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AT HOUR OF SILENT MIDNIGHT

Scripture Verse

There was…a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:13–14

Introduction

Words & Mu­sic: Fran­cis Stan­field, St. Pat­rick’s Hymn Book 1862 (🔊 ).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Stan­field (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els), would you send us an e-mail?

Lyrics

At hour of si­lent mid­night,
O mys­te­ry of love,
Earth’s longed and sighed for Sav­ior
Descended from above;
Awake, awake, cre­ation!
Arise, for Light has come;
Lo! earth is changed to Heav­en,
For earth is Je­sus’ home:
Lo! earth is changed to Heav­en,
For earth is Je­sus’ home.

Refrain

Glory to God on high!
Praise to our king, our new­born king!
Peace un­to men on earth,
Sweet in­fant Je­sus, bring.

Amid the star­lit heav­ens
There shines a glo­ri­ous light,
And hosts of gleam­ing an­gels
Illume the lone­ly night;
They leave their thrones of glo­ry
To seek their new­born king,
And, ranged in count­less ar­mies,
Glad hymns of tri­umph sing:
And, ranged in count­less ar­mies,
Glad hymns of tri­umph sing.

Refrain

The prais­es of the an­gels
Were waft­ed from above,
And shep­herds left their night watch
To seek the God of love;
They longed to gaze on Je­sus,
To see the new­born Child—
They found the God of Heav­en,
An in­fant meek and mild;
They found the God of Heav­en,
An in­fant meek and mild.

Refrain

And there the mo­ther kneel­ing,
Bends fond­ly o’er her Son,
Watching with bless­èd Jo­seph,
Her cher­ished Lit­tle One.
See Je­sus in the man­ger,
How still and meek He lies;
Now smiles play on His fea­tures,
Now tears are in His eyes.
Now smiles play on His fea­tures,
Now tears are in His eyes.

Refrain

Christians re­deemed, oh, hast­en
To Beth­le­hem’s sac­red shrine
And come, draw nigh to Je­sus
To kiss His feet di­vine.
Oh, bless our new-born Sav­ior,
Our in­fant God ad­ore;
Till love shall sweet­ly lead us
Home to th’eter­nal shore;
Till love shall sweet­ly lead us
Home to th’eter­nal shore.

Refrain