Friday, December 5, 2025

Reprise Post: Advent Carol: "Czekam na Ciebie"

 Today's reposting is a fourth edit of the original 2013 kolęda post.  The third edit, in 2020, had some nice comments.

 

Czekam na Ciebie,  "I wait for You," expresses longing and yearning for the arrival of the Savior.  The Liturgical Season of Advent is prime time for these feelings.

 

The four candles in the Advent Wreath are lit on successive Sundays of Advent. The First Sunday of Advent - the beginning of each new Liturgical Year - calls to mind the longing of the Gentiles for four thousand years to have the Commandments and the promise of Salvation extended to them. So, naturally, the First Sunday of Advent has the maximum quotient of yearning and is the most bleak. I have started out at full bleak this year, kind of stark in fact, aiming for maximum contrast S1 to S4. What do you think?

Well, at least the candle is making light! - as in the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness grasps it not. 

How does this hymn sound? In minor mode, it sounds yearning. Like this, sung by a church organist with an affecting baritone. And like this, performed in the style of a quiet folk tune.

From Nuty Religijne we can obtain the score with Polish lyrics. Click to enlarge.

  

Source for the Polish lyric is teksty.org:

Czekam na Ciebie, Jezu mój mały,
ciche błaganie, ku niebu śle.
Twojego przyjścia, czeka świat cały.
Sercem gorącym przyzywa Cię.

          I wait for You, my little Jesus,
          Silent supplication to the sky send.
          For your advent, the whole world is waiting.
          Fervent hearts call You.

 

Spójrz, tęskniony na tej ziemi,
przyjdź, o Jezu, pociesz nas!
Szczerze kochać Cię będziemy.
Przyjdź, o Jezu, bo już czas.


          Look upon this Earth with its longing,
          Come, O Jesus, comfort us!
          Truly we will love You.
          Come, O Jesus, because it is already time. 

 

Usłysz Maryjo głos Twoich dzieci,
Tyś naszą Matką na każdy dzień.
O daj nam Słońce, które rozświeci,
grzechu i błędu straszliwy cień.


          Hear, Mary, the voice of your children.
          Thou art our Mother, every day.
          Give to us the Sun, that its light
          Will enshadow sin and terrible error.

 

Spójrz teskniony na tej ziemi,
daj nam Zbawcę, Dziecię Twe.
My dla Niego żyć pragniemy,
Jemu damy serca swe.

          Look upon this Earth with its longing,
          Give to us the Savior, your Son.
          We for Him to be living crave,
          To Him we will give our hearts.
 
 
The Benedictines are still composing Songs of Advent, Pieśni Adwentowe. Here is a compilation of eight of them, the first being  Przyjdź, Panie, w Ciemność Mojego Domu, "Come, Lord, into the Darkness of My Home."  If you "Show More" of the first entry you will see the complete list. The original site is named Duchowa Przystań, "Spiritual Haven."
 

 


  



 

 

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