The Holy Innocents

'For it is easier, God says, to ruin than to build;
And to bring death than to bring to birth;
And to kill than to create;
And the bud does not resist at all. 
That is in fact because it is not made for resistance, 
it is not commissioned to resist.
It is the trunk and the branch and that governing root 
which are made for resistance, which are commissioned to resist.
And it is the rough bark which is made for roughness 
and which is commissioned to be rough.
But the tender bud is only made for being born 
and is only commissioned to bring to birth.'

from Charles Péguy - The Mystery of the Holy Innocents
(translation by Pansy Pakenham)


Philip Stopford's setting of the Coventry Carol - the 16th Century English carol inspired by the story of the Holy Innocents - Luly, Lulla, Lullay - sung by Ecclesium, directed by the composer 



Lully, lullay, Thou little tiny Child,
Bye, bye, lully, lullay.
Lullay, thou little tiny Child,
Bye, bye, lully, lullay.

O sisters too, how may we do,
For to preserve this day
This poor youngling for whom we do sing
Bye, bye, lully, lullay.

Herod, the king, in his raging,
Charged he hath this day
His men of might, in his owne sight,
All young children to slay.

That woe is me, poor Child for Thee!
And ever mourn and sigh,
For thy parting neither say nor sing,
Bye, bye, lully, lullay.