A Poor Brother's Hymnal
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
  Draw Nigh and Take the Body of the Lord
“This is My body, which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 1 Corinthians 11:24



Draw nigh and take the body of the Lord;
And drink the holy blood for you outpoured.
Saved by that body and that holy blood,
With souls refreshed, we render thanks to God.

Salvation’s Giver, Christ, the only Son,
By His dear cross and blood the victory won.
Offered was He for greatest and for least,
Himself the Victim, and Himself the Priest.

Victims were offered by the law of old,
Which in a type this heavenly mystery told.
He, Ransomer from death, and Light from shade,
Now gives His holy grace His saints to aid.

Approach ye then with faithful hearts sincere,
And take the safeguard of salvation here.
He, that His saints in this world rules and shields,
To all believers life eternal yields.

With heavenly bread makes them that hunger whole,
Gives living waters to the thirsting soul,
Alpha and Omega, to Whom shall bow
All nations at the doom, is with us now.

Words: From the An­ti­phon­ar­i­um Ben­cho­ren­se, a late 7th Cen­tu­ry man­u­script from the Mon­as­te­ry of Ban­gor, Coun­ty Down, Ire­land (Sanc­ti ve­ni­te, cor­pus Christi su­mite); trans­lat­ed from La­tin to Eng­lish by John M. Neale, Med­iæ­val Hymns, 1851.

Music: Pen­i­ten­tia, Ed­ward Dearle, 1874 (MI­DI, score). Al­ter­nate tunes:

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Wednesday, December 05, 2007
  The Day of Ressurection
“He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him.” Matthew 28:7

Words: John of Da­mas­cus (675-749) (Αναστάσεως ήμέρα); trans­lat­ed from Greek to Eng­lish by John M. Neale, 1862.

Music: Lancashire, Hen­ry T. Smart, 1835 (MI­DI, score). Smart wrote this tune for a mu­sic fes­tiv­al in Black­burn, Lan­ca­shire, Eng­land, com­mem­o­rat­ing the 350th an­ni­ver­sa­ry of the Re­for­ma­tion in Eng­land. Al­ter­nate tunes:

  • Ellacombe, Würt­tem­berg, Ger­ma­ny: 1784; adapt­ed and har­mo­nized by Will­iam H. Monk, 1868 (MI­DI, score)
  • Herz­lich Tut Mich Er­freu­en, Jo­hann Wal­ther, Ein Schön­er Geist­lich­er und Christ­lich­er New­er Berck­re­yen, 1522 (MI­DI, score)
  • Rotterdam, Ber­thold Tours, 1875 (MI­DI, score)

John Neale de­scribed how ear­ly Greek Christ­ians sang this hymn:

As mid­night ap­proached, the arch­bi­shop, with his priests, ac­com­pa­nied by the king and queen, left the church and sta­tioned them­selves on the plat­form, which was raised con­sid­er­a­bly from the ground, so that they were dis­tinct­ly seen by the peo­ple. Ev­er­y­one now re­mained in breath­less ex­pec­ta­tion, hold­ing an un­light­ed ta­per in rea­di­ness when the glad mo­ment should ar­rive, while the priests still con­tin­ued mur­mur­ing their mel­an­cho­ly chant in a low half whis­per. Sud­den­ly a single re­port of a can­non an­nounced that twelve o’clock had struck and that Eas­ter Day had be­gun; then the old arch­bi­shop, ele­vat­ing the cross, ex­claimed in a loud, ex­ult­ing tone, “Christ­os anes­te!” “Christ is ris­en!” and in­stant­ly ev­ery sin­gle in­di­vid­u­al of all that host took up the cry…At that same mo­ment the op­press­ive dark­ness was suc­ceed­ed by a blaze of light from thou­sands of tap­ers which…seemed to send streams of fire in all di­rect­ions.


The day of resurrection! Earth, tell it out abroad;
The Passover of gladness, the Passover of God.
From death to life eternal, from earth unto the sky,
Our Christ hath brought us over, with hymns of victory.

Our hearts be pure from evil, that we may see aright
The Lord in rays eternal of resurrection light;
And listening to His accents, may hear, so calm and plain,
His own “All hail!” and, hearing, may raise the victor strain.

Now let the heavens be joyful! Let earth the song begin!
Let the round world keep triumph, and all that is therein!
Let all things seen and unseen their notes in gladness blend,
For Christ the Lord hath risen, our joy that hath no end.

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  Into The Dim Earth's Lower Parts Descending
“He…descended first into the lower parts of the earth.” Ephesians 4:9

Words: John of Da­mas­cus, 8th Cen­tu­ry (Κατήλθες έν τοίς κατωτάτοις); trans­lat­ed from Greek to Eng­lish by John M. Neale in Hymns of the East­ern Church (Lon­don: J. Hard­ing, 1862).

