O Magnum Mysterium

O magnum mysterium,
et admirabile sacramentum,
ut animalia viderent Dominum natum,
jacentem in praesepio!
Beata Virgo, cujus viscera
meruerunt portare
Dominum Christum.
Alleluia.

O great mystery,
and wonderful sacrament,
that animals should see the new-born Lord,
lying in a manger!
Blessed is the Virgin whose womb
was worthy to bear
Christ the Lord.
Alleluia!


O grand mystère,
et admirable sacrement,
que des animaux voient leur Seigneur nouveau-né,
couché dans une mangeoire!
Heureuse Vierge, dont le sein
a mérité de porter
Le Christ Seigneur.
Alleluia!


O Magnum Mysterium is a responsorial chant from the Matins of Christmas. A number of composers have reworked the chant into a contemporaneous setting; the settings by Byrd, Victoria, Gabrieli, Palestrina, Poulenc, Harbison,La Rocca, Messiaen, Mäntyjärvi, Pierre Villette and Lauridsen are notable (Wikipedia).