The Celestial Architect

A German carol, probably not too well-known in the United States, depicts Jesus as the builder of the heavens:

Lo, within a manger lies

He who built the starry skies .  .  .

Those words from “See Amid the Winter’s Snow” express the central teaching of the Christian church: 

In Bethlehem’s manger that drew shepherds away from their flock one night, there lay a little baby boy who was one with God and who created everything that has been created (John 1:1-3).

The song begins with these astounding statements about that Holy Babe, then includes an interview with the shepherds, and concludes with a prayer.

FIRST STANZA

Jesus is fulfillment of Hebrew prophecy — “Promised from eternal years.”  In keeping with the shepherd theme, He is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:36) and “the Lamb who was slain” and is worthy “to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and  blessing!” (Revelation 5:12)

See amid the winter’s snow,

Born for us on earth below,

See, the gentle Lamb appears,

Promised from eternal years.

SECOND STANZA

Here, Jesus is the divine architect, enthroned among the angels:

Lo, within a manger lies

He Who built the starry skies;

He Who, thronèd in height sublime,

Sits amid the cherubim.

THIRD STANZA

Now, an interviewer questions the shepherds about what took them away from their responsibilities with the sheep:

Say, you holy shepherds, say,

Tell your joyful news today.

Why have you now left your sheep

On the lonely mountain steep?

FOURTH STANZA

The shepherds answer the questioner in words reflecting Luke 2:

“As we watched at dead of night,

Lo, we saw a wondrous light;

Angels singing ‘Peace on earth’

Told us of the Savior’s birth.”

FIFTH AND SIXTH STANZAS

The carol then concludes with a prayer asking Jesus, the “Sacred Infant” and “holy Child,” to make us more like Him:

Sacred Infant, all divine,

What a tender love was Thine,

Thus to come from highest bliss

Down to such a world as this.

Teach, O teach us, holy Child,

By Thy face so meek and mild,

Teach us to resemble Thee,

In Thy sweet humility.

REFRAIN

The alternate title, “Hymn for Christmas Day,” is reflected in the recurring chorus that celebrates the dawning of redemption as “Christ is born in Bethlehem.”

Hail that ever blessèd morn,

Hail redemption’s happy dawn,

Sing through all Jerusalem:

Christ is born in Bethlehem.

Edward Caswall's words first appeared in 1851 in Ea­sy Hymn Tunes…Adapt­ed for Ca­tho­lic Schools.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TjM-Ih5LP4