“God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen”
The meaning of “God rest you merry” is “God keep you merry.” Note the archaic use of the word rest (“keep”)—indeed, this carol probably dates from the 16th century.
Tune: “God Rest You Merry” • 86 86 86 R
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Page 666
“Once In Royal David’s City” by Cecil Frances Alexander
Tune: “Irby” • 87 87 77
Page 665
In Dulci Jubilo (“Good Christian men, rejoice”)
attr. Bl. Henry Suso, Dominican Priest
Translation: Dr. John M. Neale
Tune: “In Dulci Jubilo” • 66 77 78 55
Page 653
Veni Veni Emmanuel (“O come, O come, Emmanuel”)
Translation: Msgr. Ronald A. Knox
Tune: “Veni Veni Emmanuel” • 88 88 R
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Huron Carol of St. Jean de Brébeuf (“Upon the birth of Jesus”)
Translation: Fr. Dominic Popplewell
Tune: “Une Jeune Pucelle” • 86 86 88 R
This famous Christmas carol was possibly written around 1642AD, when Saint Brébeuf was in Quebec, recuperating from a broken collarbone, which had left him in excruciating pain for many months.