“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 654
Jordanis Oras Praevia (“On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry”)
Translation: Fr. Charles Coffin
Tune: “Winchester New” • 88 88 (LM)
Page 659
O Heiland Reiss Die Himmel Auf (“The heavens, Savior, open tear”)
German text based on Isaias by Fr. Father Friedrich Spee von Langenfeld, SJ (d. 1635); English translation by Fr. Dominic Popplewell.
Tune: “O Heiland Reiss” • 88 88 (LM)
Page 653
Veni Veni Emmanuel (“O come, O come, Emmanuel”)
Translation: Msgr. Ronald A. Knox
Tune: “Veni Veni Emmanuel” • 88 88 R
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 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
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
