Hymn of the Week: ‘The Snow Lay on the Ground’

This old English carol is the processional at our parish this weekend.

Fittingly, for this Sunday devoted to the Holy Family, the words tell of each member of that family:

 The snow lay on the ground, The stars shone bright, When Christ our Lord was born On Christmas night. Venite adoremus Dominum; Venite adoremus Dominum. Refrain: Venite adoremus Dominum; Venite adoremus Dominum; Venite adoremus Dominum; Venite adoremus Dominum; ‘Twas Mary maid, so young and strong, Who welcomed here the Christchild with a song She laid Him in a stall At Bethlehem; The ass and oxen shared The roof with them. Saint Joseph, too, was by To tend the Child; To guard him, and protect His mother mild; The angels hovered round, And sung this song, Venite adoremus Dominum. And thus that manger poor Became a throne; For He Whom Mary bore Was God the Son. O come, then, let us join The heavenly host, To praise the Father, Son, And Holy Ghost.