Lasst Uns Erfreuen Herzlich Sehr (“Let us rejoice right heartily”)
Fr. Father Friedrich Spee von Langenfeld, SJ; translated into English by Fr. Dominic Popplewell.
Tune: “Lasst Uns Erfreuen (alt)” • 88 88 A
Page 700
Page 706
Hymnum Canamus Gloriae (“A hymn of glory let us sing”)
Saint Bede the Venerable, Doctor of the Church; translated into English following Benjamin Webb and Elizabeth R. Charles.
Tune: “Lasst Uns Erfreuen” • 88 88 A
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 666
“Once In Royal David’s City” by Cecil Frances Alexander
Tune: “Irby” • 87 87 77
Page 662
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.