Christians awake! Salute the happy morn

CHRISTIANS AWAKE! SALUTE THE HAPPY MORN
on which the Saviour of the world was born;
rise to adore the mystery of his love
which hosts of angels chanted from above!
With them the joyful tidings first begun
of God incarnate, born the virgin’s son.

2 Then, to the watchful shepherds it was told,
who heard the angelic herald’s voice: ‘Behold,
I bring good tidings of a Saviour’s birth
to you and all the nations here on earth!
This day has God fulfilled his promised word;
this day is born a Saviour, Christ the Lord!’

3 To Bethlehem these eager shepherds ran
to see the wonder of our God made man;
they found, with Joseph and the holy maid,
her son, the Saviour, in a manger laid.
Amazed, with joy this story they proclaim,
the first apostles of his infant fame.

4 O may we keep and ponder in our mind
God’s wondrous love in saving lost mankind:
trace we the babe, who has retrieved our loss,
from his poor manger to his bitter cross;
tread in his steps, assisted by his grace,
till man’s first heavenly state again takes place.

5 Let us, like those good shepherds, now employ
our grateful voices to declare the joy:
Christ, who was born on this most happy day,
round all the earth his glory shall display.
Saved by his love, unceasing we shall sing
eternal praise to heaven’s almighty King.