Music: Morn­ing Star, James P. Hard­ing, 1892 (MI­DI, score). Al­ter­nate tune:


Into the dim earth’s lowest parts descending,
And bursting by Thy might the infernal chain
That bound the prisoners, Thou, at three days’ ending,
As Jonah from the whale, hast risen again.

Thou brakest not the seal, Thy surety’s token,
Arising from the tomb Who left’st in birth
The portals of virginity unbroken,
Opening the gates of Heaven to sons of earth.

Thou, Sacrifice ineffable and living,
Didst to the Father by Thyself atone
As God eternal: resurrection giving
To Adam, general parent, by Thine own.

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  Let Us Rise In Early Morning
“Early in the morning, they came unto the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared.” Luke 24:1

Words: John of Da­mas­cus, 8th Cen­tu­ry (Ορθρίσωμεν όρθρου βαθέος); trans­lat­ed from Greek to Eng­lish by John M. Neale in Hymns of the East­ern Church.

Music: Cwm Rhondda, John Hughes, 1907 (MI­DI, score).

If you have ac­cess to a pho­to of John Hughes that we could put on­line, please click here.


Let us rise in early morning,
And, instead of ointments, bring
Hymns of praises to our Master,
And His Resurrection sing:
We shall see the Sun of Justice
Ris’n with healing on His wing,
Ris’n with healing on His wing.

Thy unbounded loving-kindness,
They that groaned in Hades’ chain,
Prisoners, from afar beholding,
Hasten to the light again
And to that eternal Pascha
Wove the dance and raised the strain,
Wove the dance and raised the strain.

Go ye forth, His saints, to meet Him!
Go with lamps in every hand!
From the sepulcher He riseth:
Ready for the Bridegroom stand:
And the Pascha of salvation
Hail, with His triumphant band,
Hail, with His triumphant band.

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  Those Eternal Bowers
“In the midst of the street…and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life.” Revelation 22:2

Words: Stan­zas 1 & 3 at­trib­ut­ed to John of Da­mas­cus, 8th Cen­tu­ry (Τὰς εδρὰς τὰς αιωνίας); trans­lat­ed from Greek to Eng­lish by John M. Neale in Hymns of the East­ern Church, 1862, alt.

Music: Mor­ley, Thom­as Mor­ley, 1867 (MI­DI, score).

If you have ac­cess to a pic­ture of Thom­as Mor­ley that we could put on­line, please click here.


Those eternal bowers, man hath never trod,
Those unfading flowers round the throne of God:
Who may hope to gain them after weary fight?
Who at length attain them, clad in robes of white?

He who wakes from slumber at the Spirit’s voice,
Daring here to number things unseen his choice:
He whose one oblation is a life of love,
Knit in God’s salvation to the blest above.

Shame upon you, legions of the heav’nly King,
Citizens of regions past imagining!
What! with pipe and tabor dream away the light,
When He bids you labor, when He tells you, “Fight”?

Jesus, Lord of glory, as we breast the tide,
Whisper Thou the story of the other side;
Where the saints are casting crowns before Thy feet,
Safe for everlasting, in Thyself complete.

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Monday, October 15, 2007
  Ye choirs of new Jerusalem,
"I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head." Genesis 3:15

Words: Fulbert of Chartres (?-1082) (Chorus novae Ierusalem);

Robert Campbell Translation
John Mason Neale Translation

Ye choirs of new Jerusalem,
Your sweetest notes employ,
The Paschal victory to hymn
In strains of holy joy.

For Judah's Lion bursts His chains,
Crushing the serpent's head;
And cries aloud through death's domains
To wake the imprisoned dead.

Devouring depths of hell their prey
At His command restore;
His ransomed hosts pursue their way
Where Jesus goes before.

Triumphant in His glory now
To Him all power is given;
To Him in one communion bow
All saints in earth and heaven.

While we, His soldiers, praise our King,
His mercy we implore,
Within His palace bright to bring
And keep us evermore.

All glory to the Father be,
All glory to the Son,
All glory, Holy Ghost, to Thee,
While endless ages run.

Ye choirs of new Jerusalem,
To sweet new strains attune your theme;
The while we keep, from care released,
With sober joy our Paschal feast:

When Christ, unconquer'd Lion, first
The dragon's chains by rising burst:
And while with living voice He cries,
The dead of other ages rise.

Engorged in former years, their prey
Must death and hell restore today:
And many a captive soul, set free,
With Jesus leaves captivity.

Right gloriously He triumphs now,
Worthy to Whom should all things bow;
And joining heaven and earth again,
Links in one commonweal the twain.

And we, as these His deeds we sing,
His suppliant soldiers, pray our King,
That in His palace, bright and vast,
We may keep watch and ward at last.

Long as unending ages run,
To God the Father, laud be done:
To God the son, our equal praise,
And God the Holy Ghost, we raise.


