O Lux Beata Trinitas (Mozarabic Chant)

O lux beata trinitas
et principalis unitas
iam sol recedit igneus,
infunde lumen cordibus.

Te mane laudum carmine
te deprecemur vespere
te nostra suplex gloria
per cuncta laudet secula.

Deo Patri sit gloria
eiusque soli Filio
cum Spiritu Paraclito
et nunc et in perpetuum.

Mozarabic Chant, Francisco Ximénes de Cisneros

Who Are These Like Stars Appearing

Who are these like stars appearing,
these, before God's throne who stand?
Each a golden crown is wearing;
who are all this glorious band?
Alleluia! Hark, they sing,
praising loud their heavenly King.

Who are these of dazzling brightness,
clothed in God's own righteousness?
These, whose robes of purest whiteness,
shall their luster still possess,
still untouched by time's rude hand?
Whence came all this glorious band?

These are they who have contended
for their Savior's honor long,
wrestling on till life was ended,
following not the sinful throng;
these who well the fight sustained,
triumph through the Lamb have gained.

These are they whose hearts were riven,
sore with woe and anguish tried,
who in prayer full oft have striven
with the God they glorified;
now, their painful conflict o'er,
God has bid them weep no more.

These, the Almighty contemplating,
did as priests before him stand,
soul and body always waiting
day and night at his command:
now in God's most holy place
blest they stand before his face.

Words: Heinrich Theobald Schenk, 1719; trans. Frences Elizabeth Cox, 1841, rev. 1864
Tune: ZEUCH MICH 87.87.77

O quanta, qualia sunt illa sabbata

O quanta, qualia sunt illa sabbata
Quae semper celebrat superna curia.
Quae fessis requies, quae merces fortibus,
Cum erit omnia Deus in omnibus.

Vere Ierusalem est illa civitas,
Cuius pax iugis est, summa iucunditas,
Ubi non praevenit rem desiderium,
Nec desiderio minus est praemium.

Quis rex, quae curia, quale palatium,
Quae pax, quae requies, quod illud gaudium,
Huius participes exponant gloriam,
Si quantum sentiunt, possint exprimere.

Nostrum est interim mentem erigere
Et totis patriam votis appetere,
Et ad Ierusalem a Babylonia
Post longa regredi tandem exilia.

Illic molestiis finitis omnibus
Securi cantica Sion cantibimus,
Et iuges gratias de donis gratiae
Beata referet plebs tibi, Domine.

Illic ex sabbato succedet sabbatum,
Perpes laetitia sabbatizantium,
Nec ineffabiles cessabunt iubili,
Quos decantabimus et nos et angeli.

Perenni Domino perpes sit gloria,
Ex quo sunt, per quem sunt, in quo sunt omnia;
Ex quo sunt, Pater est; per quem sunt, Filius;
In quo sunt, Patris et Filii Spiritus.

Text: Peter Abelard (1079-1142)

Saviour, Again To Thy Dear Name We Raise

Saviour, again to thy dear name we raise
with one accord our parting hymn of praise;
we stand to bless thee ere our worship cease;
then, lowly kneeling, wait thy word of peace.

Grant us thy peace upon our homeward way;
with thee began, with thee shall end the day.
guard thou the lips from sin, the hearts from shame,
that in this house have called upon thy Name.

Grant us thy peace, Lord, through the coming night;
turn thou for us its darkness into light;
from harm and danger keep thy children free,
for dark and light are both alike to thee.

Grant us thy peace throughout our earthly life;
peace to thy church from error and from strife;
peace to our land, the fruit of truth and love;
peace in each heart, thy Spirit from above.

Thy peace in life, the balm of every pain;
thy peace in death, the hope to rise again;
then, when thy voice shall bid our conflict cease,
call us, O Lord, to thine eternal peace.

Text: John Ellerton (1866)
Tune: ELLERS 10.10.10.10

Tui amoris ignem (Taizé)

See also: Chinese version

Music: Jacques Berthier (English bio) (French bio)

See my other blog postings in the "Taizé" series of chants.

Official Taizé Community Website

Wikipedia information on the Taizé Community
- in French
- in English

Lord of Beauty, Thine the Splendour

Lord of beauty, thine the splendour
shown in earth and sky and sea,
burning sun and moonlight tender,
hill and river, flower and tree:
lest we fail our praise to render
touch our eyes that they may see.

Lord of wisdom, whom obeying
mighty waters ebb and flow,
while unhasting, undelaying,
planets on their courses go:
in thy laws thyself displaying,
teach our minds thyself to know.

Lord of life, alone sustaining
all below and all above,
Lord of love, by whose ordaining
sun and stars sublimely move:
in our earthly spirits reigning,
lift our hearts that we may love.

Lord of beauty, bid us own thee,
Lord of truth, our footsteps guide,
till as Love our hearts enthrone thee,
and, with vision purified,
Lord of all, when all have known thee,
thou in all art glorified.

