LO, A ROSE

.

LO, HOW A ROSE E’RE BLOOMING

When I was a child growing up in a home with German family members who were beautiful singers, this beautiful Christmas Carol brought tears to my heart every time I heard it sung in three part harmony.

I would have never allowed tears to tumble down my face at Christmas, let alone at the singing of a lovely song, but I always felt them in my heart and still do to this day ever time I hear this sung in German.

.

The German words were originally inspired by the Song of Solomon, 2:1: “I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys.”

Isaiah 11:1-3 is also considered to be a possible foundation scripture for this song:

Then a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit. 2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD.

.

This 15th Century German carol has 23 stanzas. Here is a short German version of the song: (1:42 Minutes)

.

.

Words to the Song Lo How A Rose Ere Blooming

Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming from tender stem hath sprung!
Of Jesse’s lineage coming, as men of old have sung.
It came, a floweret bright, amid the cold of winter,
When half spent was the night.

Isaiah ’twas foretold it, the Rose I have in mind;
With Mary we behold it, the virgin mother kind.
To show God’s love aright, she bore to men a Savior,
When half spent was the night.

The shepherds heard the story proclaimed by angels bright,
How Christ, the Lord of glory was born on earth this night.
To Bethlehem they sped and in the manger found Him,
As angel heralds said.

This Flower, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air,
Dispels with glorious splendor the darkness everywhere;
True Man, yet very God, from sin and death He saves us,
And lightens every load.

O Savior, Child of Mary, who felt our human woe,
O Savior, King of glory, who dost our weakness know;
Bring us at length we pray, to the bright courts of Heaven,
And to the endless day!

.