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Saturday, October 06, 2007
  Jesus, Good Above All Other
to the tune of Quem Pastores

Neale's original translation Newer translation

Jesus, kind above all other,
gentle Child of gentle Mother,
in the stable born our Brother,
whom the angel hosts adore:

Jesus, cradled in a manger,
keep us free from sin and danger,
and to all, both friend and stranger,
give thy blessing evermore.

Jesus, good above all other,
gentle Child of gentle Mother,
in a stable born our Redeemer,
give us grace to persevere.

Jesus, cradled in a manger,
for us facing every danger,
living as a homeless stranger,
make we thee our King most dear.



Jesus, for thy people dying,
risen Master, death defying,
Lord in heaven, thy grace supplying,
keep us to thy presence near.

Jesus, who our sorrows bearest,
all our thoughts and hopes thou sharest,
thou to man the truth declarest;
help us all thy truth to hear.

Lord, in all our doings guide us;
pride and hate shall never divide us;
we'll go on with thee beside us,
and with joy we'll persevere!

Adam of St. Victor's original hymn with translation

Latin lyrics English translation

Missus Gabriel de caelis,
Verbi baiulus fidelis
Sacris difserit loquelis
Cum beata virgine.

Verbum bonum et fuave
Pandit intus in conclave,
Et ex Eva formans Ave,
Evae verbo nomine.

Metum pellit, dat solamen:
"Man per sacrum," inquit, "Flamen
Et virtutis obumbramen
Deo gravidaberis."

"Mater fiam," inquit illa,
"Cujus vera sum ancilla;
Salva tamen sint sigilla
Pudoris, ut loqueris."

Consequenter, juxta pactum,
Adest Verbum caro factum:
Sember tamen est intactum
Puellare gremium.

Parem pariens ignorat,
Et, quam homo non deflorat,
Non torquetur, nec laborat,
Wnando parit filium.

Signum audis novitatis,
Crede solum, et est satis:
Non est tuae facultatis
Solvere corrigiam.

Grande signum et insigne
Est in rubo et in igne,
Ne appropiet idigne
Calceatus quispiam.

Virga sicca sine rore
Novo ritu, novo more,
Fructum protulit cum flore:
Sic et virgo peperit.

Benedictus talis fructus,
Fructus gaudii, non luctus!
Non erit Adam seductus
Si de hoc gustaverit.

Jesus noster, Jesus bonus,
Piae matris pium onus,
Cujus est in caelo thronus,
Ponitur in stabulo.

Qui sic est pro nobis natus,
Nostros deleat reatus,
Quia noster incolatus
Hic est in periculo.

Gabriel, sent from heaven to carry,
As Christ's faithful emissary,
Greetings to the Blessed Mary,
Sacred words with her rehearsed:

Good and sweet the word he taketh,
As he in her chamber speaketh,
And of "Eva" "Ave" maketh,
Having Eve's name thus reversed.

Comfort gives he, fear dispelling,
"By the Holy Ghost's indwelling,
Thee the Highest's shadow veiling,
Thou," saith he, "shalt bear the Lord!"

"Be it so," by her was spoken,
"To His handmaid by this token;
Let my virgin seal unbroken
Be, according to thy word!"

As that promise thus declareth,
The incarnate Word appeareth:
But the virgin ever shareth
Still intact virginity.

Such a birth no mother showeth;
She, whom mortal man ne'er knoweth,
Pain nor labour undergoeth,
When she bears her progeny.

Of a wonder new thou hearest:
Have but faith, 'twill then be clearest:
This shoe's latchet, if thou nearst,
Thou art powerless to untie.

Great the lesson is, none higher!
In the bush and in the fire;
WIth feet shod let none draw nigher,
Lest he come unworthily.

The dry rod, without a shower,
In new manner, through new power,
Fruit produced as well as flower:
So a maid hath borne a son!

Blessed be that fruit forever,
Fruit of joy, of sorrow never!
Had he tasted its sweet savour,
Adam ne'er had been undone.

Jesus, gentle as none other,
Holy son of holy mother,
King of heaven, is, as our brother,
To a manger-cradle brought.

May He, thus for our salvation
Born, effect our guilt's putgation,
Seeing that our occupation
Of this earth with risk is fraught.

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Sunday, July 01, 2007
  The Hymn for Conquering Martyrs Raise
“A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rachel weeping for her children.” Jeremiah 31:15

Words: From Cas­san­der’s Hymni Ec­cles­i­as­ti­ci (Köln, Ger­ma­ny: 1556) (Hymn­um can­en­tes mar­tyr­um), where it is at­trib­ut­ed to the Ven­er­a­ble Bede (673-735). John M. Neale trans­lat­ed it from La­tin to Eng­lish in Med­iaev­al Hymns, 1851; Hymns An­cient and Mo­dern al­tered Neale’s trans­la­tion to “A hymn for mar­tyrs sweet­ly sing.”

Music: Wer da Wo­net, from Ve­he’s Ge­sang­büch­lein, 1537 (MI­DI, score).


