This hymn was commissioned by the Benedict XVI Institute under the patronage of James Hudon. Part of the text was set to music by the composer Frank La Rocca. The sources of the hymn are fourfold: the main verses borrow from Christina Rossetti’s stanza in the classic “In the Bleak Midwinter” and draw on the nativity narratives of Matthew and Luke’s Gospels; the poem as a whole is shaped according to the Eastern Orthodox Akathist Hymn tradition, particularly its practice of offering seven praises after a chanted prose reading; and, finally, the third chorus of praises draws on the Western litany tradition and paraphrases the Litany of the Blessed Virgin.
While all the earth in darkness
Sleeps through the night of sin,
The virgin bears her burden
Beyond the crowded inn.
And, though the world be counted
And kings’ hands clutch their thrones,
Praise rains down from the heavens
And rises from the stones.
Rejoice, o bridal chamber of the word.
Rejoice, on whom this crown has been conferred.
Rejoice, o vessel of the bread and wine.
Rejoice, the trellis of the sacred vine.
Rejoice, redemption of the tears of Eve.
Rejoice, who by your womb our life conceive.
Rejoice, sweet soul who magnifies the Lord.
R. Rejoice, sweet soul who magnifies the Lord.
This night, the angel’s words,
Proclaimed long months before,
Have been fulfilled, her son
Shall reign forevermore.
And even John who leapt
Within his mother’s womb
Must feel his joy increase
Within the desert gloom.
Rejoice, who hastened to her cousin’s need.
Rejoice, who bore in time eternal seed.
Rejoice, fair meadow and abundant yield.
Rejoice, who led the gardener to the field.
Rejoice, unblemished lily, fairest flower.
Rejoice, who tends the cypress in the bower.
Rejoice, o mother of the tree of life.
R. Rejoice, o mother of the tree of life.
Where oxen stamp and bow,
While mule and donkey bray,
This night, the virgin rests
Her child upon the hay,
And, as the stars go turning,
Before that swaddled grace,
Great Magi bend their knees
And shepherds lift their face.
Rejoice, untroubled tower of ivory.
Rejoice, the seat where wisdom comes to be.
Rejoice, inviolate mother of us all.
Rejoice, who answered to the angel’s call.
Rejoice, who pins the serpent to the ground
Rejoice, our queen in mercy’s mantle gowned.
Rejoice, o morning star of grace’s dawn.
R. Rejoice, o morning star of grace’s dawn.
All ancient, worldly wisdom
Exults before your son,
And lays three gifts before you,
Virgin who nurse the One.
May gold forever glimmer
From both his crown and yours;
May prisoner and pauper
Greet angels at their doors.
Rejoice, o virgin watching through the night.
Rejoice, the gate that opens all to light.
Rejoice, whom even cherubim attend.
Rejoice, seraphic queen and sinners’ friend.
Rejoice, whose breast the food of all once fed.
Rejoice, our lady, stars anoint your head.
Rejoice, for on this night you bore a son.
R. Rejoice, for on this night you bore a son.