The Infant Jesus
To help celebrate Christmas,
we end the Canadian
section of this issue
with an Irish poem,
and the Irish section
with the Huron Christmas
Carol.
"Jesukin",
attributed to both St.
Ita and St. Brigid,
two of the earliest
Irish saints, speaks
with human familiarity
of the infant Jesus.
Any parent of a new-born
child can feel its warmth.
Jesukin
Lives my little
cell within;
What were wealth
of cleric high-
All is lie but Jesukin.
Nursling nurtured,
as 'tis right-
Harbours here no
servile sprite-
Jesu of the skies,
who art
Next my heart thro'
every night!
Jesukin, my good
for aye,
Calling and will
not have nay,
King of all things,
ever true,
He shall rue who
will away.
Jesu, more than angels
aid,
Fosterling nor formed
to fade,
Nursed by me in
desert wild,
Jesu, child of Judah's
Maid.
Son of Kings and
kingly kin,
To my land may enter
in;
Guest of none I
hope to be,
Save of Thee, my
Jesukin!
Unto heaven's High
King confest
Sing a chorus, maidens
blest!
He is o'er us, though
within
Jesukin is on my
breast!
(Translated by
George Sigerson)
--30--
http://home.golden.net/~wts/wts/wts-words/wts-thehuroncarol.html
HURON CHRISTMAS CAROL
JESOUS AHATONHIA
of FATHER ST. JEAN de
BREBEUF
The Huron Carol, was
written by St. Jean
de Brebeuf in Quebec,
while the Father recuperated
from a broken clavicle.
He wrote the words to
the music of a sixteenth
century Carol called
"Une Jeune Pucelle"
(A Young Maid). Fortunately
one of the last Jesuit
Missionaries to the
Huron, Fr. de Villeneuve,
wrote the old Huron
words to the carol and
later translated it
into simple French.
The Huron Carol
Twas in the moon
of wintertime
When all the birds
had fled,
That mighty Gitchi
Manitou
Sent angel choirs
instead;
Before their light
the stars grew dim,
And wond'ring hunters
heard the hymn:
Jesus, your King
is born,
Jesus is born,
In excelsis gloria.
O, harken to the
angels' word,
Do not decline
To heed the message
which you heard:
The Child Divine,
As they proclaim,
has come this morn
Of Mary pure. Let
us adore.
Jesus is born,
In excelsis gloria.
Within a lodge of
broken bark
The tender Babe
was found,
A ragged robe of
rabbit skin
Enwrapp'd His beauty
'round;
But as the hunter
braves drew nigh,
The angel song rang
loud and high:
Jesus, your King
is born,
Jesus is born,
In excelsis gloria.
The earliest moon
of wintertime
Is not so round
and fair
As was the ring
of glory on
The helpless infant
there.
The chiefs from
far before Him knelt
With gifts of fox
and beaver pelt.
Jesus, your King
is born,
Jesus is born,
In excelsis gloria.
O children of the
forest free,
O sons of Manitou,
The Holy Child of
earth and heav'n
Is born today for
you.
Come kneel before
the radiant boy;
Who brings you beauty,
peace and joy.
Jesus, your King
is born,
Jesus is born,
In excelsis gloria.
The story of this wonderful
Canadian Christmas favourite
may be found at Huron
Carol where various
translations are given.The
popular version given
above is not a true
translation but an interpretation
by J. E. Middleton,
(1872-1960). The original
was written by the martyred
St. Jean de Brebeuf.
--30--
Home
| About
| Canadian Vindicator
| Literature
| Gallery
| History
|