More lovely than the rose
Marion Cleland Lochhead (1902 - 1985) was a Scottish writer and social historian. Her works span historiography and biography, poetry and fiction, children's writing, journalism, and broadcasting.
Her strong religious beliefs are reflected in many of her works, including this one.
Christmas Night
More lovely than the rose
The fragrance that this night
Of nights is poured on earth;
No noontide sun so bright
E'er shone as one clear star
That led the Wise Men's way,
Before God's wisdom hid
In babyhood to pray.
More lovely than the rose
The Rose of Sharon lay,
Bud of a virgin flow'r
Cradled in oxen's hay.
The Rose of Sharon symbolizes beauty, love, and perfection in the Bible, particularly in the Song of Solomon, where it represents the beloved's beauty in the eyes of God. It is often associated with Jesus Christ, reflecting His divine love and the spiritual connection between believers and God.
The Rose of Sharon is a biblical reference that has been interpreted in various ways:
Symbol of Mary: In Catholic tradition, the Rose of Sharon is often seen as a symbol of Mary, the mother of Jesus.
Symbol of Jesus: In Protestant interpretations, the Rose of Sharon is more often associated with Jesus himself.
Prophetic imagery: The rose imagery is also linked to the prophecy in Isaiah 11:1, which speaks of a shoot sprouting from the stump of Jesse.
The hymn "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming" incorporates these symbolic meanings, as heard in this particularly beautiful recording by the Tabernacle Choir At Temple Square.
Below are the lyrics as sung by the Choir, from the 1894 translation by American musicologist Theodore Baker.
1 Lo, how a Rose e'er blooming
From tender stem hath sprung!
Of Jesse's lineage coming
As men of old have sung.
It came, a floweret bright,
Amid the cold of winter
When half-spent was the night.
2 Isaiah 'twas foretold it,
The Rose I have in mind:
With Mary we behold it,
The virgin mother kind.
To show God's love aright
She bore to men a Savior
When half-spent was the night.
3 The shepherds heard the story
Proclaimed by angels bright,
How Christ, the Lord of Glory
Was born on earth this night.
To Bethlehem they sped
And in the manger they found him,
As angels heralds said.
4 This Flower, whose fragrance tender
With sweetness fills the air,
Dispels with glorious splendor
The darkness everywhere.
True man, yet very God,
From sin and death He saves us
And lightens every load.
