The song was originally written in Neapolitan dialect, which is spoken in part of southern Italy, with the title “Quanno nascette Ninno”.
Newsroom (19/11/2021 16:55, Gaudium Press) “Tu scendi dalle stelle,” is a famous and popular Christmas carol of Italian origin that has a special story: the writer of the lyrics and composer of the melody was none other than Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, the founding saint of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer -the Redemptorists-, and doctor of the Church.
The lyrics of the song speak of the Child Jesus who was born in Bethlehem and is the light of the world
Tradition has it that the musical piece, which speaks of the little Jesus who was born in Bethlehem and is light of the world, was written by the Italian saint in the region of Nola, a city in the province of Naples, in the year 1754.
Another tradition mentions that the origin of this work was in the region of Deliceto, in the province of Foggia, where the Convent of Consolation is located, where St. Alphonsus Mary of Liguori stayed for a while.
Famous Christmas carols were inspired by the music composed by Saint Alphonsus
From then on other translations began to appear, including English, with which it was made “When the child is born”. Various interpretations have also appeared. One of the most recent was by Friar Alessandro, of the Order of Friars Minor, who is known as “The Voice of Assisi”.
The song was originally written in Neapolitan dialect, which is spoken in part of southern Italy, with the title “Quanno nascette Ninno”; but long afterwards Pope Pius IX translated it into Italian, something which made the beauty of the song go around the world and become very popular in December celebrations.
Lyrics of the Christmas song written by Saint Alphonsus
O King of Heaven! from starry throne descending,
Thou takest refuge in that wretched cave;
O God of bliss! I see Thee cold and trembling,
What pain it cost Thee fallen man to save!
Thou, of a thousand worlds the great Creator,
Dost now the pain of cold and want endure;
Thy poverty but makes Thee more endearing,
For well I know ’tis love has made Thee poor.
I see Thee leave Thy Heavenly Father’s bosom,
But whither has Thy love transported Thee?
Upon a little straw I see Thee lying;
Why suffer thus? ’Tis all for love of me.
But if it is Thy will for me to suffer,
And by these sufferings my heart to move,
Wherefore, my Jesus, do I see Thee weeping?
’Tis not for pain Thou weepest, but for love.
Thou weepest thus to see me so ungrateful;
My sins have pierced Thee to the very core;
I once despised Thy love, but now I love Thee,
I love but Thee; then, Jesus, weep no more.
Thou sleepest, Lord, but Thy heart ever watches,
No slumber can a heart so loving take;
But tell me, darling Child, of what Thou thinkest,
“I think,” he says, “of dying for Thy sake.”
Is it for me that Thou dost think of dying!
What, then, O Jesus! can I but love Thee?
Mary, my hope! If I love him too little-
(EPC)
English Lyrics taken from https://www.liguorian.org/saint-alphonsus-liguoris-christmas-carol/
