Update and Name that Christmas Song

Thanks to everyone for the well wishes for my Dad. He had major surgery on Monday the 15th. He should be coming home in the next few days, but not by Christmas as we had hoped. After he gets out of the hospital I should be feeling more like blogging. There really hasn't been a reason why I couldn't blog the past week or so other than I really just haven't felt like it. We spend a lot of time visiting him at the hospital, and when we get home I don't feel like doing a whole lot.

I did want to post the answers for my Name That Christmas Song post, in case anyone was playing.

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1. Cherry Tree Carol
2. Here is the Little Door
3. The First Noel
4. Away in a Manger
5. O Little Town of Bethlehem
6. I Saw Three Ships
7. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
8. Good King Wenceslas
9. Silent Night
10. Lully, Lulla, Thou Little Tiny Child / Coventry Carol
11. What Child is this
13. O Come All Ye Faithful
14. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
15. Lo How a Rose e'er blooming
16. Do You Hear What I Hear?
17. We Three Kings
18. O Holy Night
19. Joy to the World
20. O COme O Come Emmanuel

21. Silver Bells
22. Winter Wonderland
23. Jingle Bells
24. Holly Jolly Christmas
25. Jingle Bell Rock

Little Drummer Boy

I never saw this video as a kid.

Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

So to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
When we come.

Little Baby, pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum
That's fit to give the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,
On my drum?

Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my best for Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum.

Away in a Manger

Away in a manger,
no crib for His bed,
The little Lord Jesus
lay down his sweet head.
The stars in the sky
looked down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus,
asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing,
the poor Baby wakes,
But little Lord Jesus,
no crying He makes;
I love Thee, Lord Jesus,
look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle
till morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus,
I ask Thee to stay,
Close by me forever,
and love me, I pray!
Bless all the dear children
in Thy tender care
And take us to heaven,
to Live with Thee there.

I Saw Three Ships

Ok, Sting's version of this song really doesn't go with the regular lyrics, but it is one of my favorite Christmas songs.

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I saw three ships come sailing by
on Christmas Day, on Christmas Day.
I saw three ships come sailing by
on Christmas Day in the morning.

And what was in those ships all three
on Christmas Day, on Christmas Day?
And what was in those ships all three
on Christmas Day in the morning?

The Virgin Mary and Christ were there
on Christmas Day, on Christmas Day.
The virgin Mary and Christ were there
on Christmas Day in the morning.

O Holy Night

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friends.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!

Coventry Carol

Lullay, Thou little tiny Child,
By, by, lully, lullay.
Lullay, Thou little tiny Child.
By, by, lully, lullay.

O sisters, too, how may we do,
For to preserve this day;
This poor Youngling for whom we sing,
By, by, lully, lullay.

Herod the King, in his raging,
Charged he hath this day;
His men of might, in his own sight,
All children young, to slay.

Then woe is me, poor Child, for Thee,
And ever mourn and say;
For Thy parting, nor say nor sing,
By, by, lully, lullay.

O come, O come, Emmanuel

O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o'er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height,
In ancient times did'st give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

We Three Kings of Orient Are

We three kings of Orient are;
Bearing gifts we traverse afar,
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.

Refrain

O star of wonder, star of light,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.

Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain
Gold I bring to crown Him again,
King forever, ceasing never,
Over us all to reign.

Refrain

Frankincense to offer have I;
Incense owns a Deity nigh;
Prayer and praising, voices raising,
Worshipping God on high.

Refrain

Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom;
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone cold tomb.

Refrain

Glorious now behold Him arise;
King and God and sacrifice;
Alleluia, Alleluia,
Sounds through the earth and skies.

Refrain

Link

Advent Wreath

Curt Jester has his advent wreath up again this year. Visit his blog for the code to add it to your blog.

Do You Hear What I Hear?

