The Virgin Sings Her Lullaby

Detail of The Adoration of the Magi by Domenico Ghirlandaio ~ ca. 1488
(Spedale degli Innocenti, Florence)
Image courtesy of: Wikimedia Commons

“And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger;

because there was no room for them in the inn.”

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field,

keeping watch over their flock by night.”

“And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord

shone round about them; and they were sore afraid.”

“And the angel said unto them,

Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy,

which shall be to all people.”

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour,

which is Christ the Lord.”

“And this shall be a sign unto you;

Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes,

lying in a manger.”

“And suddenly there was with the angels a multitude of the

heavenly host praising God, saying,

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace,

good will toward men.”

The Gospel of St. Luke: Ch. 2, 7-14

 

The Adoration of the Magi by Domenico Ghirlandaio ~ ca. 1488

(Spedale degli Innocenti, Florence)

Image courtesy of: Wikipedia



What Child is this, who, laid to rest,
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ, the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear: for sinners here,
The silent Word is pleading.



 

  Video courtesy of: thomashewittjones ~ YouTube

(Arranged & conducted by Thomas Hewitt Jones)

 

 

Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,

The cross be borne for me, for you.

Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
 The Babe, the Son of Mary.

So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh,
Come peasant, king, to own Him.
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

Raise, raise a song on high,
 The virgin sings her lullaby
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.


What Child is this, who, laid to rest,
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?

(Lyrics by William Chatterton Dix [1837-1898] & originally derived from the poem “The Manger Song” ~ 1865)



 

The Adoration of the Christ Child by Fra Bartolomeo (Bartolomeo della Porta)

(Galleria Borghese, Rome) ~ ca. 1499

Image courtesy of: The Athenaeum


  

“The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light;

they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.”

The Book of the Prophet Isaiah: Ch. 9, Vrs. 2

 

Ad Te Levavi Animam Meam

 

The Annunciation by Andrea del Sarto ~ ca. 1512
(Uffizi Gallery, Florence)

Image courtesy of: Pinterest




Ad te, Domine, levavi animam meam:
Deus meus, in te confido; non erubescam.


Neque irrideant me inimici mei:
etenim universi qui sustinent te, non confundentur.


Confundantur omnes iniqua agentes supervacue.
Vias tuas, Domine, demonstra mihi, et semitas tuas edoce me.


Dirige me in veritate tua, et doce me,
quia tu es Deus salvator meus, et te sustinui tota die.


Reminiscere miserationum tuarum, Domine,
et misericordiarum tuarum quæ a sæculo sunt.


Delicta juventutis meæ, et ignorantias meas, ne memineris.

Secundum misericordiam tuam memento mei tu,
propter bonitatem tuam, Domine.


Dulcis et rectus Dominus;
propter hoc legem dabit delinquentibus in via.


Diriget mansuetos in judicio; docebit mites vias suas.


Universæ viæ Domini, misericordia et veritas,
requirentibus testamentum ejus et testimonia ejus.


Propter nomen tuum, Domine,
propitiaberis peccato meo; multum est enim.

 

 

 

 

The Annunciation by Andrea del Sarto ~ ca. 1512-1513
(Galleria Palatina ~ Palazzo Pitti, Florence)       

Image courtesy of: Web Gallery of Art

The four videos above are courtesy of: gregoriaansch ~ YouTube

The Annunciation attributed to the workshop of Paolo Caliari (Paolo Veronese) ~ ca. 1585
Image courtesy of: CBS News



Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed,
let not mine enemies triumph over me.


Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed:
let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.


Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.


Lead me in thy truth, and teach me:
for thou art the God of my salvation;
on thee do I wait all the day.


Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy loving kindnesses;
for they have been ever of old.


Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions:
according to thy mercy remember thou me
for thy goodness' sake, O Lord.


Good and upright is the Lord:
therefore will he teach sinners in the way.


The meek will he guide in judgment:
and the meek will he teach his way.


All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth
unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.


For thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity;
for it is great.

The Book of Psalms of David: Ch. 25, Vrs. 1-11


 

 

The Annunciation by Fra Bartolomeo (Bartolomeo della Porta) ~ ca. 1497
(Duomo, Volterra)

Image courtesy of: Web Gallery of Art

“Rejoice greatly, O dauhter of Zion;
shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee:
he is just, and having salvation;
lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.”


The Book of  Zechariah: Ch. 9, Vrs. 9