Angels We Have Heard on High

Annunciation to the Shepherds, by Nicholas Pietersz Berchem, c. 1649. State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia. Via IllustratedPrayer.com
Annunciation to the Shepherds, by Nicholas Pietersz Berchem, c. 1649. State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia.

Angels we have heard on high,
sweetly singing o’er the plains,
and the mountains in reply
echoing their joyous strains:

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Benjamin-Gerritsz. Cuyp, Annunciation to the Shepherds, by Benjamin-Gerritsz. Cuyp, after 1633. Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas, United States. Via IllustratedPrayer.com
Annunciation to the Shepherds, by Benjamin-Gerritsz. Cuyp, c. 1633. Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas, United States.

Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
which inspire your heav’nly song?

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

The Adoration of the Shepherds, by Francesco Fontebasso, c. 1734-69, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas, United States. Via IllustratedPrayer.com
The Adoration of the Shepherds, by Francesco Fontebasso, c. 1734-69. Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas, United States.

Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing;
come, adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord, the new-born King.

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

The Adoration of the Shepherds with Saint Catherine of Alexandria, by Cigoli (Ludovico Cardi), c. 1599. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York, United States. Via IllustratedPrayer.com
The Adoration of the Shepherds with Saint Catherine of Alexandria, by Cigoli (Ludovico Cardi), c. 1599. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York, United States.

See within a manger laid
Jesus, Lord of heaven and earth!
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
sing with us our Savior’s birth.

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

This is the second part of a twelve-part series illustrating classic Christmas carols with classic religious for the twelve days of Christmas! Merry Christmas!

Karina Tabone

Karina Tabone is a wife, mother of four, author, blogger, and lover of Christian artwork. She's the author of the Illustrated Rosary series, which pairs every prayer of the Rosary with beautiful religious artwork. She likes also milkshakes, sunshine, and mystery novels. Follow her on Twitter at @illustr_prayer.

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