Christmas Song Story: Jesus Illuminates All

A friend was searching for the oldest Christmas hymns and stumbled upon this hymn. So, it lead me to search out the stories behind these old Christmas hymns.

The song was composed in Latin by St. Hilary of Poitiers in the fourth century. The Latin translation is “Jesus refulsit omnium”. The song is said to have been composed after the first recorded Christmas celebration which took place in 336A.D.

St. Hilary of Poitiers

Music had not been used in religious services until St. Francis of Assisi incorporated it in the 12th Century. Even then it did not remain continuous as a part of worship for many decades.

However, this song has survived the passage of time and has the honor of being one of our oldest Christmas hymns.

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