O magnum mysterium et admirabile sacramentum, ut animalia viderent Dominum natum jacentem in praesepio. O beata Virgo, cujus viscera meruerunt portare Dominum Jesum Christum. Ave Maria, gratia plena: Dominus tecum. O beata Virgo, cujus viscera meruerunt portare Dominum Jesum Christum. Alleluia!
English translation
O great mystery
and wonderful sacrament,
that animals should see the new-born Lord
lying in a manger! O blessed is the Virgin, whose womb was worthy to bear Christ the Lord.
Hail Mary, full of grace: the Lord is with you. Blessed is the Virgin whose womb was worthy to bear Christ the Lord.
Alleluia!
Abbreviated text without the versicle & response
Latin text
O magnum mysterium et admirabile sacramentum, ut animalia viderent Dominum natum jacentem in praesepio. O beata Virgo, cujus viscera meruerunt portare Dominum Jesum Christum. Alleluia!
English translation
O great mystery
and wonderful sacrament,
that animals should see the new-born Lord
lying in a manger! O blessed is the Virgin, whose womb was worthy to bear Christ the Lord.
Alleluia!
Different text in the Prima pars of the Palestrina setting (includes part of the responsory to the third lesson)
Latin text
O magnum mysterium et admirabile sacramentum, ut animalia viderent Dominum natum jacentem in praesepio. Natum vidimus et choros Angelorum collaudantes Dominum. Alleluia!
Text of the Morales setting
Latin text
O magnum mysterium et admirabile sacramentum, ut animalia viderent Dominum natum jacentem in praesepio. Beata Virgo, cujus viscera meruerunt portare Dominum Jesum Christum. Domine, audivi auditum tuum et timui: consideravi opera tua, et expavi: in medio duorum animalium.
English translation
O great mystery
and wonderful sacrament,
that animals should see the new-born Lord
lying in a manger. Blessed is the Virgin whose womb was worthy to bear Christ the Lord.
Lord, I heard your voice and was afraid;
I considered your works and I trembled:
between two animals, lying in a manger.
English translationby Allen H Simon
O most awesome mystery
and sacrament divine and most wondrous:
that animals should look and see the Lord a babe newborn
beside them in a manger laid.
O how truly blessed is the Virgin whose womb was worthy