Christ, Redeemer, to whom the company of children sang forth devout Hosanna. You are the King of Israel and the glorious offspring of David, the blessed King who comes in the name of the Lord. The whole heavenly host praises you on high, and mortal man, and all created things together. The Hebrew people came to meet you with palms: behold, we are present before you with prayer, vow, and hymns.
These paid you the tribute of praise when you were about to suffer; behold, we sing songs to you now that you reign. These pleased you; may our devotion please you also, O holy King, O merciful King, to whom all good things are pleasing. Glory, praise, and honor be to you, O King Christ, Redeemer, to whom the company of children sang forth devout Hosanna. The Sorrowful Mother Stood (Hymn on the Passion; Jacopone da Todi, 1230–1306). The sorrowful mother stood weeping beside the cross while her Son hung; whose groaning soul, saddened and grieving, a sword pierced through. O how sad and afflicted was that blessed mother of the Only-begotten, who mourned and grieved and trembled, as she beheld the pains of her glorious offspring. Who is the man who would not weep, if he saw the mother of Christ in such torment?
Who could not be saddened to contemplate the loving mother grieving with her Son? For the sins of his people she saw Jesus in torments and subjected to scourges; she saw her own sweet Son dying, forsaken, as he gave up his spirit. O Mother, fount of love, make me feel the force of sorrow, that I may mourn with you; make my heart burn in loving Christ my God, that I may be pleasing to him. Choir of the New Jerusalem (Hymn at Easter; Fulbert, bishop of Chartres, died [1028]). Let the choir of the new Jerusalem bring forth a new sweetness of song, keeping with sober joys the paschal feast, in which Christ, the unconquered Lion, rising while the dragon is crushed, while he sounds forth with living voice, raises up those who have died from death. The spoil which the wicked one had devoured, hell poured back as prey;
freed from captivity, the throngs follow Jesus. He triumphs splendidly, and worthy of his greatness, he makes the homeland of earth and heaven one commonwealth. Singing to him, let us as suppliant soldiers entreat the King, that he may set us in order in his most glorious palace. Through ages that know no end, to the supreme Father be glory, and honor be to the Son and the Spirit, the Paraclete. O How Great, How Glorious (Hymn on Eternal Life; Peter Abelard, 1079–1142). O how great, how glorious are those sabbaths which the heavenly court forever celebrates! What rest for the weary, what reward for the strong, when God shall be all in all. Truly that city is Jerusalem, whose peace is unbroken, whose gladness is supreme, where desire does not outrun the thing desired, nor is the reward less than the desire.
What king, what court, what palace, what peace, what rest, what is that joy—let those who partake of it set forth its glory, if, however much they feel, they could express it. Meanwhile it is ours to lift up the mind and to seek the homeland with all our prayers, and to return at last to Jerusalem from Babylon after long exiles. There, all troubles being ended, secure we shall sing the songs of Zion, and the blessed people shall render to you, O Lord, continual thanks for the gifts of grace. There from sabbath shall succeed sabbath, the perpetual gladness of those keeping sabbath, nor shall the ineffable jubilations cease, which we and the angels shall sing aloud. To the eternal Lord be perpetual glory, from whom are all things, through whom are all things, in whom are all things; from whom they are, he is the Father; through whom they are, the Son;
in whom they are, the Spirit of the Father and the Son. Day of Wrath (Hymn at funerals; Thomas of Celano, flourished 1215). Day of wrath, that day shall dissolve the world into glowing ash, as David testifies together with the Sibyl. How great a trembling there shall be, when the Judge shall come, about to examine all things strictly! The trumpet, scattering a wondrous sound through the tombs of the regions, shall drive all before the throne. Death and nature shall be astonished, when the creature shall rise again to answer to the Judge. A written book shall be brought forth, in which all is contained, whereby the world shall be judged. When therefore the Judge shall sit, whatever lies hidden shall appear; nothing shall remain unavenged. What then shall I, wretched, say? What protector shall I entreat, when scarcely the righteous is secure?
King of dread majesty, who freely save those to be saved, save me, O fount of mercy. Remember, gentle Jesus, that I am the cause of your journey; do not destroy me on that day. Seeking me, you sat down weary; you redeemed me, having suffered the cross; let such great labor not be in vain. Just Judge of vengeance, grant the gift of remission before the day of reckoning. I groan as one guilty; my face reddens with my fault; spare your suppliant, O God. You who absolved Mary and heard the thief, have given hope to me also. My prayers are not worthy; but you who are good, graciously grant that I be not burned in everlasting fire. Grant me a place among the sheep, and separate me from the goats, setting me on the right hand. When the accursed are confounded, consigned to the bitter flames, call me with the blessed. I pray, suppliant and bowed down:
my heart contrite as ashes; take care of my end. That day will be tearful, on which the guilty man shall rise from the glowing ash to be judged; therefore spare him, O God. Gentle Lord Jesus, grant them rest. Amen.