Personent Hodie - Traditional

Personent hodie
Voces puerulae,
Laudantes iucunde
Qui nobis est natus,
Summo Deo datus,
Et de virgineo ventre procreatus.

In mundo nascitur,
Pannis involvitur
Praesepi ponitur
Stabulo brutorum,
Rector supernorum,
Perdidit spolia princeps infernorum.

Magi tres venerunt,
Munera offerunt,
Parvulum inquirunt,
Stellulam sequendo,
Ipsum adorando,
Aurum, thus, et myrrham ei offerendo.

Omnes clericuli,
Pariter pueri,
Cantent ut angeli:
Advenisti mundo,
Laudes tibi fundo,
Ideo gloria in excelsis Deo.

Personent Hodie lyrics originated in the Finnish collection Piae Cantiones. The song is characterized by its strong rhythmic vivas and its exultant tone. It describes the visit of the Wise Men and the message of the angels. It is often performed with a dramatic orchestral accompaniment that highlights its medieval roots. By singing the Personent Hodie lyrics the congregation joins in a robust and audible declaration of joy celebrating the Prince of Peace who was born of a Virgin to reconcile the world to God through His glorious arrival on earth today.