ES IST EIN ROS’ ENTSPRUNGEN

"Es ist ein Ros entsprungen," (literally "A rose has sprung up,") most commonly translated to English as "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming", is a Christmas carol and Marian Hymn of German origin. Although some sources indicate the hymn might date back into the 14th century, the hymn is popularly believed to have originated in Trier. It is thought to have first appeared under the title “Das altcatholische Triersche Christkindlein.” Possibly the first known record of the original German verses was in a German hymnal (Speierisches Gesangbuch) in Cologne in 1599. However, other records indicate it may have been published as early as 1582 or 1588 in Gebetbuchlein des Frater Conradus. 

The most well known story of the hymn's origin relates how on one Christmas Eve, a monk walking in the woods near Trier found a blooming rose which he later placed in a vase before the alter to the Virgin Mary. While this Catholic hymn with its focus on Mary was thought originally to have had only two verses, as many as twenty-one verses were added by unknown authors. This was done in order to create a ballad telling how Mary, who is compared to the mystical rose praised in the Song of Solomon ("I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys…"), learned she was to be the mother of Jesus. By 1609, however, the Protestants had adopted the hymn, and changed its focus from Mary to Jesus citing Isaiah ("A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse").

The famous composer Michael Praetorius (1571-1621) helped the hymns popularity by harmonizing it. And it his harmonization of the German tune, or adaptations of it, that may be found in most hymnals today.

With all of that said, to me it is Christmas. I need only hear the first few notes and I am transported back to 1962 and the streets of Karlsruhe on a crisp clear December evening. We walked with singleness of purpose for we had been invited to dinner on Heilige Abend (Chistmas Eve.) Our hostess was a diminutive Czech of advanced years and limited means. 
But what little she had she shared joyfully with us. And sitting at her table that evening we were given something money can't buy. I don't remember what the meal consisted of or the details of place settings or linens or any of the material things. What I do remember and what lives in my heart to this day, is how I felt. I felt loved. I remember it now in the form of the most beautiful, perfect Christmas tree standing at the head of the table. Perfect in its symmetry and its illumination. The tip of each branch holding a candle. 

Christ is that tree - the tree of life - and He illuminates my life.