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
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.
“Adeste Fideles, Laeti Triumphantes” by John Francis Wade
Translation: Textus originalis Latinus
Tune: “Adeste Fideles” • 11 9 11 R
Adeste Fideles, Laeti Triumphantes (“God rest you merry, Gentlemen”)
Translation: Fr. Frederick Oakeley, Canon of Westminster Cathedral
Tune: “Adeste Fideles” • 11 9 11 R
“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
Corde Natus Ex Parentis (“Of the Father’s love begotten”)
Aurelius Prudentius, Christian Poet
Translation: Cento by the editors
Tune: “Divinum Mysterium” • 87 87 87 R
Quem Vidistis Pastores? Dicite (“Angels we have heard on high”)
Translation: Most Rev’d James Chadwick, Bishop of Hexham
Tune: “Gloria” • 77 77 R
“Once In Royal David’s City” by Cecil Frances Alexander
Tune: “Irby” • 87 87 77
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
“Joy To The World” by Isaac Watts
Tune: “Antioch” • 86 86 (CM)