The hymn for conquering martyrs raise,
The victor innocents we praise,
Whom in their woe earth cast away,
But Heav’n with joy received today;
Whose angels see the Father’s face
World without end, and hymn His grace;
And while they chant unceasing lays,
The hymn for conquering martyrs raise.

A voice from Ramah was there sent,
A voice of weeping and lament,
When Rachel mourned the children’s care
Whom for the tyrant’s sword she bare.
Triumphal is their glory now,
Whom earthly torments could not bow,
What time, both far and near that went,
A voice from Ramah there was sent.

Fear not, O little flock and blest,
The lion that your life opprest!
To heavenly pastures ever new
The heavenly Shepherd leadeth you;
Who, dwelling now on Zion’s hill,
The Lamb’s dear footsteps follow still;
By tyrant there no more distrest,
Fear not, O little flock and blest.

And every tear is wiped away
By your dear Father’s hands for ay;
Death hath no power to hurt you more,
Whose own is life’s eternal store.
Who sow their seed, and sowing weep,
In everlasting joy shall reap,
What time they shine in heavenly day,
And every tear is wiped away.

O city blest o’er all the earth,
Who gloriest in the Savior’s birth,
Who are His earliest martyrs dear,
By kindred and by triumph here;
None from henceforth may call thee small,
Of rival towns thou passest all:
In whom our Monarch had His birth,
O city blest o’er all the earth!


+++++++++++++++++++++

Another Version:

1. A Hymn for Martyrs sweetly sing;
For Innocents your praises bring;
Of whom in tears was earth bereaved,
Whom heaven with songs of joy received;
2. Whose Angels see the Father's face
World without end, and hymn His grace;
And, while they praise their glorious King,
A hymn for Martyrs sweetly sing.
3. A voice from Ramah was there sent,
A voice of weeping and lament,
While Rachel mourned her children sore,
Whom for the tyrant's sword she bore.
4. After brief taste of earthly woe
Eternal triumph now they know;
For whom, by cruel torments rent,
A voice from Ramah was there sent.
5. And every tear is wiped away
By your dear Father's hands for aye:
Death hath no power to hurt you more;
Your own is life's eternal shore.
6. And all who, good seed bearing, weep,
In everlasting joy shall reap,
What time they shine in heavenly day,
And every tear is wiped away.


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Friday, April 06, 2007
  Let the Song Be Begun (Easter)
Let the song be begun
For the battle is done,
And the vict'ry won:
And the foe is scatt'd,
And the prison shatter'd
Sing of joy, joy, joy
Sing of joy, joy;
And today raise the lay,
Gloria in Excelsis
Gloria in Excelsis,
in Excelsis

They that follow'd in pain
Shall now follow to reign,
And the crown shall obtain;
they were sore assaulted;
They shall be exalted;
Sing of joy, joy, joy
Sing of joy, joy;
And again, Pour the strain,
Gloria in Excelsis
Gloria in Excelsis,
in Excelsis

For the foe nevermore
Can approach to the shore
When the conflict is o'er,
There is joy supernal,
There is life eternal:
Sing of joy, joy, joy
Sing of joy, joy;
Earth and skies, Bid it rise,
Gloria in Excelsis
Gloria in Excelsis,
in Excelsis

Then be brave, then be true,
Ye despis'd and ye few,
For the crown is for you;
Christ that went before you,
Spreads His buckler o'er you;
Sing of joy, joy, joy
Sing of joy, joy;
And today raise the lay,
Gloria in Excelsis
Gloria in Excelsis,
in Excelsis

(to the tune of Ideo)

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Monday, April 02, 2007
  Thou, Hallowed Chosen Morn of Praise
“Now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.” 1 Corinthians 15:20

John of Damascus (675-749)

Words: John of Da­mas­cus, 8th Cen­tu­ry (Αὕτη ἥ κλητή κλητή καὶ ἁγία ἡμέρα); trans­lat­ed from Greek to Eng­lish by John M. Neale, 1862.

Music: Ei­sen­ach, Jo­hann H. Schein, 1628; har­mo­ny by Jo­hann S. Bach (1685-1750) (MI­DI, score).


Johann H. Schein (1586-1630)

Thou hallowed chosen morn of praise,
That best and greatest shinest;
Fair Easter, queen of all the days,
Of seasons, best, divinest!
Christ rose from death; and we adore
Forever and forevermore.

Come, let us taste the vine’s new fruit,
For heav’nly joy preparing;
Today the branches with the root
In resurrection sharing:
Whom as true God our hymns adore
Forever and forevermore.

Rise, Zion, rise! and looking forth,
Behold thy children round thee!
From east and west, from south and north,
Thy scattered sons have found thee;
And in thy bosom Christ adore
Forever and for evermore.

O Father, O co-equal Son,
O co-eternal Spirit,
In persons Three, in Godhead One,
And One in power and merit;
In Thee baptized, we Thee adore
Forever and for evermore.

