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Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

Sixteen (16) Christmas Carols … In Latin!

Corpus Christi Watershed · December 20, 2014

On a Franciscan website, we found this clever PDF wherein Fr. Valentine Young has set common Christmas songs in Latin. A friend of CCW volunteered to type them out. Please let us know if you find any typos!

In addition to the below, from Father Valentine, you can also download Latin Christmas Carols.

I. Jolly Old Saint Nicholas

1. Laetus Sanctus Nicholaus
Aurem tende huc.
Ne dicas ulli vivo
Quid dicturus sim.
Vigilia proxima
Nunc care senex,
Me dicas quid mi feras,
Mi dic si potes.

2. Media nocte facta
Somno sopitus,
Per compluvium atrum
Rebus paratis,
Tibialia cuncta
Iam in ordine,
Meum erit minimum
Sine dubio.

II. Up On The House Top

1. In summa domi cervi stant,
Ecce Bonus Nicholaus
et per compluvium cum nugis
Pro pueris et puellis.

Chorus:
Sit, sit, sit, Quis non it?
Sit, sit, sit, quis non it?
In summa domi crepitus
Per compluvium venit Sanctus.

2. Primum tibiale parvulae,
Care Sancte, id comple.
Pupam ridentem et dolentem
Da oculos et habentem.

3. Et tunc tibiale parvulo,
Quam multum iam videto.
Malleus necnon clavus tenax
Sphaera et flagellum minax.

III. O Christmas Tree

1. Ecce arbor huius noctis
Folia numquam mutant
Viridia in aestate,
Et etiam in hieme.

2. Necnon aestatis tempore
Rami lati et virides,
Sed etiam floret nive
Cum terra alba hieme.

3. Narrat nobis de custode
Et angelorum carmine,
De Infante in praesepe
Est legendum mirabile.

IV. What Child Is This?

Qualis puer qui in Mariae
gremio nunc dormit?
Quem angeli nunc salutant
dum pastores vigilant.

Ille est Christus Rex quem
Pastores et Angeli currunt ad
laudandum Filium de Maria.

V. O Come, All Ye Faithful

1. Adeste, fideles, laeti triumphantes
Venite, venite in Bethlehem.
Natum videte Regem Angelorum,

Chorus:
Venite, adoremus; venite, adoremus;
Venite, adoremus Dominum.

2. En grege relicto, humiles ad cunas
Vocati pastores approperant.
Nosque ovanti gradu festinemus.

3. Aeterni Parentis Splendorem aeternum
Velatum sub carne videbimus:
Deum Infantem, pannis involutum.

VI. White Christmas

Diem Christi album somnio
Persimilem praeteritis.
Ub(i) arbores nitent
Natique ardent
Nolis trahae niveis.
Diem Christi album somnio
Ut in omni charta scribo
“Dies sint festivi tibi,
Et festa nivalia Christi.’’

VII. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer

Adsunt Ruens et Saltans
Exsultans et Rixans,
Comans, Cupidus,
Tonans, Fulguransque,
Sed quid de illo praeclaro
omnium cervo?
Rudolphus, cervus nasum
rubicundum habebat
Quem si videre possis,
elucere referas.
Ludificare cervi,
deridentes solebant,
Neque sinebant eum
comminus colludere.
Ecce dixit Nicholaus
pridie Festum:
“O Rudolphe, nocte hac,
visne traham ducere?’’
Quam tunc iucundus fuit,
cervis iubilantibus.
“Rudolphe,” tunc dicebant:
“Notus eris posteris.”

VIII. Silent Night

1. Silens nox, sancta nox,
Placida, lucida.
Virginem et Puerum
Dulcem atque tenerum
//Somno opprime.//

2. Silens nox, sancta nox,
Angeli nitidi
”Alleluia” concinunt.
Nunc pastores metuunt.
//Christus natus est.//

3. Silens nox, sancta nox,
Candida, splendida.
Fili Dei facies
Nobis praebet novas spes;
//Christus natus est.//

IX. O Little Town of Bethlehem

1. O parve vice Bethlehem,
Quam tacitus iaces!
Super somnum stellae tuum
Volvuntur silentes.
Sed noctis in tenebris
Aeterna Lux splendet.
Iam temporum spes omnium
Curae in te manent.

2. Nam Christus ex Maria
Natus, et in caelo
Sunt congressi cum Angeli
Amore cum pio.
O stellae matutinae
Cantate caelitus!
Deo sint laudes insignes
Et pax hominibus.

X. Jingle Bells

1. Nives, glacies, nox pueritia!
Risus decet, nunc decent carmina!
Laetos iuvat nos ire per agros.
traha fert velociter, et cachinemus nos.

