Wonder at the Incarnation
“O Magnum Mysterium” is an ancient responsorial song expressing our wonder at the Incarnation, that the Savior of the Universe should come into our world in a stable with animals as his witnesses:
O magnum mysterium,
et admirabile sacramentum,
ut animalia viderent Dominum natum,
iacentem in praesepio!
O great mystery,
and wonderful sacrament,
that animals should see the new-born Lord,
lying in a manger!
A wonder indeed. I’ve often thought that, however amazing it is that God could create this immeasurable universe, there’s something much more astounding: He chose to become one of us, to join us here in this little corner of His universe.
We all need to be reminded from time to time just how unfathomable the Incarnation really is.
O Magnum Mysterium
The text of “O Magnum Mysterium” is at least a thousand years old. For a long time it was part of the Christmas Office of Matins. Today it is more often a hymn at Midnight Mass. It originated, of course, as a chant. It has had many different musical settings, however, over the centuries.Composers from Byrd and Palestrina in the 16th century through Poulenc, Lauridsen and Gjielo in the twentieth have graced the ancient text with their music.
Years ago I heard Lauridsen’s lovely version of “O Magnum Mysterium” (published in 1994) sung by a vocal group from a local public high school. They did a beautiful job. I’m posting below a performance of the same piece. Here the Youth Choir of St. Jacob’s Church in Stockholm, Sweden sings Lauridson’s setting of “O Magnum Mysterium.” You can find both the Latin and English text below the clip.
Latin and English Text
Latin
O magnum mysterium,
et admirabile sacramentum,
ut animalia viderent Dominum natum,
jacentem in praesepio!
Beata Virgo, cujus viscera
meruerunt portare
Dominum Christum.
Alleluia.
English
O great mystery,
and wonderful sacrament,
that animals should see the new-born Lord,
lying in a manger!
Blessed is the Virgin whose womb
was worthy to bear
Christ the Lord.
Alleluia!
