Universalis

Monday 12 January 2009

Whence is that goodly fragrance flowing?

Although the Christmas Season finished yesterday (in the Modern Roman Rite), I am going to keep the festivities going for the rest of this week - until we start the Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity on 18 January. How sad that so many signs of Christmas disappear on 26 December!



Whence is the goodly fragrance flowing,
Stealing our senses all away,
never the like did come a-blowing,
Shepherds, in flow'ry fields of May,
Whence is that goodly fragrance flowing,
Stealing our senses all away.

What is that light so brilliant, breaking
Here in the night across our eyes.
Never so bright, the day-star waking,
Started to climb the morning skies!
What is that light so brilliant, breaking,
Here in the night across our eyes.

Bethlehem! there in manger lying,
Find your Redeemer haste away,
Run ye with eager footsteps vieing!
Worship the Saviour born today.
Bethlehem! there in manger lying,
Find your Redeemer haste away.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

This year, following Joanna Bogle's lead, I will be keeping the creche up until the Presentation in February.

Peter Simpson said...

An excellent idea! I like the Seasons to be a descent length. We have 3-4 weeks for Advent, 40 weekdays for Lent, and 50 days for Easter. Just 12 days for Christmas seems far too short. You idea (or Joanna's) gives us 40 days for Christmastide. I still have all my Christmas decorations up at home. I have a lovely real Christmas tree, and it seems wrong to chop it up whilst it is still in good form!

John the organist said...

One of my top favourites ever since I sang it as a choirboy!

Peter Simpson said...

I never realised it had been written that long ago - only joking!