With Heart And Spirit Reconciled
For Christmas
Words: Laet ons mit herten reyne, Dutch Carol of the 15th Century
Words translated by the Rev. John O'Connor
Music: Traditional Dutch Carol
Source: Richard Runciman Terry, Two Hundred Folk Carols (London: Burns Oates & Washbourne Limited, 1933), Carol #111, pp. 4-5.
Refrain:
With heart and spirit reconciled,
Welcome the lovely little Child,
Who brings us home from thorny wild.
1. To us a Son is
given,
To us high Heaven comes down,
The gates of Hell are riven
Our God is all our own.
And hail thee gracious maiden,
With our salvation laden,
True mother of the living.
2. From fire of
central glory
Our God at last outspoke:
I will that Hell be broken
And man put off the Yoke.
Go tell my clearest mirror
Withouten flaw nor error,
No creature me is dearer.
3. Then Gabriel
Archangel
To Nazareth came down,
And told his great evangel
In word of sweet renown;
Hail full of Grace O Mary,
The Lord is with thy Spirit,
Blest mother of blest offspring.
4. The maid in
troubled wonder
Said: How shall this thing be?
Fear not, thou shalt be under
His Power Who comes on thee;
And by the Holy Spirit
Undimm'd thy maiden merit
God's Son shall thou inherit.
5. Then Mary well won
over
By the Archangel's word
Said: Gabriel behold me
The handmaid of the Lord,
The angel forthwith left her,
And while the night stood silent,
The Word became Incarnate.
6. Oh! where shall end
her praises
Or now or evermore?
Our low estate she raises,
Our ruin doth restore.
All hail thou gracious maiden
Wit our salvation laden,
Pray now for us and ever.
Sheet Music from Richard Runciman Terry, Two Hundred Folk Carols (London: Burns Oates & Washbourne Limited, 1933), Carol #111, pp. 4-5.
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