Christmas Begins With Midnight Mass

Midnight mass at OMPH Church

For as long as I can remember Christmas always began with Midnight Mass.

Nowadays the mass starts with singing of Christmas Carols before the mass proper commences. Today was no different.

The Carols were lovely and the mass beautiful.  Well there was 1 difference.

Choir master Freddie Yam

The Choir led by choir master Freddie Yam led us through an Italian  Christmas Carol, a first,  titled ‘Tu scendi dalle stele, O Re del Cielo” which when translated means ‘From starry skies descending, thou comest, Glorious King’.

It was first sung when the priest placed the baby Jesus in the crib in the manger.

The melody and original lyrics for the hymn were written in 1732 by Alphonsus Liguori, a priest and scholastic philosopher who founded the Redemptorist missionary order.

Below is Freddy Yam leading the choir with Tu scendi dalle stele

Merry Christmas one and all.

JAG