Day 21 of Christmas Nightlight Readings: Of the Father's Love Begotten

It is hard to say what the oldest Christmas carol is, but this one comes pretty close, as it was first written as a poem by the Roman poet Prudentius during the 4th century. It was then called Corde natus. Early Christmas hymns were written about the virgin birth, often chanted in mass (called plainchants—a melodic chant). Corde natus or "Of the Father's Love Begotten," was sung to the plainchant Divinium mysterium, in the earliest known manuscripts. The plainchant was not replaced by the poem in hymn until 1851.

I leave you tonight with this entertaining little bit from Darby above Notting Hill (say this in a British accent as you read it).