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  That Eastertide with Joy Was Bright
“Look at My hands and My feet. It is I Myself! Touch Me and see.” Luke 24:39

Michael Praetorius (1571-1621)

Words: Un­known au­thor, 5th Cen­tu­ry (Au­ro­ra lu­cis ru­ti­lat); trans­lated from La­tin to Eng­lish in Hymns An­cient and Mo­dern, 1861, based on John M. Neale’s text in the Hymn­al Not­ed, 1851.

Music: Pu­er No­bis Nas­ci­tur, Trier man­u­script, 15th Cen­tu­ry, adapt­ed by Mi­chael Prae­tor­i­us, 1609; har­mo­ny by George R. Wood­ward, 1910 (MI­DI, score). Al­ter­nate tune:

  • Tristes Erant, Wil­liam H. Monk, 1861 (MI­DI, score)

John M. Neale (1818-1866)

That Eastertide with joy was bright,
The sun shone out with fairer light,
When, to their longing eyes restored,
The glad apostles saw their Lord.

He bade them see His hands, His side,
Where yet the glorious wounds abide;
The tokens true which made it plain
Their Lord indeed was risen again.

Jesus, the King of gentleness,
Do Thou Thyself our hearts possess
That we may give Thee all our days
The tribute of our grateful praise.

O Lord of all, with us abide
In this our joyful Eastertide;
From every weapon death can wield
Thine own redeemed forever shield.

All praise be Thine, O risen Lord,
From death to endless life restored;
All praise to God the Father be
And Holy Ghost eternally.

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  The Day of Resurrection
“He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him.” Matthew 28:7

John of Damascus (675-749)

Words: John of Da­mas­cus (675-749) (Αναστάσεως ήμέρα); trans­lat­ed from Greek to Eng­lish by John M. Neale, 1862.

Music: Lancashire, Hen­ry T. Smart, 1835 (MI­DI, score). Smart wrote this tune for a mu­sic fes­tiv­al in Black­burn, Lan­ca­shire, Eng­land, com­mem­o­rat­ing the 350th an­ni­ver­sa­ry of the Re­for­ma­tion in Eng­land. Al­ter­nate tunes:

  • Ellacombe, Würt­tem­berg, Ger­ma­ny: 1784; adapt­ed and har­mo­nized by Will­iam H. Monk, 1868 (MI­DI, score)
  • Herz­lich Tut Mich Er­freu­en, Jo­hann Wal­ther, Ein Schön­er Geist­lich­er und Christ­lich­er New­er Berck­re­yen, 1522 (MI­DI, score)
  • Rotterdam, Ber­thold Tours, 1875 (MI­DI, score)

Henry T. Smart (1813-1879)

John Neale de­scribed how ear­ly Greek Christ­ians sang this hymn:

As mid­night ap­proached, the arch­bi­shop, with his priests, ac­com­pa­nied by the king and queen, left the church and sta­tioned them­selves on the plat­form, which was raised con­sid­er­a­bly from the ground, so that they were dis­tinct­ly seen by the peo­ple. Ev­er­y­one now re­mained in breath­less ex­pec­ta­tion, hold­ing an un­light­ed ta­per in rea­di­ness when the glad mo­ment should ar­rive, while the priests still con­tin­ued mur­mur­ing their mel­an­cho­ly chant in a low half whis­per. Sud­den­ly a single re­port of a can­non an­nounced that twelve o’clock had struck and that Eas­ter Day had be­gun; then the old arch­bi­shop, ele­vat­ing the cross, ex­claimed in a loud, ex­ult­ing tone, “Christ­os anes­te!” “Christ is ris­en!” and in­stant­ly ev­ery sin­gle in­di­vid­u­al of all that host took up the cry…At that same mo­ment the op­press­ive dark­ness was suc­ceed­ed by a blaze of light from thou­sands of tap­ers which…seemed to send streams of fire in all di­rect­ions.


The day of resurrection! Earth, tell it out abroad;
The Passover of gladness, the Passover of God.
From death to life eternal, from earth unto the sky,
Our Christ hath brought us over, with hymns of victory.

Our hearts be pure from evil, that we may see aright
The Lord in rays eternal of resurrection light;
And listening to His accents, may hear, so calm and plain,
His own “All hail!” and, hearing, may raise the victor strain.

Now let the heavens be joyful! Let earth the song begin!
Let the round world keep triumph, and all that is therein!
Let all things seen and unseen their notes in gladness blend,
For Christ the Lord hath risen, our joy that hath no end.

Then praise we God the Father, And praise we Christ His Son,
With them the Holy Spirit, Eternal Three in One;
'Till all the ransomed number fall down before the throne,
And honor, pow'r and glory ascribe to God alone!


