Midnight Mass of the Nativity

Is 62.1-5, Titus 2.11-14, Lk 2.1-4 To you is born this day… a saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord 

Carols before the mass (starting 11.30 pm) 

• Introit: (Gregorian) Dominus dixit ad me, Filius meus es tu, ego hodie genui te The lord said to me, You are my Son, this day I have begotten you
• Mass setting: Messe de Minuit (Charpentier)
• Motet: Salve Puerule* (Charpentier)
• Communio: (Gregorian, Ps 109) In splendoribus sanctorum, ex utero ante luciferum genui te Amidst the splendours of the heaveanly sanctuary, from the womb, before the moring star, I have begotten you
• Hymns: Hark the Herald Angels Sing; Silent Night; O come all ye Faithful.
• Organ Offertorium: All my heart this night rejoices – Johann Walther (1684-1748)
• Organ Voluntary: Cantique de Noël (‘O Holy Night’) – Adolphe Adam (1803-1856)

Organist: Bransby Byrne

*Salve puerule, salve tenellule,
O nate parvule quam bonus es.
Tu coelum deseris, tu mundo nasceris,
Nobis te’ut miseris assimiles.

O summa bonitas! Excelsa deitas
Vilis humanitas fit hodie.
Aeternus nascitur, immensus capitur
Et rei tegitur sub specie.

Virgo puerpera, beata viscera
Dei cum opera dent filium.
Gaude, flos virginum, gaude, spes hominum,
Fons lavans criminum proluvium.

Hail, little child, hail, tender babe,
O tiny child, how good you are.
You leave heaven and are born in the world for us,
Making yourself like us poor wretches.

O highest goodness, lofty godhead
That today becomes poor humanity.
The eternal is born, the boundless circumscribed
And hidden in worldly garb.

Virgin mother,
Your blessed womb, through God gives birth to a Son.
Rejoice flower of virgins, rejoice hope of mankind,
Font that washes away the stain of sin.