Dies est laetitiae

Jean de Castro, a composer of the later Renaissance, wrote this sacred motet for SATTB voices. The Latin text celebrates the joy of Christmas, proclaiming a day of gladness at the royal birth. It rejoices in the wondrous and delectable child who has emerged today from a virginal womb. The text emphasizes the dual nature of Christ, describing him as both estimable in his humanity and ineffable in his divinity. The motet likely served a devotional purpose within the liturgical tradition, offering a rich musical setting for this significant feast.