A paraphrase of the Sarum Use 8th "O Antiphon" which I wrote for public worship:
O Virgin blest, this Myst'ry rare,
Like thee, so great beyond compare —
We marvel at thy Child and thee.
Behold, God's face in infancy!
Rejoice, Rejoice! Emmanuel
Is come to thee, O Israel!
I have written a version of the 8th Antiphon ' O Virgo Virginum' that would be consistent with the common English of today:
O Virgin blest, this Myst'ry rare,
Like you is great beyond compare.
We marvel here your Child to see
and gaze upon God's infancy!
Rejoice, Rejoice! Emmanuel
has come to you, O Israel!
I also drafted another paraphrase in the liturgical English of my youth:
O Virgin blest, this Myst'ry rare
Like thee is great beyond compare.
O marv'llous is thy Child of light
whose every breath is thy delight.
Rejoice, Rejoice! Emmanuel
Is come to thee, O Israel!
© 2006 Vincent Uher
