Royal Day That Chaseth Gloom

Royal day that chas­est gloom!

Day by glad­ness speeded!

Thou be­held from Ma­ry’s womb

How the King pro­ceed­ed;

Whom

true Man

with praise our choir

Hails

and love

and heart’s de­sire

Joy and ad­mi­ra­tion;

Who

true God

en­throned in light

Passeth won­der

pass­eth sight

Passeth co­gi­ta­tion.

On the vir­gin as He hung

God

the world’s cre­at­or

Like a rose from li­ly sprung—

Stood as­tound­ed na­ture:

That a maid­en’s arms en­fold

Him that make the world of old

Him that ev­er liv­eth:

That a maid­en’s spot­less breast

To the King eter­nal rest

Warmth and nur­ture

giv­eth!

As the sun­beam through the glass

Passeth

but not stain­eth

Thus the vir­gin

as she was

Virgin still re­main­eth:

Blessèd mo­ther

in whose womb

Lay the light that ex­iles gloom

God

the Lord of ag­es;

Blessèd maid! from whom the Lord

Her own in­fant

God ad­ored

Hunger’s pains as­suag­es.