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  O Sons and Daughters of the King
Am Em G Am
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Am G Em D Am
O sons and daughters of the King,
B F D Em Am
Whom heavenly hosts in glory sing,
D Am Em
Today the grave has lost its sting!
B D A Am Em G A
Alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

That Easter morn, at break of day,
The faithful women went their way
To seek the tomb where Jesus lay.
Alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

An angel clad in white they see,
Who sit and speaks unto the three,
"Your Lord will go to Galilee."
Alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

That night the apostles met in fear;
Among them came their master dear
And said, "MY peace be with you here."
Alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

When Thomas first the tidings heard
That they had seen the risen Lord,
He doubted the disciples’ word.
Alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

"My pierced side, O Thomas, see,
And look upon my hands, my feet;
Not faithless but believing be."
Alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

No longer Thomas then denied;
He saw the feet, the hands, the side;
"You are my Lord and God!" he cried.
Alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

How blest are they who have not seen
And yet whose faith has constant been,
For they eternal life shall win.
Alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

On this most holy day of days
Be laud and jubilee and praise:
To God your hearts and voice raise.
Alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

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  Come Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain
“As Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Matthew 12:40

John of Damascus (675-749)

Words: John of Da­mas­cus (675-749) (Αισωμεν πάντες Λαοί); trans­lat­ed from Greek to Eng­lish by John M. Neale, 1859.

Music: St. Ke­vin, Ar­thur S. Sul­li­van, 1872 (MI­DI, score). Al­ter­nate tunes:

  • Ave Vir­go Vir­gin­um, Jo­hann Roh, 1544 (MI­DI, score)
  • Chestnut Hill, Will­iam P. Merr­ill, 1895 (MI­DI, score)
  • Spring of Souls, Lud­vig M. Lin­de­man (1812-1887) (MI­DI, score)
  • St. John Damascene, Ar­thur H. Brown, in Hymns An­cient and Mo­dern, 1861 (MI­DI, score)

Arthur S. Sullivan (1842-1900)

Come, ye faithful, raise the strain of triumphant gladness;
God hath brought forth Israel into joy from sadness;
Loosed from Pharaoh’s bitter yoke Jacob’s sons and daughters,
Led them with unmoistened foot through the Red Sea waters.

’Tis the spring of souls today; Christ has burst His prison,
And from three days’ sleep in death as a sun hath risen;
All the winter of our sins, long and dark, is flying
From His light, to Whom we give laud and praise undying.

Now the queen of seasons, bright with the day of splendor,
With the royal feast of feasts, comes its joy to render;
Comes to glad Jerusalem, who with true affection
Welcomes in unwearied strains Jesus’ resurrection.

Neither might the gates of death, nor the tomb’s dark portal,
Nor the watchers, nor the seal hold Thee as a mortal;
But today amidst the twelve Thou didst stand, bestowing
That Thy peace which evermore passeth human knowing.

“Alleluia!” now we cry to our King immortal,
Who, triumphant, burst the bars of the tomb’s dark portal;
“Alleluia!” with the Son, God the Father praising,
“Alleluia!” yet again to the Spirit raising.

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Tuesday, February 13, 2007
  Jesus, Name All Names Above
Words: Theoctistus, ca. 890; trans. John Mason Neale
Tune: Werde munter

Jesus, Name all names above,
Jesus, best and dearest;
Jesus, Fount of perfect love,
holiest, tenderest, nearest:
Jesus, Source of grace completest;
Jesus purest, Jesus sweetest;
Jesus, Well of power divine,
make me, keep me, seal me thine!

Woe that I have turned aside
after fleshly pleasure!
Woe that I have never tried
for the heavenly treasure!
Treasure, safe in homes supernal,
incorruptible, eternal;
treasure no less price hath won
than the passion of the Son!

Jesus, crowned with thorns for me,
scourged for my transgression!
Witnessing, through agony,
that thy good confession!
Jesus, clad in purple raiment,
for my evils making payment:
let not all thy woe and pain,
let not Calvary be in vain!

Jesus, open me the gate
that of old he entered
who, in that most low estate,
wholly on thee ventured;
thou, whose wounds are ever pleading
and thy passion interceding,
from my misery let me rise
to a home in paradise!

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Tuesday, January 23, 2007
  Gabriel's Message Does Away
Words: Piae cantiones, 1582; trans. John Mason Neale (1818-1866)
Tune: Angelus emittitur

Gabriel's message does away
Satan's curse and Satan's sway,
out of darkness brings our Day:
Refrain:
so, behold,
all the gates of heaven unfold.

He that comes despised shall reign;
he that cannot die, be slain;
death by death its death shall gain: Refrain

Weakness shall the strong confound;
by the hands, in grave clothes wound,
Adam's chains shall be unbound. Refrain

By the sword that was his own,
by that sword, and that alone,
shall Goliath be o'erthrown: Refrain

Art by art shall be assailed;
to the cross shall Life be nailed;
from the grave shall hope be hailed: Refrain

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  Saint of God, Elect and Precious (St. Stephen)
“He kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, ‘Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.’” Acts 7:60
John M. Neale (1818-1866)

Words: Un­known au­thor, 11th Cen­tu­ry (Sanc­te Dei pre­tio­se); trans­lat­ed from La­tin to Eng­lish by John M. Neale in the Hymn­al Not­ed, 1852, alt.

