Category: soul-ish

The night is silent. The night is holy. Everything is calm and bright around that virgin mother and her child. Sleep in heavenly peace, holy infant—so tender and mild.

The night is silent. The night is holy. Shepherds quake at the sight. Glories stream from far off in heaven. Heavenly hosts sing, “Hallelujah!” Christ, the Savior, is born!

The night is silent. The night is holy. Son of God, with redeeming grace’s dawn, the pure, radiant light of love beams from your holy face. At your birth, Lord Jesus!

[Original Text: Joseph Mohr, translated by John F. Young]

We’ve heard angels on high singing sweetly over the plains, and we’ve heard the mountains echoing their joyous strains in reply: “Gloria in excelsis Deo.”

Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why do you prolong your joyous strains? What are the glad tidings that inspire your heavenly song? “Gloria in excelsis Deo.”

Come to Bethlehem and see him whose birth the angels sing about. Come adore Christ the Lord on your knees. He is the newborn king. “Gloria in excelsis Deo.”

[Original Text: translated by James Chadwick from a French carol]

All you faithful, come joyfully and triumphantly! Come, come to Bethlehem! Come and behold him who was born: the king of angels.

Choirs of angels, sing in exultation. All heaven’s citizens, sing! Glory in the highest to God.

Yes, we greet you, Lord born this happy morning—Jesus, son of the Father, now appearing in flesh. Let all glory be given to you.

Come, let’s adore him—Christ the Lord.

[Original Text: attributed to John F. Wade, translated by Frederick Oakeley]