Back to Worship Aid for Mass
A variety of sung and instrumental carols will be played before each Mass. Possible song choices are listed in alphabetical order.
Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabella
Bring a torch, Jeanette, Isabella!
Bring a torch, to the cradle run!
It is Jesus, good folk of the village;
Christ is born and Mary's calling.
Ah! ah! beautiful is the Mother!
Ah! ah! beautiful is her Son!Quiet now while the child is sleeping,
It is wrong to talk so loud;
Silence, all, as you gather around,
Lest your noise should waken Jesus.
Hush! hush! see how fast He slumbers;
Hush! hush! see how fast He sleeps!Softly to the little stable,
Softly for a moment come;
Look and see how charming is Jesus,
How He is fair, His cheeks are rosy.
Oh! Oh! see how the child is sleeping;
Oh! Oh! see how He smiles in dreams
Gabriel’s Message/The Angel Gabriel
The angel Gabriel from heaven came,
his wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame;
"All hail," said he, “thou lowly maiden, Mary,
most highly favored lady." Gloria!"For known a blessed Mother thou shalt be,
all generations laud and honor thee;
Thy Son shall be Emmanuel by seers foretold,
most highly favored lady." Gloria!Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head;
"To me be as it pleases God," she said.
"My soul shall laud and magnify his holy name."
Most highly favored lady. Gloria!Of her, Emmanuel the Christ was born
In Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn,
and Christian folk throughout the world will ever say,
"Most highly favored lady." Gloria!
In the Bleak Midwinter
In the bleak mid-winter
Frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, Snow on snow,
In the bleak mid-winter
Long ago.Our God, Heav’n cannot hold him Nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away When he comes to reign:
In the bleak mid-winter
A stable-place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.Enough for him, whom cherubim Worship night and day,
Breastful of milk
And a mangerful of hay;
Enough for him, whom angels
Fall down before,
Ox and ass and camel
Which adore.Angels and archangels
May have gathered there, Cherubim and seraphim
Thronged the air,
But his mother only
In her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the beloved
With a kiss.What can I give him, Poor as I am? If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb,
If I were a wise man
I would do my part,
Yet what I can I give him,
Give my heart.
The First Nowell - 460
The first Nowell the angel did say
was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay,
in fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
on a cold winter’s night that was so deep.
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
born is the King of Israel.They looked up and saw a star
shining in the east beyond them far;
and to the earth it gave great light,
and so it continued both day and night.
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
born is the King of Israel.And by the light of that same star
three wise men came from country far;
to seek for a king was their intent,
and to follow the star wherever it went.
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
born is the King of Israel.
We Three Kings - 463
We three kings of Orient are;
Bearing gifts, we traverse afar
Field and fountain, Moor and mountain,
following yonder star.
O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading,
still proceeding,
Guide us to the perfect Light.
Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain,
Gold I bring to crown him again;
King forever, Ceasing never,
Over us all to reign.
O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading,
still proceeding,
Guide us to the perfect Light.
Frankincense to offer have I;
incense owns a Deity nigh;
Prayer and praising, Gladly raising,
worshipping God on high.
O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading,
still proceeding,
Guide us to the perfect Light.
Myrrh is mine: its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom;
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in a stone-cold tomb.
O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading,
still proceeding,
Guide us to the perfect Light.
Glorious now behold him arise,
King and God and Sacrifice;
”Alleluia, alleluia!”
Sounds through the earth and skies.
O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading,
still proceeding,
Guide us to the perfect life.
466 - What Child is This
What child is this, who, laid to rest
On Mary's lap, is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
Haste, haste to bring him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!
Why lies he in such mean estate
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear;
for sinners here
the Silent Word is pleading.
This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
Haste, haste to bring him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!
So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh;
Come, peasant, king, to own him.
The King of kings salvation brings;
Let loving hearts enthrone him.
This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
Haste, haste to bring him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!