Hymns

Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming

Words: Friedrich Layriz, Harriet Spaeth, John C. Mattes, Theodore Baker · Music: Alte Catholische Geistliche Kirchengeseng, 1599, Michael Praetorius · 1844

Verse 1
Lo, how a rose e'er blooming
from tender stem hath sprung,
of Jesse's lineage coming,
as men of old have sung.
It came, a flow'ret bright,
amid the cold of winter,
when half-spent was the night.

Verse 2
Isaiah 'twas foretold it,
the rose I have in mind;
with Mary we behold it,
the virgin mother kind.
To show God's love aright
she bore for us a Savior,
when half-spent was the night.

Verse 3
This flow'r, whose fragrance tender
with sweetness fills the air,
dispels with glorious splendor
the darkness ev'rywhere.
True man, yet very God;
from sin and death he saves us
and lightens ev'ry load.

Verse 4
O Savior, Child of Mary,
who felt our human woe;
O Savior, King of glory,
who dost our weakness know,
bring us at last, we pray,
to the bright courts of heaven
and to thy endless day.

Words: Sts. 1–2, 4, German carol, 15th c.; st. 3, Friedrich Layriz, 1844; tr. sts. 1-2, Theodore Baker, 1894; st. 3, Harriet Spaeth, 1875; st. 4, John C. Mattes, 1914 | Music: Alte Catholische Geistliche Kirchengeseng, 1599; harm. Michael Praetorius, 1609

Psalm 24; Song of Songs 2; Isaiah 7; Isaiah 11; Matthew 1; John 8; Colossians 1; Hebrews 4

Advent · God, Love of · Jesus as Savior · Jesus, Adoration of · Jesus, Advent of