Christmas Night (Prutz)

Softly now

on an­gel pin­ions

Draw’st thou near­er

Ho­ly Night

And I hear the joy-bells ring­ing

See the win­dows all alight.

E’en the hum­blest home re­joic­es

While

in ac­cents clear and strong

To the Christ-child

child­ren’s voic­es

Lift their thank­ful hearts in song.

With a full­ness of sweet mu­sic

Heav’nly glow on plain and height

As the world did once be­hold thee

Thou re­turn­est

Ho­ly Night.

’Neath the star­light

sunk in sha­dow

Palm trees rust­ling soft ab­ove

Earth and Heav’n were in­ter­chang­ing

Messages of peace and love.

Then

from ro­sy-tinted por­tals

Opened by God’s migh­ty hand

Issued forth ce­les­ti­al ra­di­ance

Shining ov­er sea and land.

There

an­gel­ic forms des­cend­ing

Bring glad tid­ings to the earth

While the heights and depths re­sound­ing

Tell a heav’n­ly Sav­ior’s birth.

Lo! sweet Ma­ry’s child ad­or­ing

Orient kings

with myrrh and gold

Kneel be­side the hap­py shep­herds

Guided by the star of old.

While the holy mo­ther bend­ing

O’er the Babe up­on her knee

As His won­drous gaze fell on her

Thrilled with name­less ec­sta­sy.

Holy Night

in star­ry splen­dor

Solemn ris­ing on our eyes

O within our hearts rise like­wise

Star of Life

in us arise!

See

in Heav’n and earth what rap­ture

Where thy ro­se­ate beams do fall!

Surely

peace once more will bless us

Love shall be en­throned o’er all.