“The First Noël The Angel Did Say”
Tune: “The First Nowell” • 88 88 R
Page 676
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 681
“Songs Of Thankfulness And Praise” by Christopher Wordsworth
Tune: “St George” • 77 77 D
“The Epiphany—a cardinal feast—commemorates three manifestations of Christ’s divinity: the visit of the Wise men, our Lord ’s Baptism, and the miracle at Cana.”—Fr. Adrian Fortescue
Page 656
Instantis Adventum Dei (“The coming of our God”)
Translation: Fr. Charles Coffin
Tune: “Seán 8M” • 66 86 (SM)
A “text only version” is included at page bottom, providing melodic flexibility.
Page 653
Veni Veni Emmanuel (“O come, O come, Emmanuel”)
Translation: Msgr. Ronald A. Knox
Tune: “Veni Veni Emmanuel” • 88 88 R
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 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
