The Virgin Mary Hath Conceived

For Christmas
Christmas Hymn for the Third Hour

Words: Maria ventre concipit
A cento from Agnoscat omne saeculum by S. Venantius Fortunatus
Translation by John Mason Neale

Music: Tune 1 from the York Manuscript in Sion College
Tune 2: Words from the York Hymnal, Melody from the Salisbury

Source: Rev. John Mason Neale and Rev. Thomas Helmore, eds., Hymnal Noted, Part I. (London: Novello & Co., 1852), Part II (London: Novello & Co., 1856), #69 (CE 37), pp. 136-137.

1. ^a The Virgin Mary hath conceived
By that true word which she believed ;
^b And Whom the wide world cannot hold,
^c A spotless maiden's arms enfold.

2. ^d Now buds the flower of Jesse's root ;
^e Now Aaron's rod puts out its fruit ;
^f She sees her offspring rise to view,
The Mother, yet the Virgin too.

3. All honour, laud, and glory be,
O Jesu, Virgin-born, to Thee !
All glory, as is ever meet,
To Father and to Paraclete. Amen.

Scriptural References from The Words of the Hymnal Noted Complete With Scriptural References (London: J. A. Novello and J. Masters, no date, circa 1856), pp. 42-43.

a. S. Luke i. 45. Return

b. 1 Kings viii. 27. Isaiah lxvi. 1. Jer. xxiii. 24. Return

c. S. Luke ii. 7. Return

d. Isaiah xi. 1. Zech. vi. 12. Return

e. Num. xvii. 8. Return

f. Isaiah liii. 8. Isaiah lxvi. 7. Return

Sheet Music from Rev. John Mason Neale and Rev. Thomas Helmore, eds., Hymnal Noted, Part I. (London: Novello & Co., 1852), Part II (London: Novello & Co., 1856), #69 (CE 37), pp. 136-137.

Sheet Music from Thomas Helmore, Accompanying Harmonies to the Hymnal Noted. Part I (London: Novello, Ewer and Co., and Masters and Son, 1852), Part II (London: Novello and Co., Joseph Masters and J. T. Hayes, 1858), #69, pp. 220-221.

Note.

According to a note in Thomas Helmore, Accompanying Harmonies to the Hymnal Noted. Part I (London: Novello, Ewer and Co., and Masters and Son, 1852), Part II (London: Novello and Co., Joseph Masters and J. T. Hayes, 1858), p. iv-v, this hymn  is not in the Sarum, but occurs in the York Hymnal.

This hymn is a cento from Agnoscat omne saeculum by S. Venantius Fortunatus. See the notes under Let Every Age And Nation Own and the notes under the full hymn, Agnoscat omne saeculum.

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