The Nativity by Fra Angelico
You Come Down from the Stars
St. Alphonsus Ligouri
You come down from the stars
Oh King of Heavens,
And you come in a cave
In the cold, in the frost.
And you come in a cave
In the cold, in the frost.
Oh my Divine Baby
I see you trembling here,
Oh Blessed God,
Ah, how much it cost you,
Your loving me.
Ah, how much it cost you,
Your loving me.
For you, who are of all the world
The creator,
No robes and fire,
Oh my Lord.
No robes and fire,
Oh my Lord.
Dear chosen one, little infant
This dire poverty,
Makes me love you more
Since Love made you
Poor now.
Since Love made you
Poor now.
Merry Christmas! I found myself on a quest this morning. I wanted to find the English translation to the great Italian Christmas carol, Tu scendi dalle Stella, written by St. Alphonsus Ligouri in the summer of 1755.
The song has been the most popular Christmas carol in Italy for centuries. Giuseppe Verdi is to have said, Christmas without Tu Scendi dalle Stella is not Christmas.
Reading the beautiful words above, I can see why. I hope you’ll pray with them this weekend, and listening the rendition below might provide just the right prayer aid. Here’s a tip. Open the video clip below, then scroll back up and reflect on the wonderful icon above as you listen to this wonderful carol.
Buon Natale!