Music: St. Thom­as (Webbe), Sam­u­el Webbe, Mo­tetts or An­ti­phons, 1792 (MI­DI, score).

Samuel Webbe, Sr. (1740-1816)

Saint of God, elect and precious,
Protomartyr Stephen, bright
With thy love of amplest measure,
Shining round thee like a light;
Who to God commendest, dying,
Them that did thee all despite.

Glitters now the crown above thee,
Figured in thy honored name:
O that we, who truly love thee,
May have portion in the same;
In the dreadful day of judgment
Fearing neither sin nor shame.

Laud to God, and might, and honor,
Who with flowers of rosy dye
Crowned thy forehead, and hath placed thee
In the starry throne on high:
He direct us, He protect us,
From death’s sting eternally.

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Wednesday, January 17, 2007
  From God the Father, Virgin Born
“Unto you that fear My Name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings.” Malachi 4:2


John M. Neale (1818-1866)
Words: Un­known au­thor, writ­ten be­tween the 10th and 13th Cen­tu­ries (A Pa­tre Un­i­gen­i­tus); trans­lat­ed from La­tin to Eng­lish by John M. Neale, St. Mar­ga­ret’s Hymn­al, 1875, alt.
Music: De­us Tu­or­um Mil­i­tum, Gre­no­ble An­ti­phon­er, 1753 (MI­DI, score).

From God the Father, virgin-born
To us the only Son came down;
By death the font to consecrate,
The faithful to regenerate.

Beginning from His home on high
In human flesh He came to die;
Creation by His death restored,
And shed new joys of life abroad.

Glide on, O glorious Sun, and bring
The gift of healing on Your wing;
To every dull and clouded sense
The clearness of Your light dispense.

Abide with us, O Lord, we pray;
The gloom of darkness chase away;
Your work of healing, Lord, begin,
And take away the stain of sin.

Lord, once You came to earth’s domain
And, we believe, shall come again;
Be with us on the battlefield,
From every harm Your people shield.

To You, O Lord, all glory be
For this Your blest epiphany;
To God Whom all His hosts adore,
And Holy Spirit evermore.

THE FATHER’S SOLE BEGOTTEN SON



Thomas B. Pollock (1836-1896)
Words: Un­known au­thor, be­tween the 10th & 13th Cen­tu­ries (A Pat­re Un­i­gen­i­tus); trans­lat­ed from La­tin to Eng­lish by Thom­as B. Poll­ock in Hymns An­cient and Mo­dern (HAM), 1889, and re­cast by the com­pil­ers of HAM in 1904.
Music: Trin­i­ty Col­lege, John B. Dykes (1823-1876) (MI­DI, score).

John B. Dykes (1823-1876)

The Father’s sole begotten Son
Was born, the virgin’s Child, on earth;
His cross for us adoption won,
The life and grace of second birth.

Forth from the height of Heav’n He came,
In form of man with man abode;
Redeemed His world from death and shame,
The joys of endless life bestowed.

Redeemer, come with power benign,
Dwell in the souls that look for Thee;
O let Thy light within us shine
That we may Thy salvation see.

Abide with us, O Lord, we pray,
Dispel the gloom of doubt and woe;
Wash every stain of guilt away,
Thy tender healing grace bestow.

Lord, Thou hast come, and well we know
That Thou wilt likewise come again;
Thy kingdom shield from every foe,
Thy honor and Thy rule maintain.

Eternal glory, Lord, to Thee,
Whom, now revealed, our hearts adore;
To God the Father glory be,
And Holy Spirit evermore.

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  O Wondrous Type, O Vision Fair
O wondrous type! O vision fair
of glory that the Church may share,
which Christ upon the mountain shows,
where brighter than the sun he glows!

The law and prophets there have place,
the chosen witnesses of grace;
the Father's voice from our the cloud
proclaims his only Son aloud.

With shining face and bright array,
Christ deigns to manifest today
what glory shall be theirs above
who joy in God with perfect love.

And faithful hearts are raised on high
by this great vision's mystery;
for which in joyful strains we raise
the voice of prayer, the hymns of praise.

O Father, with the eternal Son,
and Holy Spirit, ever One,
vouchsafe to bring us by thy grace
to see thy glory face to face.


