Poem: The Nativity of Christ

15th Century Painting by Petrus Christus - Wikipedia

The Nativity of Christ is a poem by the Jesuit Priest, Fr. Robert Southwell (1561-1595). Because of his efforts as a missionary loyal to the Holy See in post-Reformation England; he was tried, convicted, and hanged for high treason. In 1970, he was canonized by Pope Paul VI as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales. The Nativity of Christ is included in the Poems for Advent and Christmas Appendix of the Divine Office (1974).

Setting by Christopher M. Wicks

THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST. By Robert Southwell

Behold the father is his daughter's son,
The bird that built the nest is hatch'd therein,
The old of years an hour hath not outrun,
Eternal life to live doth now begin,
The word is dumb, the mirth of heaven doth weep,
Might feeble is, and force doth faintly creep.

O dying souls! behold your living spring!
O dazzled eyes! behold your sun of grace!
Dull ears attend what word this word doth bring!
Up, heavy hearts, with joy your joy embrace!
From death, from dark, from deafness, from despairs,
This life, this light, this word, this joy repairs.

Gift better than Himself God doth not know,
Gift better than his God no man can see;
This gift doth here the giver given bestow,
Gift to this gift let each receiver be:
God is my gift, Himself He freely gave me,
God's gift am I, and none but God shall have me.

Man alter'd was by sin from man to beast;
Beast's food is hay, hay is all mortal flesh;
Now God is flesh, and lies in manger press'd,
As hay the brutest sinner to refresh:
Oh happy field wherein this fodder grew,
Whose taste doth us from beasts to men renew!

Poem: Deign at My Hands

Painting by Jose de Sarabia (1608-1699) - Courtesy of Wikipedia

Deign at My Hands is a poem by the English poet, lawyer, and Anglican Cleric, John Donne (1572-1631). It is the first poem of La Corona - a cycle of seven sonnets written in 1618 about the life of Christ. The first line of this poem ("Deign at my hands this crown of prayer and praise"), also serves as the final line of the last sonnet of the cycle. Deign at My Hands is included in the Poems for Advent and Christmas Appendix of the Divine Office (1974).


DEIGN AT MY HANDS by John Donne

Deign at my hands this crown of prayer and praise,
Weav'd in my low devout melancholy,
Thou which of good, hast, yea art treasury,
All changing unchanged Ancient of days,
But do not, with a vile crown of frail bays,
Reward my muse's white sincerity,
But what thy thorny crown gained, that give me,
A crown of Glory, which doth flower always;
The ends crown our works, but thou crown'st our ends,
For at our end begins our endlesse rest,
The first last end, now zealously possest,
With a strong sober thirst, my soul attends.
'Tis time that heart and voice be lifted high,
Salvation to all that will is nigh.

Poem: Sussex Carol (On Christmas Night All Christians Sing)

Painting by Guido Reni (1575-1642) - Courtesy of Wikipedia

Sussex Carol (On Christmas Night All Christians Sing) is an anonymous English Christmas carol. An early version was published in the 17th century by Fr. Luke Wadding O.F.M. (October 1588-1657), but it is uncertain if he was the original author or was setting down an existing folksong. None-the-less, the song remained popular in oral tradition and was collected in 1919 by the folklorist,  Cecil Sharp (1859-1924) together with the composer, Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958). It is this version which is most commonly known today. Sussex Carol is included in the Poems for Advent and Christmas Appendix of the Divine Office (1974).

Arranged by Ralph Vaughan Williams

SUSSEX CAROL (Anonymous)

On Christmas night all Christians sing
To hear the news the angels bring.
News of great joy, news of great mirth,
News of our merciful King's birth.

Then why should men on earth be so sad,
Since our Redeemer made us glad,
When from our sin he set us free,
All for to gain our liberty?

When sin departs before His grace,
Then life and health come in its place.
Angels and men with joy may sing
All for to see the new-born King.

All out of darkness we have light,
Which made the angels sing this night:
"Glory to God and peace to men,
Now and for evermore, Amen!"

Poem: I Sing of a Maiden (I Syng of a Mayden)

Painting by Bartolme Esteban Murillo - Wikipedia 

I Sing of a Maiden (I Syng of a Mayden) is an anonymous English poem which dates back to a 15th century manuscript, but likely goes back in oral tradition much further. Based upon the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary found in Luke 1:26-38, it is considered by scholars to be one of the finest examples of Middle English lyrics. I Sing of a Maiden is included in the Poems for Advent and Christmas Appendix of the Divine Office (1974).

Setting by Patrick Hadley (1899-1973)

I SING OF A MAIDEN (Anonymous)

I sing of a maiden
That is matchless;
King of all Kings
For her Son she chose.

He came all so still,
Where His mother was,
Adv As dew in April
That falleth on the grass.

He came all so still
To His mother's bowr,
As dew in April
That falleth on flower.

He came all so still,
Where His mother lay,
As dew in April
That falleth on the spray.

Mother and maiden
Was ne'er none but she;
Well may such a lady
Godes mother be.

O Felix Culpa (Adam Lay Ybounden)

15th Century Painting by Berthold Furtmeyr - Courtesy Wikipedia

O Felix Culpa is an anonymous English poem which dates back to a 15th century manuscript, but likely goes back in oral tradition much further. Scholars have suggested that it may be an example of a minstrel's begging song or that it was intended for use in a mystery play. The Latin phrase felix culpa is often translated as "happy fault," and is derived from the writings of St. Augustine regarding the Fall of Man and original sin. O Felix Culpa is included in the Poems for Advent and Christmas Appendix of the Divine Office (1974).


Setting by Boris Ord (1897-1961), performed by Kings College Choir

O FELIX CULPA (Anonymous, 15th century)

Adam lay y-bounden,
   Bounden in a bond;
Four thousand winter
   Thought he not too long;
And all was for an apple,
   An apple that he took,
As clerkès finden written
   In theirè book.
Ne had one apple taken been,
   The apple taken been,
Then haddè never Our Lady
   A been heaven's queen.
Blessed be the time
   That apple taken was!
Therefore we may singen
   'Deo Gratias!'