Hodie

Whitbourn, James (b. 1963)

Voicing:
Mixed Choir → SSAATTB

Accompaniment:
Organ
Orchestra

Occasion:

Proper of Time → Christmas Season → The Nativity of the Lord → General
Proper of Time → Christmas Season → The Epiphany of the Lord → General

Publication Information:
Encore Publications — N/A (2000)

Text Information:
Reference: Robert Tear (1939–2011)

Duration: 2:30+
Lyrics:

Hodie Christus natus est.
The holy child is born.
In his love man’s hope does rest 
On this eternal morn.

Cherubs with trumpets shatter the stars.
Seraphs touch their strings.
Saints, angels, choirs are massed.
The Word seeds the heav’n in rings.

In a blessed stable a picture is seen.
Parents, Jesus there.
An ass looking on, an ox beaming
At the best hay of the year.

The wise men are no longer wise:
God in the crib has bewildered them.
They place their gifts around the sides.
Kneel and pray.
Adore him.
Yet in this joy is sensed a shadow,
An intimation of loss.
A ghostly fear of a dark tomorrow
With thorns and a heavy cross.

But now the heav’ns spin fast around,
Its jubilation day,
Infinity’s ears are whipped by sound,
Would this day so stay.

Hodie Christus natus est.
The holy child is born.
In his love man’s hope does rest 
On this eternal morn.
Hodie.

Notes: Actually SAATTB. Organ OR Orchestra accompaniment.
Submitted by: Brian Luckner Added: Nov 5, 2021 Last updated: Jan 26, 2022