Words: Latin, fifteenth century;
trans. Hymns Ancient & Modern, 1861

Music: Wareham, Aeterne Rex altissime, O nata Lux de Lumine, Sandys Psalm 8
Meter: LM 

  1. Æterne Rex altissime,
    Redemptor et fidelium,
    Cui mors perempta detulti
    Summæ triumphum gloriæ.
  2. Ascendis orbes siderum,
    Quo te vocabat cœlitus
    Collata, non humantius,
    Rerum potestas omnium.
  3. Ut trina rerum machina,
    Cœlestium, terrestrium,
    Et inferorum condita,
    Flectat genu jam subdita.
  4. Tremunt videntes Angeli
    Versam vicem mortalium:
    Peccat caro, mundat caro,
    Regnat Deus Dei caro.
  5. Sis ipse nostrum gaudium,
    Manens olympo præmium,
    Mundi regis qui fabricam,
    Mundana vincens gaudia.
  6. Hinc te precantes quæsumus,
    Ignosce culpis omnibus,
    Et corda sursum subleva
    Ad te superna gratia.
  7. Ut cum repente cœperis
    Clarere nube judicis,
    Pœnas repellas debitas,
    Reddas coronas perditas.
  8. Jesu, tibi sit gloria,
    Qui victor in cœlum redis,
    Cum Patre, et almo Spiritu,
    In sempiterna sæcula.
  1. Eternal Monarch, King most High,
    Whose Blood hath brought redemption nigh,
    By whom the death of Death was wrought,
    And conquering grace’s battle fought:
  2. Ascending by the starry road,
    This day Thou wentest home to God,
    By Heaven to power unending called,
    And by no human hand installed.
  3. That so, in nature’s triple frame,
    Each heavenly and each earthly name,
    And things in hell’s abyss abhorred,
    May bend the knee and own Him Lord.
  4. Yes, Angels tremble when they see
    How changed is our humanity;
    That Flesh hath purged what flesh had stained,
    And God, the flesh of God, hath reigned.
  5. Be Thou our joy, O might Lord,
    As Thou wilt be our great reward;
    Earth’s joys to Thee are nothing worth,
    Thou joy and crown of heaven and earth.
  6. To Thee we therefore humbly pray
    That Thou wouldst purge our sins away,
    And draw our hearts by cords of grace
    To Thy celestial dwelling-place.
  7. So when the Judgment day shall come,
    And all must rise to meet their doom,
    Thou wilt remit the debts we owe,
    And our lost crowns again bestow.
  8. All glory, Lord, to Thee we pay,
    Ascending o’er the stars to-day;
    All glory, as is ever meet;
    To Father and to Paraclete.
Author: Ambrosian, 5th cent. Meter: Iambic dimeter. Translation by J. M. Neale and others. There are fifteen translations. Liturgical Use: Hymn for Matins from Ascension to Pentecost.
  1. “O eternal and sovereign King, and Redeemer of the faithful, to whom the annihilation of death brought a triumph of the greatest glory:”
  2. “Thou didst ascend above the orbits of the stars, whither the sovereignty over all things summoned Thee, which sovereignty was given Thee from heaven, not by men.” Cœlitus, adv. from above, by the Father. Data est mihi omnis potestas in cœlo et in terra (Matt. 28, 18).
  3. “So that the threefold fabric of the universe, creatures (condita) of heaven, of earth, and of hell, may now in submission bend the knee to Thee.” Condita = creata. Machina, order structure, fabric, kingdom. Ut in nomine Jesu omne genu flectatur cœlestium, terrestrium, et infernorum (Phil. 2, 10).
  4. “The Angels tremble, beholding the altered lot of mortals: flesh sinned, Flesh cleanses from sin, the God-Man reigns as God.” Dei caro: lit., “the flesh of God reigns as God.” Vicem, lot, estate, condition; versam, changed, reversed.
  5. “Be Thou Thyself our joy, our abiding reward in heaven, Thou who, surpassing all earthly joys, dost rule over the fabric of the universe.”
  6. “Therefore, praying we beseech Thee, pardon all our sins, and by Thy heavenly grace raise aloft our hearts to Thee.”
  7. “That when Thou dost unexpectedly begin to shine in splendor on a cloud as judge, Thou mayest remit the punishments due, and restore our lost crowns.” Et tunc videbunt Filium hominis venientem in nube cum potestate magna, et majestate (Luke 21, 27).

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  When Christ's Appearing Was Made Known
When Christ's appearing was made known
King Herod tembled for his throne;
but He who offers heavenly birth
sought not the kingdoms of this Earth

The Eastern sages saw from far
And followed on his guiding star;
by light their way to Light they trod
and by their gifts confessed their God

Within the Jordan's sacred flood
the heavenly Lamb in meekness stood,
that He, to whom no sin was known
Might cleanse His people from their own

Oh, what a miracle divine,
when water reddened into wine!
He spoke the word, and forth it flowed
in streams that nature ne'er bestowed.

All glory, Jesus, be to Thee
for this Thy glad epiphany:
whom with the Father we adore
and Holy Ghost forevermore.

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All my favorite hymns. Most of them are from before the Reformation.

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