I Love Christmas
AN EMOTIONAL HYMN
When I was in high school I sang in the church choir. Of course the songs we sang were religious in naure, and when Christmas time rolled around the hymns were selected to emphasize the season.
One of my favorites was O Magnum Mysterium, a four-part chant for the Solemnity of Christmas. It was all in Latin and very fitting for the occasion.
Tonight I listened to a recording of O Magnum Mysterium, and I began to sing along in my Low Alto part, which I still remember after all these years. I also understand Latin, and as I sang the words I really began to listen to them.
O magnum mysterium,
et admirabile sacramentum,
ut animalia viderent Dominum natum,
jacentem in praesepio!
O Beata Virgo, cujus viscera
meruerunt portare
Dominum Jesum Christum.
Suddenly I was overcome with emotion. The words in Latin just hit me with their beautiful meaning. As I said, I know what the Latin words mean, and in the original they seemed so wonderful, especially at this time of year.
I don't know if they would mean as much to my readers, but here I will offer my translation”
Oh Great Mystery,
And admirable Sacrament,
That the animals should see The Lord born
Lying in a manger.
Oh Blessed Virgin, whose insides (womb)
Should have merit to carry
The Lord Jesus Christ.
I can hardly write down this translation without my eyes welling up.
It is so beautiful, and so filled with the true meaning of Christmas!
When I was in high school I sang in the church choir. Of course the songs we sang were religious in naure, and when Christmas time rolled around the hymns were selected to emphasize the season.
One of my favorites was O Magnum Mysterium, a four-part chant for the Solemnity of Christmas. It was all in Latin and very fitting for the occasion.
Tonight I listened to a recording of O Magnum Mysterium, and I began to sing along in my Low Alto part, which I still remember after all these years. I also understand Latin, and as I sang the words I really began to listen to them.
O magnum mysterium,
et admirabile sacramentum,
ut animalia viderent Dominum natum,
jacentem in praesepio!
O Beata Virgo, cujus viscera
meruerunt portare
Dominum Jesum Christum.
Suddenly I was overcome with emotion. The words in Latin just hit me with their beautiful meaning. As I said, I know what the Latin words mean, and in the original they seemed so wonderful, especially at this time of year.
I don't know if they would mean as much to my readers, but here I will offer my translation”
Oh Great Mystery,
And admirable Sacrament,
That the animals should see The Lord born
Lying in a manger.
Oh Blessed Virgin, whose insides (womb)
Should have merit to carry
The Lord Jesus Christ.
I can hardly write down this translation without my eyes welling up.
It is so beautiful, and so filled with the true meaning of Christmas!
