Erasure releases "Gaudete"



A brother priest has alerted me to the digital release today by Erasure of the track "Gaudete" which is apparently the first single from a new album "Snow Globe" which is to be released as a CD and download bundle in a couple of weeks.

I confess that my knowledge of popular music nowadays is as close to zero as makes no difference so I had to look up the above details from the Wikipedia article on Erasure. This also informs us that one of the duo is a gay icon, which made me hesitate about posting this at all. However, on balance I agree with my correspondent that the problem is outweighed by the possibility of making Christ known to a secular audience at Christmas.

It is a good idea to know what singers are singing. This would apply to Lady Gaga's recent celebrated performance: I guess some of those cheering it might be less enthusiastic if they knew what she was actually singing about.

So here are the lyrics to Gaudete and a translation to help along the possible evangelising impact of Gaudete:

Gaudete, gaudete
Christus est natus
Ex Maria Virgine
Gaudete		 Rejoice, rejoice!
Christ is born
Of the Virgin Mary —
rejoice!
Tempus adest gratiae
Hoc quod optabamus
Carmina laetitiae
Devote reddamus		 The time of grace is present
This, what we have wished for,
songs of joy
Let us give back devoutly.
Deus homo factus est
Natura mirante
Mundus renovatus est
A Christo regnante		 God has become man,
To the wonderment of Nature,
The world has been renewed
By the reigning Christ.
Ezechielis porta
Clausa pertransitur
Unde Lux est orta
Salus invenitur		 The closed gate of Ezekiel
Is passed through,
Whence the light has arisen,
Salvation is found.
Ergo nostra contio
Psallat iam in lustro
Benedicat Domino
Salus Regi nostro		Therefore let our gathering
Now sing in brightness
Let it bless the Lord:
Greeting to our King.

(This also gave me a welcome opportunity to revise my knowledge of html for tables.)

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