It Came to Pass

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Perhaps my favorite carol is the "The Christ Child's Lullaby." This carol comes from the north of Scotland, from a small, remote area called Moidart. Its Catholic priest, Fr. Ranald Rankin, penned the lyrics for Midnight Mass around the year 1855.¹

I first heard it on a CD, Highland Christmas, given to me by my nephew some years ago. Of all the lovely tunes on that wee disk, "The Christ Child's Lullaby" nearly always brings tears to my eyes with its haunting beauty.

On this Christmas Day, I will not write of war and death, but will give you this simple offering of music and scripture. I wish you all a most blessed Christmas and love and peace in the New Year ahead. Please follow that link under the opening graphic, it leads to an article titled, "The Terrible Beauty of His Birth." Something I never really considered, but what the author has to say is profound. At least I thought so.

Now the music, this version is in Gaelic and English -

This version is in English, listen to the words, they haunt my soul.

Christ Child Lullaby - Fr. Ranald Rankin

My love, my pride, my treasure oh

My wonder new and pleasure oh

My son, my beauty, ever You

Who am I to bear You here?

The cause of talk and tale am I

The cause of greatest fame am I

The cause of proudest care on high

To have for mine, the King of all.

And though You are the King of all

They sent You to the manger stall

Where at Your feet they all shall fall

And glorify my child, the King.

There shone a star above three kings

To guide them to the King of kings

They held You in their humble arms

And knelt before You until dawn.

They gave You myrrh and gave You gold

Frankincense and gifts untold

They traveled far these gifts to bring

And glorify their new born King.

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The following carol I discovered while looking for those videos above. Alison Krauss sings like an angel and Yo-Yo Ma is truly a master. Ladies and gentlemen, "The Wexford Carol" -

Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrolment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to enrol themselves, every one to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David; to enrol himself with Mary, who was betrothed to him, being great with child. And it came to pass, while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds in the same country abiding in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. And an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people: for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this is the sign unto you: Ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace among men in whom he is well pleased.

And it came to pass, when the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing that is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger. And when they saw it, they made known concerning the saying which was spoken to them about this child. And all that heard it wondered at the things which were spoken unto them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, even as it was spoken unto them. - Luke 2:1-20 (ASV)

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