QUA STELLA SOLE PULCHRIOR.
What star is this whose glorious light
Outshines the morn,
The herald of the King new-born!
Its radiance bright,
A heavenly sign,
Streams o’er the cradle of the Babe divine.
Faith, standing with the prophets old,
Sees down the skies
The promised Star from Jacob rise.
The sign foretold
She knows full well,
And straightway seeks the wondrous spectacle.
The lustrous star gives warning fair
To all the earth,
But chiefly men of Eastern birth,
With pious care,
The warning heed,
And seeking Christ upon their journey speed.
Their eager love knows no delay;
Danger nor toil
Their purpose resolute can foil.
They haste away
From home and kind,
And country, at God’s call, the Christ to find.
O Christ our Lord, thy star of grace
Leads us to thee!
Help these dull hearts of ours to be
First at the place,
Intent to prove
To thee, O Lord, our faith and hope and love.