Said the night wind to the little lamb,
do you see what I see

Way up in the sky, little lamb,
do you see what I see

A star, a star, dancing in the night
With a tail as big as a kite
With a tail as big as a kite

Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy,
do you hear what I hear

Ringing through the sky, shepherd boy,
do you hear what I hear

A song, a song, high above the trees
With a voice as big as the sea
With a voice as big as the sea

Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king,
do you know what I know

In your palace warm, mighty king,
do you know what I know

A Child, a Child shivers in the cold
Let us bring Him silver and gold
Let us bring Him silver and gold

Said the king to the people everywhere,
listen to what I say

Pray for peace, people everywhere!
listen to what I say

The Child, the Child, sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light
He will bring us goodness and light

'Do You Hear What I Hear?': The Story Behind the Song

Dominick the Donkey

DOMINICK THE DONKEY
(THE ITALIAN CHRISTMAS DONKEY)
Lou Monte - 1967

Hey! Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
It's Dominick the donkey.
Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
The Italian Christmas donkey.
(la la la-la la-la la la la la)
(la la la-la la-la la-ee-oh-da)

Santa's got a little friend,
His name is Dominick.
The cutest little donkey,
You never see him kick.
When Santa visits his paisans,
With Dominick he'll be.
Because the reindeer cannot,
Climb the hills of Italy.

Hey! Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
It's Dominick the donkey.
Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
The Italian Christmas donkey.
(la la la-la la-la la la la la)
(la la la-la la-la la-ee-oh-da)

Jingle bells around his feet,
And presents on the sled.
Hey! Look at the mayor's derby,
On top of Dominick's head.
A pair of shoes for Louie,
And a dress for Josephine.
The labels on the inside says,
They're made in Bruccalin'.

Hey! Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
It's Dominick the donkey.
Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
The Italian Christmas donkey.
(la la la-la la-la la la la la)
(la la la-la la-la la-ee-oh-da)

Children sing, and clap their hands,
And Dominick starts to dance.
They talk Italian to him,
And he even understands.
Cummare's and cumpare's
Do the dance 'a tarantell',
When Santa Nicola comes to town,
And brings 'o ciucciarell'.

Hey! Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
It's Dominick the donkey.
Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
The Italian Christmas donkey.
(la la la-la la-la la la la la)
(la la la-la la-la la-ee-oh-da)
Hey! Dominick! Buonn Natale!

(hee-haw, hee-haw)
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
(hee-haw, hee-haw)

Lyrics Link

Name That Christmas Song 2

I did this back in December of 2006, but I'm in the mood to do it again this year. I will post a lines of a Christmas songs and see who can guess them right (or as many as they can right). Post this on your blog so more people can enjoy the fun.
There isn't any prize other than feeling cool about yourself.

1. The cherry tree bowed low down, Bowed low down to the ground
2. Myrrh to be strewn about his bed, Incense in clouds about his head
3. In fields where they lay keeping their sheep On a cold winter's night that was so deep
4. The little Lord Jesus Laid down His sweet head
5. Yet in thy dark streets shineth The everlasting Light
6. The Virgin Mary and Christ were there, On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day
7. In Bethlehem, in Israel, This blessed Babe was born
8. Bring me flesh and bring me wine Bring me pine logs hither
9. Round yon Virgin Mother and Child Holy Infant so tender and mild
10. His men of might, in his own sight, All children young, to slay
11. This, this is Christ the King, Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
12. True God of true God, Light from Light Eternal, Lo, He shuns not the Virgin’s womb
13. From angels bending near the earth, To touch their harps of gold
14. And the mountains in reply Echoing their joyous strains
15. Isaiah 'twas foretold it, The rose I have in mind
16. Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king, "Do you know what I know?"
17. Prayer and praising, all men raising, Worship Him, God on High
18. Fall on your knees Oh hear the angel voices
19. He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove
20. And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here

Bonus: Secular Songs

21. It's Christmas time in the city. Ring-a-ling, hear them ring
22. In the meadow we can build a snowman, Then pretend that he is Parson Brown
23. O what fun it is to ride In a one-horse open sleigh
24. I don't know if there'll be snow, but have a cup of cheer
25. What a bright time, it's the right time To rock the night away

Is It Too Early for Christmas Music?

I think not.

The Lite has been playing Christmas music since at least the weekend when I first heard it. Aided by the return of chilly weather and snow flakes in the air it has put me in the mood for Christmas music again.

Last night I loaded onto my Zune the two Christmas CDs that I bought from St. John Cantius last year. I loaded up my somewhat less traditional music on there too, including Sting's rendition of I Saw Three Ships, which is one of my favorites.

This weekend we're going to work on putting up the Christmas decorations so when family comes over for Thanksgiving they can enjoy them - we don't get a lot of company for Christmas so we might as well put them up so people other than us can see them.