Text: Cyril A. Alington (1983)
Tune: REGENT SQUARE 87.87.87

Sweet Little Jesus Boy

Sweet little Jesus Boy —
They made you be born in a manger.
Sweet little Holy Child —
Didn't know who you was.
Didn't know you'd come to save us, Lord;
To take our sins away.
Our eyes was blind, we couldn't see,
We didn't know who you was.

Long time ago, you was born,
Born in a manger low,
Sweet little Jesus Boy.
The world treat you mean, Lord,
Treat me mean too,
But that's how things is down here —
We don't know who you is.

You done told us how, we is a tryin'!
Master, you done show'd us how,
even when you was dyin'.
Just seem like we can't do right,
Look how we treated you.
But please, sir, forgive us, Lord —
We didn't know 'twas you.

Sweet little Jesus Boy, born long time ago.
Sweet little Holy Child,
And we didn't know who you was.

Composer: Robert MacGimsey (1934)

Father of heaven, whose love profound

Father of heaven, whose love profound
a ransom for our souls hath found,
before thy throne we sinners bend;
to us thy pardoning love extend.

Almighty Son, Incarnate Word,
our Prophet, Priest, Redeemer, Lord,
before thy throne we sinners bend;
to us thy saving grace extend.

Eternal Spirit, by whose breath
the soul is raised from sin and death,
Before thy throne we sinners bend;
to us thy quickening power extend.

Jehovah - Father, Spirit, Son -
mysterious Godhead, Three in One,
before thy throne we sinners bend;
grace, pardon, life to us extend.

Text: Edward Cooper, 1805
Tune: RIVAULX LM

As pants the hart for cooling streams

As pants the hart for cooling streams
when heated in the chase,
so longs my soul, O God, for thee
and thy refreshing grace.

For thee, my God, the living God,
my thirsty soul doth pine:
O when shall I behold thy face,
thou Majesty divine?

Why restless, why cast down, my soul?
Hope still, and thou shalt sing
the praise of him who is thy God,
thy health's eternal spring.

To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
the God whom we adore,
be glory, as it was, is now,
and shall be evermore.

Paraphrase of Psalm 42

Text: New Version of the Psalms of David, 1696
Tune: MARTYRDOM CM

Rejoice in the Lord Alway

Rejoice in the Lord alway,
and again I say, rejoice.
Let your softness be known unto all men,
the Lord is e'en at hand.
Be careful for nothing:
but in all prayer and supplication,
let you petitions be manifest unto God
with giving of thanks.
And the peace of God,
which passeth all understanding,
keep your hearts and minds
through Christ Jesu. Amen.

Paraphrase of Philippians 4:4-7
Music: Anon.

Jerusalem The Golden (EWING / THAXTED)

TUNE I: EWING






TUNE II: THAXTED










Jerusalem the golden,
with milk and honey blest,
beneath thy contemplation
sink heart and voice oppressed:
I know not, oh, I know not,
what joys await us there;
what radiancy of glory,
what bliss beyond compare!

They stand, those halls of Zion,
all jubilant with song,
and bright with many an angel,
and all the martyr throng:
the Prince is ever in them,
the daylight is serene;
the pastures of the blessèd
are decked in glorious sheen.

There is the throne of David;
and there, from care released,
the shout of them that triumph,
the song of them that feast;
and they who with their Leader
have conquered in the fight,
for ever and for ever
are clad in robes of white.

Oh, sweet and blessèd country,
the home of God's elect!
Oh, sweet and blessèd country,
that eager hearts expect!
Jesus, in mercy bring us
to that dear land of rest,
who art, with God the Father,
and the Spirit, ever blest.

Text: Bernard of Cluny (1145), trans. John Mason Neale (1851, 1859)
Tune: (i) EWING 76.76D, (ii) THAXTED 76.76D

There Is Nothing Told (Christopher Willcock)

1. There is nothing told about this woman,
but that she had once become engaged,
and an angel addressed her and said:
"You are blessed among all your kind."

Refrain:

On this day all earth and all paradise
join in naming you happy and blessed;
Virgin Mary, blessed are you.

2. There is nothing told about this woman,
but that she had brought into the world,
in the land of Judea, her;
for some shepherds have passed on this tale. (Refrain)

3. There is nothing told about this woman,
but that she had searched for three long days
for her child who was busy elsewhere,
and her heart then did not understand. (Refrain)

4. There is nothing told about this woman,
but that she at Cana was a guest,
and that Jesus changed water to wine,
so that all might believe who he was. (Refrain)

5. There is nothing told about this woman,
but that she was standing by the cross
when her son stretched his arms out on high,
and met death with a thief on each side. (Refrain)

6. There is nothing told about this woman,
but that she was one in prayer with those
upon whom tongues of fire did descend,
and Spirit baptized them with flame. (Refrain)

Composer: Christopher Willcock (b. 1947)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

Father Welcomes All His Children

Refrain:

Father welcomes all his children
to his family through his Son.
Father giving his salvation,
life forever has been won.

