Newsgroups: bit.listserv.christia
Date:         Thu, 24 Dec 1992 04:00:42 EST
From:         JEK@NIHCU.BITNET
Subject:      For Christmas Day

FOR CHRISTMAS DAY

READING: Isaiah 9:2-4,6-7
 ("Unto us a child is born")

PSALM 96
 ("Let heaven and earth rejoice to greet the coming Lord.")

EPISTLE: Titus 2:11-14
 ("the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus
Christ")

THE HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 2:1-20
 ("There went out a decree from Caesar Augustus... laid him in a
manger...  shepherds in the fields... "Glory to God in the Highest,
and peace to His people on earth")

PRAYER (traditional wording)
   O God, who makest us glad with the yearly remembrance of the
   birth of thy only Son Jesus Christ: Grant that as we joyfully
   receive him for our Redeemer, so we may with sure confidence
   behold him when he shall come to be our Judge; who liveth and
   reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without
   end.

   O God, who hast caused this holy night to shine with the
   illumination of the true Light: Grant us, we beseech thee,
   that as we have known the mystery of that Light upon earth,
   so may we also perfectly enjoy him in heaven; where with thee
   and the Holy Spirit he liveth and reigneth, one God, in glory
   everlasting.

   Almighty God, who hast given us thy only-begotten son to take
   our nature upon him, and as at this time to be born of a pure
   virgin: Grant that we, being regenerate and made thy children
   by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit;
   through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and
   reigneth with thee and the same Spirit ever, one God, world
   without end.

PRAYER (contemporary wording)
   O God, you make us glad with the yearly festival of the
   birth of your only Son Jesus Christ: Grant we, who joyfully
   receive him as our Redeemer, may with sure confidence
   behold him when he comes to be our Judge; who lives and
   reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

   O God, you have caused this holy night to shine with the
   brightness of the true Light: Grant that we, who have known
   the mystery of that Light upon earth, may also enjoy him
   perfectly in heaven; where with you and the Holy Spirit he
   lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting.

   Almighty God, you have given your only-begotten son to take
   our nature upon him, and to be born [this day] of a pure
   virgin: Grant that we, who have been born again and made your
   children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your
   Holy Spirit; through our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with you
   and the same Spirit be honor and glory, now and for ever.

                    POEM

What follows is a selection of stanzas from a Christmas poem by
William Dunbar (Scotland, 1460-1520). I have modified the spelling
and changed a few words. Here are a few footnotes in advance.

      RORATE, COELI DESUPER = "Drop dew, ye heavens, from above." It
is the opening of an ancient hymn about the Nativity.
      PRO NOBIS PUER NATUS EST = "is born as a child for us."
      ET NOBIS PUER NATUS EST = "and is born as a child for us."
      GLORIA IN EXCELSIS (DEO) = "Glory (to  God) in the highest."
      Phoebus (= "FEE-bus") = the sun.

I have heard it sung to a double quatrain of "Old 104th" alternating
with a double quatrain of "Veni Creator," both in very free rhythm,
and with the "Veni" starting and ending one tone lower than the
"Old CIV".  (Check the Index of Tunes in your hymnal.)

And now the poem.

      ================================================


     RORATE COELI DESUPER,
      Heavens, distill your balmy showers,
     For now is risen the bright day star
      From the rosemary, flower of flowers.
      The clear sun, whom no cloud devours,
     Surmounting Phoebus in the East,
      Is come down of his heavenly towers
     ET NOBIS PUER NATUS EST.

     Archangels, angels, dominations,
      Thrones, powers, and heaven's militia here,
     And all the heavenly operations,
      Star, planet, firmament and sphere,
      Fire, earth, air, and water clear,
     To him give loving most and least
      Who comes to bring us love and cheer
     ET NOBIS PUER NATUS EST.

     Sinners, be glad and penance do,
      And thank your maker heartfully;
     For he that ye might not come to
      Comes to you in humility,
      Your souls with his own blood to buy
     And loose you of the fiend's arrest,
      And only of his own mercy
     PRO NOBIS PUER NATUS EST.

     Sing, heaven imperial most of height.
      Regions of air, make harmony.
     All fish of flood and fowl of flight,
      Be mirthful and make melody.
      All GLORIA IN EXCELSIS cry,
     Heaven, earth, sea, man, bird, and beast.
      He that is throned above the sky
     PRO NOBIS PUER NATUS EST.
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