In the past I've complained about the Christmas season beginning too early, which it does. Hobby Lobby has had their Christmas stuff in the aisles for a couple months now and for 50% off. But I'm ready to start enjoying the season once again. After Thanksgiving it all seems to go so fast and Christmas comes and goes and I wonder where the time went. I might as well enjoy it while I can.

St. John Cantius

Wednesday night Mom and I went to St. John Cantius. We had wanted to go to mass there on Christmas Eve, but Dad didn't want to drive out there on Christmas Eve so we just went to our normal church (I'll write about Christmas eve mass there tomorrow). We really wanted to see how it looked for Christmas. It was just beautiful. Ma Beck is lucky to belong to such a wonderful parish.

Daley Plaza and Water Tower

Nativity at Daley Plaza in Chicago, as well as the Picasso, the Christmas Tree and the Water Tower.

Another Trip to the Christmas Store

I bought this at the Christmas store last week. I really shouldn't be allowed in there anymore, I'm going to go broke. But this was only $27.

Name that Christmas Song - Answers

The Answers to the Name that Christmas Song

1. Away in a Manger
2. Good King Wenceslas
3. O Come, O Come Emmanuel
4. We Three Kings
5. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
6. O Little Town of Bethlehem
7. Silent Night
8. Angels We Have Heard on High
9. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
10. I Saw three ships
11. What Child is this
12. O Come All Ye Faithful
13. Christ Was Born on Christmas Day
14. Good Christian Men Rejoice
15. Joy to the World
16. Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming
17. O Holy Night
18. Little Drummer Boy
19. Go Tell It on the Mountains
20. On Christmas Night

Pope underlines right to life in pre-Christmas blessing

Pope underlines right to life in pre-Christmas blessing

"The birth of Christ helps us to be aware of what human life is worth, the value of every human life, from his first moment to his natural decline," the pope said in the Angelus blessing Sunday.

A Fitting Christmas Tribute

Alexa P. Keaton at Conservababes said I could link and post to this. I think its great.

A Fitting Christmas Tribute by Alexa P. Keaton

It's fitting that
The Lamb of God
Was introduced by angels
To shepherds in a field.

It's fitting that
The bread of life
Was born in Bethlehem
Which mean God's house of bread.

It's fitting that
The Creator of the World
Was born into an earthly family
Of carpenters and builders.

It's fitting that
Rich and wise men
Came seeking the
Richest and Wisest of all.

It's fitting that
Jesus was born during
A world-wide census count
Since He came to save all.

The "O" Antiphons

From Fr. Eutenuer at HLI.

Below are the titles of Christ in the “O” Antiphons for your spiritual nourishment in these next few days leading up to His Birth. Please feel free to go to the sidebar of this email and download a sheet to use for prayer and to evangelize Christ to a dark society like the angels and shepherds did on that first Silent Night.

On behalf of the entire worldwide family of Human Life International, I pray that you and yours may be filled with the Christ Child’s superabundant grace and light this blessed season!

December 17—“O Sapientia” (“O Wisdom”): “The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, a spirit of wisdom and understanding, a spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the Lord.” (Isaiah 11:2-3)

December 18—“O Adonai” (“O Lord and Ruler”): “I, the Lord, am your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery.” (Ex 20:2)

December 19—“O Radix Iesse” (“O Root of Jesse”): “But a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom.” (Is 11:1)

December 20—“O Clavis David” (“O Key of David”): “I will place the Key of the House of David on his shoulder; when he opens, no one will shut, when he shuts, no one will open.” (Is 22:22)

December 21—“O Oriens” (“O Dayspring”): “All this is the work of the kindness of our God; he, the Dayspring, shall visit us in his mercy to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death.” (Lk 1:78)

December 22—“O Rex Gentium” (“O King of the Nations”): “He shall judge between the nations, and impose terms on many peoples.” (Is 2:4)

December 23—“O Emmanuel” (“O Emmanuel”): “The Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall give him the name Immanuel.” (Is 7:14).

Esther at A Catholic Mom in Hawaii has been doing these, but I've been largely ignorant of what it was all about. Thanks Esther and Fr. Euteneur.

“O Sapientia”
“O Adonai”
“O Radix Iesse”
“O Clavis David”
“O Oriens”