Of a Rose, a Lovely Rose

DeLong, Richard (1951–1994)

Voicing:
Mixed Choir → SATB

Accompaniment:
Unaccompanied

Occasion:

Proper of Time → Advent → General Advent Season

Publication Information:
ECS Publishing — no. 4926 (1997)

Lyrics:

Listen, nobles old and young,
How this rose at outset spring;
In all this world I know of none
I so desire as that fair rose.

The angel came from heaven’s tower
To honor Mary in her bower,
And said that she should bear the flower 
To break the Devil’s chain of woes.

In Bethlehem that flower was seen,
A lovely blossom bright of sheen.
The rose is Mary, heaven’s Queen;
Out of her womb that blossom rose.

The first branch is full of might,
That sprouted on the Christmas night
When star of Bethlehem shone bright,
For far and wide its lustre shows.

The second branch sprang forth to hell,
The Devil’s fearful power to quell,
And there henceforth no soul could dwell.
Blessed be the coming of that rose!

To heaven sprang the first shoot,
Sweet and fair, both stem and root,
To dwell there-in and bring us good:
In priestly hands it daily shows.

Let us then with honor pay
To her is our help and stay,
And turns us from the Devil’s way.
From her that holy bloom arose.

Submitted by: Anthony DiCello Added: Mar 16, 2022 Last updated: Mar 16, 2022