1. Little children, come to me,
for my kingdom is of these;
life and love I have to give,
mercy for your sin. (Refrain)

2. In the water, in the word,
in his promise be assured:
those who are baptised and believe
shall be born again. (Refrain)

3. Let us daily die to sin,
let us daily rise with him —
walk in the love of Christ our Lord,
live in the peace of God. (Refrain)

Composer: Robin Mann (b. 1949)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) series.

Angel Voices, Ever Singing

Angel voices, ever singing,
round thy throne of light,
angel harps, for ever ringing,
rest not day or night;
Thousands only live to bless Thee,
and confess Thee
Lord of might.

Thou who art beyond the farthest
mortal eye can scan,
can it be that thou regardest
songs of sinful man?
Can we know that thou art near us
and wilt hear us?
Yea, we can.

Yea, we know that thou rejoicest
o'er each work of thine;
thou didst ears and hands and voices
for thy praise design;
craftsman's art and music's measure
for thy pleasure
all combine.

In thy house, great God, we offer
of thine own to thee;
and for thine acceptance proffer,
all unworthily,
hearts and minds and hands and voices,
in our choicest
psalmody.

Honor, glory, might and merit,
thine shall ever be,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
blessed Trinity!
Of the best that thou hast given
earth and heaven
render thee.

Text: Francis Pott (1866)
Tune: ANGEL VOICES (Monk) 85.85.843

Lord Let Me Know Mine End

Lord, let me know mine end and the number of my days,
That I may be certified how long I have to live.
Thou hast made my days as it were a span long;
And mine age is as nothing in respect of Thee,
And verily, ev'ry man living is altogether vanity,
For man walketh in a vain shadow
And disquieteth himself in vain,
He heapeth up riches and cannot tell who shall gather them.
And now, Lord, what is my hope?
Truly my hope is even in Thee.
Deliver me from all mine offences
And make me not a rebuke to the foolish.
I became dumb and opened not my mouth
For it was Thy doing.
Take Thy plague away from me,
I am even consumed by means of Thy heavy hand.
When Thou with rebukes does chasten man for sin
Thou makest his beauty to consume away
Like as it were a moth fretting a garment;
Ev'ry man therefore is but vanity.
Hear my pray'r, O Lord
And with Thy ears consider my calling,
Hold not Thy peace at my tears!
For I am a stranger with Thee and a sojourner
As all my fathers were.
O spare me a little, that I may recover my strength before I go hence
And be no more seen.

Paraphrase of Psalm 39

No. 6 from Songs of Farewell

Composer: Charles Hubert Hastings Parry (1848-1918)

O Praise Ye The Lord

O praise ye the Lord!
Praise him in the height;
rejoice in his word,
ye angels of light;
ye heavens, adore him
by whom ye were made,
and worship before him,
in brightness arrayed.

O praise ye the Lord!
Praise him upon earth,
in tuneful accord,
ye sons of new birth;
praise him who hath brought you
his grace from above,
praise him who hath taught you
to sing of his love.

O praise ye the Lord!
All things that give sound;
each jubilant chord
reecho around;
loud organs, his glory
forth tell in deep tone,
and sweet harp, the story
of what he hath done.
O praise ye the Lord!
Thanksgiving and song
to him be outpoured
all ages along!
For love in creation,
for heaven restored,
for grace of salvation,
O praise ye the Lord!

Text: Henry Williams Baker (1875)
Tune: LAUDATE DOMINUM 55.55.65.65 (Hubert Parry)

Take Him, Earth, For Cherishing

Take him, earth, for cherishing
To thy tender breast receive him.
Body of a man I bring thee,
Noble even in its ruin.

Once was this a spirit's dwelling,
By the breath of God created.
High the heart that here was beating,
Christ the prince of all its living.

Guard him well, the dead I give thee,
Not unmindful of his creature
Shall He ask it: He who made it
Symbol of His mystery.

Comes the hour God hath appointed
To fulfill the hope of men,
Then must thou, in very fashion,
What I give, return again.

Body of a man I bring thee.
Not though ancient time decaying
Wear away these bones to sand,
Ashes that a man might treasure
In the hollow of his hand:

Not though wandering winds and idle winds,
Drifting through the empty sky,
Scatter dust was nerve and sinew,
Is it given to man to die.

Once again the shining road
Leads to ample Paradise;
Open are the woods again,
That the Serpent lost for men.

Take, O take him, mighty Leader,
Take again thy servant's soul.
Grave his name, and pour the fragrant
Balm upon the icy stone.
Take him, Earth, for cherishing,
To they tender breast receive him.
Body of a man I bring thee,
Noble in its ruin.

By the breath of God created.
Christ the prince of all its living.

Take him earth, for cherishing.

Composer: Herbert Howells (1892-1983)