December 22: Gesu Bambino

Fourth Week of Advent: Love
December 22: Gesu Bambino (Italian) - Links & Lyrics Below

Traditional Advent-Christmas carols come mainly from the nineteenth century and earlier, with relatively few written in recent years. One exception is Gesu Bambino, written by an Italian, Pietro Yon in 1917, with the melody composed by Frederick H. Martens. While this carol does not appear in several denominational hymnals I consulted, you may find it in supplemental song books. However, there is wide use among well-known singers, choral groups, and symphony orchestras.    

                        When blossoms flowered ‘mid the snows

Upon a winter night,

Was born the Child, the Christmas Rose,

The King of Love and Light.

    Yon’s chorus was patterned on O come All Ye Faithful:

                        O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him.

Something stirred in Brother Yon’s life, inspiring him to share his thoughts on Jesus’ birth. Can it be said of us that something stirs us when we sing these carols? It is one thing to sing these familiar seasonal carols; more importantly, how will you and I respond? That response was described by Brother Yon, “O come let us adore Him!” How will you and I respond this Advent-Christmas 2022? Will we like the shepherds say, “Come, let us go now…” (Lk 2:15) Will Jesus be born and re-born in our lives? Will you and I gain and regain an excitement for sharing the Good News and most importantly, living so that Christ’s light of peace, love, justice and hope will shine brightly in this darkened
world? Let us all pray it will be so.

Paul Graf
Retired Moravian Pastor/Bishop

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Italian Lyrics Nell'umile capanna nel freddo e povertà è nato il Santo pargolo che il mondo adorerà. Osanna, osanna cantano con giubilante cor i tuoi pastori ed angeli o re di luce e amor. Venite adoremus venite adoremus venite adoremus Dominum. O bel bambin non piangere non piangere, Redentor! la mamma tua cullandoti ti bacia, O Salvator. Osanna, osanna cantano con giubilante cor i tuoi pastori ed angeli o re di luce e amor. Venite adoremus venite adoremus venite adoremus Dominum. Ah! venite adoremus Ah! adoremus Dominum venite, venite venite adoremus adoremus Dominum.

Alternate Text in English (not a translation) When blossoms flowered 'mid the snows Upon a winter night, Was born the Child, the Christmas Rose, The King of Love and Light. The angels sang, the shepherds sang, The grateful earth rejoiced; And at His blessed birth the stars Their exultation voiced. O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord. Again the heart with rapture glows To greet the holy night, That gave the world its Christmas Rose, Its King of Love and Light. Let ev'ry voice acclaim His name, The grateful chorus swell. From paradise to earth He came That we with Him might dwell. O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord. Note: This is not a literal translation of the Italian.

English Translation In the humble hut, In cold and poverty The Holy infant is born, Who the world will adore. Hosanna, hosanna, sing With a joyous heart, Your shepherds and angels, O King of light and love. Come let us adore, Come let us adore, Come let us adore The Lord. O beautiful boy do not cry Do not cry, Redeemer! Your mother cradles you, Kisses you, O Savior. Hosanna, hosanna, sing With a joyous heart, Your shepherds and angels, O King of light and love. Come let us adore, Come let us adore, Come let us adore The Lord. Oh! Come let us adore, Oh! Let us adore the Lord, Come, come, Come let us adore, Let us adore The Lord.