I have been looking for this song for years... Please scroll down to the writer from Gainesville Fl that sang this song at Midnight Mass in the '60's . My remarriage name was Christine Nadeau. I belonged to St. Patrick's in Gainesville then and went to St Patrick's school that was built then and taught by Sisters of St Joseph. I have been looking for Sister Mary Gemma for years. She and 2 other nuns lived in a little house and always had 2 Irish setters with them ... Father Gross was pastor and there was a Father Michael Gannon who preached and a Father Saeger (sp?0 ) I was President of student body in 9th grade and in the first graduating class of 10 people who went over to Gainesville High School. I sang in the choir for years. Miss Latin and Gregorian liturgy to this day. Loved the Requiem masses too. I think sister Mary Gemma was in the Washington DC area at one point. Father Robert Farmer was at St Patrick's when I was there. I alway loved this song but could never find it. I ended up attending St Louis University then moved to Chicago. I was a pediatric ICU nurse for most of my life. I now live in Atlanta.
I have sung this song to several Catholic priests like the other guest writer who was at St Patrick's in the 60's. I would love to be in touch with that other writer. I am sure we must have sung together. AND we both love this song and searched for it:~))))) I would also love to find dear Sister Mary Gemma if she is still alive. What a wonderful teacher and human being. th
Thank you for the song. It's December 1, 2021. I will be singing it all month for sure.
Definitely one of my favorites!!!! Who knew I would find this at 71:~))? NOW if I could find Sister Mary Gemma and Father Farmer!!! How wonderful would that be. If you could put me in touch with that other writer, it would be wonderful. Warmly, Christine (Nadeau) Winters Introna

Guest wrote: ↑Fri Dec 17, 2010 6:17 pm Growing up there was a song always sung at midnight mass on christmas eve. I know it was called "In a Manger Lowly" because I was in the choir and sang it every year. Here are the lyrics:

In a manger lowly, sleeps the heav'nly child
O'er him fondly bending Mary Mother mild

Then haste and let us welcome
with joyous happy lay
the infant King of Glory born for us today.

come to bethlehem come and see
him who's birth we sing
come adore on bended knee
christ the newborn king

Then haste...

I would love to find this recording or the sheet music. Thanks!

Can someone please give me a tune to this song?

Thank you all for your memories and interest in "In a Manger Lowly." This year, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Baden, Pa., celebrated the 100th anniversary of the copyright of the song. Sister Victoria Martin, who was blind, composed the song, originally titled "Christmas Carol" and Sister Ambrose Padden, who was known for her poetry, wrote the lyrics.

The sheet music found its way into schools where sisters taught thousands of children in the dioceses of Pittsburgh, Altoona-Johnstown and Greensburg and Columbus, Ohio. During music classes, the sisters introduced children to the song, which became a standard selection at Christmas Masses.

The song's popularity began to surge in 1961 when the Sisters recorded "In a Manger Lowly" as the signature song on a Christmas album featuring 100 voices of novices and postulants.

To learn more about the song, order a commemorative CD or request the sheet music, visit: https://friendraising.donorpro.com/campaigns/349.

That's it!
The person who posted 'in old Judea' on Dec 24, 2010
Yay
I sang this in the choir in the '60's at St Patrick's Church in Gainesville Fl
Loved this song.
Sang it to a priest in Atlanta Ga last evening to see if anyone knew it.
So relieved that my brain didn't imagine this as I couldn't find it anywhere until
This blessed poster

My Mother's cousin, Sister Victoria, composed this song. She was a Sister of St. Joseph, Baden Pa. The above information is correct by annie44. thank you for posting this. I will order it also.

Thank you! I have been searching for this hymn for years. I used to sing it as a child at Christmas masses when a student at St. Catherine's School in Beechview in Pittsburgh Pa in the 1940s. My parents and other relatives just loved it.. There was a sweet innocence about the children's voices when singing this hymn that I will never forget. (We were taught by the Sisters of St. Joseph).

To all those hunting "In A Manger Lowly", I found it. Guess I wasn't the only one looking for it. You can order a CD from the Sisters. I don't knoe if the price is the same, but it was 12.50 including postage.
Sisters of St. Joseph
Development Office
1020 State St
Baden, Pa 15005

To those seeking "In A Manger Lowly", you must have been taught by the Sisters of St. Joseph out of Baden, Pa. I believe a Sister there composed it. It was always sung in our Church, St. Charles, in Donora. I was looking for the music myself. Has anyone found it?

I sang this hymn at St. James in Wilkinsburg PA in the 60s. there was a humming interlude that was so purely the sound of children, that it has stuck with me for over 45 years.

On the subject of old Catholic Hymns, here is another one our choir sang back then. I can't find it anywhere either.

IN OLD JUDEA

1. In Old Judea, amid the plains afar,
My eyes behold a brightly shining star;
Bathed in the splendor that floods the eastern skies,
Within a manager, a sleeping Baby lies.
Though meek and lowly, a radiance holy
Illumes the place with wondrous light;
While on the hillside, and in the valley,
The angel host sings through the night:

Chorus:
“Glory to God, all Glory to God!
Voices exhaltingly ring;
Peace and Good Will in the hearts of men,
Hail to the New Born King!
Hail to the New Born King!”

2. In old Judea, where Christ, the Lord, was born,
In Bethlehem, that blessed Christmas morn;
The stars still shining, in beauty overhead,
On all the world its loving beams are shed.
The crimson glory of Calv'ry's story
Is hallowed by its softened glow,
While all the people of earth are singing
The angels' song of long ago: Chorus