Christ is Born! Alleluia!



Here’s an ancient hymn of the church that anchors an appropriate reverence for the advent season. It's words and good to meditate upon.



Let all mortal flesh keep silence, And with fear and trembling stand;

Ponder nothing earthly minded, For with blessing in His hand,

Christ our God to earth descendeth, Our full homage to demand.



King of kings, yet born of Mary, As of old on earth He stood,

Lord of lords, in human vesture, In the body and the blood;

He will give to all the faithful His own self for heavenly food.



Rank on rank the host of heaven Spreads its vanguard on the way,

As the Light of light descendeth From the realms of endless day,

That the powers of hell may vanish As the darkness clears away.



At His feet the six winged seraph, Cherubim with sleepless eye,

Veil their faces to the presence, As with ceaseless voice they cry:

Alleluia, Alleluia Alleluia, Lord Most High!



—Liturgy of St. James, 4th c., Tr. Gerard Moultrie, sung to “Picardy”