Chorus:
//Tinniant, tinniant, tintinnabula.
Ludus est equo trahi in curru aperto.//

2. Me nuper miserum temptavit lunae lux.
Assidebat mihi puella facta dux!
Vecti subito in nivis cumulos.
Caballus est perterritus et tunc eversi nos.

3. Solum scintillat, nive candidum.
Repetatur nunc concentus carminum:
Canities absit morosa omnibus!
Puellulas cum pueris delectat hic cursus.

XI. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

1. En canentes Angeli,
“Gloria Regi, Infanti;
Pax in terra. et Deus
concors cum mortalibus.”
Laeti, omnes populi
Cum caelestibus iuncti,
Praedicate “Nunc Christus
Est in Bethlehem natus.”

Chorus:
En canentes Angeli,
“Gloria Regi Infanti.’’

2. Adoratus caelitus,
Christus, semper Dominus.
Serius advenit spe
Genitus a Virgine.
Carne tamquam obsitus,
Homo ex Deo factus,
Volens ut par sit honos,
Commoratur inter nos.

XII. Good King Wenceslaus

1. Sanctus Wenceslaus rex
Stephani ad festum.
Agrum vidit nivibus
Gelidis congestum.
Vidit pauperem sibi
Ligna colligentem.
Qui sub luna splendida
Sensit se frigentem.

2. “Affer carnem, vinum fer,
Lignum afferamus,
Ut nos illi pauperi
Cenam praebeamus.”
Rex et puer prodibant
Animo aequali,
Vento flante acriter
Tempore brumali.

XIII. Deck The Halls

Aquafolia ornatis,
Fa la la, etc.
Tempus hoc hilaritatis
Fa la, la, etc.
Vestes claras induamus
Fa, la, la, etc.
Cantilenas nunc promamus.
Fa, la, la, etc.

XIV. Joy To The World

Laetissimus accipiat
Iam mundus Dominum.
Dum omnia in corda nos
//accipimus Illum.//

XV. God Rest You Merry Gentlemen

Salvete, laeti comites,
Nihil vos terreat.
Nam Jesus Christus natus est
Ut omnes redimat,
Et in Satanae semitas
Errantes reducat.
O nuntium gratissimum,
gratissimum.
O nuntium gratissimum.

XVI. We Three Kings Of Orient

Orientis reges tres,
Procul dona portantes
Per campos et montes imus
Post stellam sequentes.

Chorus:
O, Stella potens et mira,
Stella regalis pulchra,
Semper movens ad occasum
Due nos ad claram lucem.

Melchior:
Infans nate Bethlehem,
Portamus hanc coronam,
Rex aeterne, sempiterne,
Domine terrarum!

Casper:
Dis Sabaeum Tibi fero,
Tus dignum magno Deo;
Te laudantes et orantes
Colimus in Caelo.

Balthasar:
Myrrham fero amaram,
Circum te fumat caligo,
te languentem et gementem
condit(um) in tumulo.

Reges:
Clarus surgit, O specta!
Deus, Rex, et Victima.
Alleluia, Alleluia,
Canunt caelum terra.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Latin Christmas Carols Last Updated: December 23, 2022

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President’s Corner

    A Nice Hymn In Spanish
    In my humble opinion, this is a really beautiful hymn in Spanish. If I practice diligently, I’ll be able to pronounce all the words properly. If you’re someone who’s interested in obtaining a melody only version (suitable for your congregational ORDER OF WORSHIP) you can steal that from this.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Music List” • 21st in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Our choir returns on Sunday, 24 August 2025. Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for it, which is the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Entrance Chant” • 21st Sunday Ordin. Time
    You can download the ENTRANCE ANTIPHON in English for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) which is coming up on 24 August 2025. Corresponding to the vocalist score is this free organ accompaniment. It’s set in a melancholy mode, but if you heard my choir’s female voices singing it your soul would be uplifted beyond belief. If you’re someone who enjoys rehearsal videos, this morning I tried to sing it while simultaneously accompanying my voice on the pipe organ.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Solemn “Salve Regina” (Chant)
    How many “S” words can you think of using alliteration? How about Schwann Solemn Salve Score? You can download the SOLEMN SALVE REGINA in Gregorian Chant. The notation follows the official rhythm (EDITIO VATICANA). Canon Jules Van Nuffel, choirmaster of the Cathedral of Saint Rumbold, composed this accompaniment for it (although some feel it isn’t his best work).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Pope Pius XII Hymnal?
    Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Hybrid” Chant Notation?
    Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

Far from dreading an encounter with the Iroquois, Fr. Garnier often told us he would be quite content to fall into their hands and remain their prisoner if—while they were torturing him—he at least had a chance of instructing them as long as his torments lasted. If they allowed him to live, it would afford him a golden opportunity to work for their conversion, which was now impossible, since the gateway to their country was closed as long as they were our enemies.

— Father Ragueneau (Jesuit Relations)

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