The Twelve Days of Christmas Carols: Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming

Today I wish to share with you a Christmas carol which, when I was involved with the choir at St. Thomas Aquinas Church at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln, caused me great consternation on account of its Germanic counter-intuitiveness.  I would be singing along a lovely line only to find my timing off, overextending notes and then short-changing later ones in a feeble attempt to catch up.

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 flow'ret bright, in the midst 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 them a Savior,
when half spent was the night.

The first verse elaborates on the stem of Jesse and the rose which would spring from it, the heir of King David's line, predicted by prophets of old.  While the throne of David has fallen into the hands of wicked men, such as Herod, it rightfully belongs to this Rose, the Christ.  He blooms in the midst of winter, when the love of God has grown cold and Messianic hopes look dim as the pitch black of midnight.

The second verse tells us of the contemplation of the Rose, how the Blessed Virgin considered Him and how we must join her in doing so.  Let us this Christmas Season consider the Messiah as the fulfillment of King David and contemplate His place in God's most provident plan.

His Servant and Yours,

Micah