“Come, Ye Faithful, Raise The Strain”
Saint John Damascene; translated into English by Dr. John M. Neale
Tune: “Ave Virgo Virginum” • 76 76 D
Page 698
Page 696
Vita Sanctorum, Decus Angelorum (“Life of thy saints and glory of thine angels”)
Translation: Alan Gordon McDougall
Tune: “Kenmore” • 11 11 11 5
Page 709
Discendi, Amor Santo (“Come down, O love divine”)
Bianco da Siena; translated from Italian by Richard Frederick Littledale.
Tune: “Down Ampney” • 6 6 11 D
Page 692
Meditationes Divi Augustini (“Ah, Holy Jesus, How Hast Thou Offended?”)
Translation: Robert Bridges
Tune: “Herzliebster Jesu” • 11 11 11 5
Page 678
Stille Nacht (“Silent Night, Holy Night”)
This German text was composed by Fr. Josef Mohr, a Catholic priest who died in 1848. He should not be confused with a Jesuit priest, Fr. Josef Hermann Mohr (d. 1892), who published many German hymnals. The English translation (“Silent Night”) was composed by John Freeman Young.
Tune: “Stille Nacht” • 66 88 66
Page 669
“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
Page 667
Quem Vidistis Pastores? Dicite (“Angels we have heard on high”)
Translation: Most Rev’d James Chadwick, Bishop of Hexham
Tune: “Gloria” • 77 77 R
