When I view the mother holding

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When I view the mother holding

Translator: H. R. Bramley
Tune: [When I view the Mother holding]
Published in 5 hymnals

Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

When I view the Mother holding
In her arms the heav’nly Boy,
Thousand blissful thoughts unfolding,
Melt my heart with sweetest joy, With sweetest joy.

With her babe the hours beguiling,
Mary’s soul in transport lives
God her Son upon her smiling,
Thousand, thousand kisses fondly gives, Fondly gives.

As the sun his radiance flinging,
Shines upon the bright expanse,
So the Child to Mary clinging,
Doth her gentle heart, her gentle heart, Entrance.

See the Virgin Mother beaming!
Jesus by her arms embraced,
Dew on softest roses gleaming
Violet with lily chaste, with lily chaste!

Each round other fondly twining,
Pours the shafts of mutual love,
Thick as flow’rs in meadows shining,
Countless as the stars above, as the stars above,

O may one such arrow flowing,
Sweetest Child, which Thou dost dart,
Through Thy Mother’s bosom going,
Blessed Jesu, pierce my heart, pierce my heart, Blessed Jesu.

Source: Christmas Carols New and Old: Series 1 and 2 #11

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Translator: H. R. Bramley

English clergyman, a high-church Anglican. Text editor of Christmas Carols New and Old, 1871 (John Stainer was the music editor), a seminal work in the second period of carol revival. The usual four-part setting of "The First Nowell" appeared in this book. Published a number of translations of hymns and carols from the Latin.… Go to person page >

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