December the Eighth - A Great and Mighty Wonder
One of my favourite Christmas Carols has been "A great wonder, a full and blessed cure" Tune "Es ist ein ros" by Michael Praetorius. The original words are said to date from the 8th Century and the tune from about 1590/1600.
Roger Wookey
1 A great and mighty wonder,
a full and holy cure!
the Virgin bears the Infant
with virgin-honour pure:
Refrain:
Repeat the hymn again:
‘To God on high be glory,
and peace on earth to men.’
2 The Word becomes incarnate,
and yet remains on high;
and cherubim sing anthems
to shepherds from the sky
3 While thus they sing your Monarch,
those bright angelic bands,
rejoice, ye vales and mountains,
ye oceans, clap your hands
4 Since all he comes to ransom,
by all be he adored,
the Infant born in Bethl’em,
the Saviour and the Lord