This year's favorite Christmas song...

Each Christmas we look for a new Christmas album to sing and listen to during Advent.  This year, maybe because we are not in the normal circles, we haven't found one that caught our attention.  This week however we heard a song at our church that has rapidly risen to be our family's top favorite.
As we have encountered worship music at our church, we often find that the songs we sing are actually English songs converted into French.  But in this case it is the opposite.  This year's favorite Christmas song was originally a French song that was later translated into English.  Surprisingly, the English version (as good as it is) is not quite at good as the French.  The French is full of depth and beauty, and personally I am finding I like the sound of things in French.   Here is the version of this song that we have come to love, and the words below.  Hope it brings you a "Joyeux Noel!"

This version was made by a local church in Quebec that you can download at their website.  www.redemptive.ca

Minuit Cretiens

Placide Cappeau's Cantique de Noël		Literal English Translation
Minuit, chrétiens, c'est l'heure solennelle,		Midnight, Christians, it is the solemn hour,
Où l'Homme Dieu descendit jusqu'à nous		When God as man descended unto us
Pour effacer la tache originelle		To erase the stain of original sin
Et de Son Père arrêter le courroux.		And to end the wrath of His Father.
Le monde entier tressaille d'espérance		The entire world thrills with hope
En cette nuit qui lui donne un Sauveur.		On this night that gives it a Savior.
Peuple à genoux, attends ta délivrance.		People kneel down, wait for your deliverance.
Noël, Noël, voici le Rédempteur,		Christmas, Christmas, here is the Redeemer,
Noël, Noël, voici le Rédempteur !		Christmas, Christmas, here is the Redeemer!
De notre foi que la lumière ardente		May the ardent light of our Faith
Nous guide tous au berceau de l'Enfant,		Guide us all to the cradle of the infant,
Comme autrefois une étoile brillante		As in ancient times a brilliant star
Y conduisit les chefs de l'Orient.		Guided the Oriental kings there.
Le Roi des rois naît dans une humble crèche:		The King of Kings was born in a humble manger;
Puissants du jour, fiers de votre grandeur,		O mighty ones of today, proud of your greatness,
A votre orgueil, c'est de là que Dieu prêche.		It is to your pride that God preaches.
Courbez vos fronts devant le Rédempteur.		Bow your heads before the Redeemer!
Courbez vos fronts devant le Rédempteur.		Bow your heads before the Redeemer!
Le Rédempteur a brisé toute entrave :		The Redeemer has broken every bond:
La terre est libre, et le ciel est ouvert.		The Earth is free, and Heaven is open.
Il voit un frère où n'était qu'un esclave,		He sees a brother where there was only a slave,
L'amour unit ceux qu'enchaînait le fer.		Love unites those that iron had chained.
Qui lui dira notre reconnaissance,		Who will tell Him of our gratitude,
C'est pour nous tous qu'il naît, qu'il souffre et meurt.		For all of us He is born, He suffers and dies.
Peuple debout ! Chante ta délivrance,		People stand up! Sing of your deliverance,
Noël, Noël, chantons le Rédempteur,		Christmas, Christmas, sing of the Redeemer,
Noël, Noël, chantons le Rédempteur !		Christmas, Christmas, sing of the Redeemer!