Holy Spirit, Ever Living (Tune: ABBOT'S LEIGH)

Holy Spirit, ever living
As the Church’s very life;
Holy Spirit, ever striving
Through her in a ceaseless strife;
Holy Spirit, ever forming
In the Church the mind of Christ;
Thee we praise with endless worship
For thy fruits and gifts unpriced.

Holy Spirit, ever working
Through the Church’s ministry;
Quick’ning, strength’ning, and absolving,
Setting captive sinners free;
Holy Spirit, ever binding
Age to age, and soul to soul,
In a fellowship unending
Thee we worship and extol.

Text: Timothy Rees, 1942
Tune: ABBOT'S LEIGH 87.87D, by Cyril V. Taylor

That Eastertide with joy was bright (Tune: PUER NOBIS)

1. That Easter day with joy was bright,
The sun shone out with fairer light,
When, to their longing eyes restored,
Th'apostles saw their risen Lord.


2. His risen flesh with radiance glowed,
his wounded hands and feet he sowed;
those scars their solemn witness gave
that Christ was risen from the grave.


3. O Jesus, King of gentleness,
Do all our inmost hearts possess
That we may give thee all our days
The willing tribute of our praise.


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

Text: Au­ro­ra lu­cis ru­ti­lat (5th c); trans­. John Mason Neale (1851), alt.
Tune: PUER NOBIS,15th c., adapted by Michael Praetorius

O Beautiful for Spacious Skies (Tune: MATERNA)

O beautiful for spacious skies,
for amber waves of grain,
for purple mountain majesties
above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee,
and crown thy good with brotherhood
from sea to shining sea.

O beautiful for heroes proved
in liberating strife,
who more than self their country loved,
and mercy more than life!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
confirm thy soul in self-control,
thy liberty in law.

O beautiful for patriot dream
that sees beyond the years
thine alabaster cities gleam,
undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee,
and crown thy good with brotherhood
from sea to shining sea.


Text: Katherine Lee Bates (1859-1929)
Tune: MATERNA, CMD, by Samuel Augustus Ward (1848-1903)

Before the Lord's Eternal Throne (Tune: WINCHESTER NEW)

Before the Lord's eternal throne,
all nations, bow with holy joy;
know that the Lord is God alone,
he can create and can destroy.

His sovereign power, without our aid,
formed us and fashioned us of old;
and when like wandering sheep we strayed,
he brought us back into his fold.

We'll crowd your gates with thankful songs,
high as the heavens our voices raise;
and earth, with her ten thousand tongues,
shall fill your courts with joyful praise.

Wide as the world is your command,
vast as eternity your love;
firm as a rock your truth shall stand
when rolling years have ceased to move.

Text: Isaac Watts (1674-1748)
Tune: WINCHESTER NEW LM (Musikalisches Hand-Buch, Hamburg, 1690)

The King of Love My Shepherd Is (Tune: ST. COLUMBA)

See also: The King of Love My Shepherd Is (Tune: DOMINUS REGIT ME)

The King of love my shepherd is,
whose goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack if I am his,
and he is mine for ever.

Where streams of living water flow,
my ransomed soul he leadeth,
and where the verdant pastures grow,
with food celestial feedeth.

Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
but yet in love He sought me,
and on his shoulder gently laid,
and home, rejoicing, brought me.

In death's dark vale I fear no ill
with thee, dear Lord, beside me;
thy rod and staff my comfort still,
thy cross before to guide me.

Thou spread'st a table in my sight;
thy unction grace bestoweth;
and O what transport of delight
from thy pure chalice floweth!

And so through all the length of days
thy goodness faileth never:
Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise
within thy house for ever.

Paraphrase of Psalm 23

See also: The King of Love My Shepherd Is (Tune: DOMINUS REGIT ME)

Text: Henry Williams Baker, 1868
Tune: ST. COLUMBA 87.87

Prepare the Way, O Zion (Tune: BEREDEN VÄG FÖR HERRAN)

Prepare the way, O Zion;
Your Christ is drawing near!
Let ev’ry hill and valley a level way appear.
Greet One who comes in glory, fore told in sacred story.
Oh, blest is Christ that came in God’s most holy name.

He brings God’s rule, O Zion; he comes from heav’n above.
His rule is peace and freedom, and justice, peace, and love.
Lift high your praise resounding,
for grace and joy abounding.
Oh, blest is Christ that came in God’s most holy name.

Fling wide your gates, O Zion;
your Saviour’s rule embrace.
His tidings of salvation proclaim in ev’ry place.
All lands will bow before him, their voices will adore him.
Oh, blest is Christ that came in God’s most holy name.

Text: Frans Mikael Franzen (1772-1847)
Tune: BEREDEN VÄG FÖR HERRAN 76 76 77 + Refrain

O Wondrous Type! O Vision Fair (Tune: WAREHAM)

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.

Text: "Caelestis formam gloriae," from the Sarum Breviary, 1495; trans. John M. Neale, 1851; alt. in Hymns Ancient and Modern, 1861
Tune: WAREHAM LM

He is Risen, He is Risen! (Tune: UNSER HERRSCHER)

He is risen, he is risen!
Tell it out with joyful voice:
he has burst his three days' prison;
let the whole wide earth rejoice:
death is conquered, man is free,
Christ has won the victory.

Come, ye sad and fearful-hearted,
with glad smile and radiant brow!
Lent's long shadows have departed;
Jesus' woes are over now,
and the passion that he bore--
sin and pain can vex no more.

Come, with high and holy hymning,
hail our Lord's triumphant day;
not one darksome cloud is dimming
yonder glorious morning ray,
breaking o'er the purple east,
symbol of our Easter feast.

He is risen, he is risen!
He hath opened heaven's gate:
we are free from sin's dark prison,
risen to a holier state;
and a brighter Easter beam
on our longing eyes shall stream.

Text: Cecil Frances Alexander (1846)
Tune: UNSER HERRSCHER 87.87.77

Hail to the Lord's Anointed (Tune: ES FLOG EIN KLEINS WALDVÖGLEIN)

Hail to the Lord's Anointed,
great David's greater Son!
Hail, in the time appointed,
his reign on earth begun!
He comes to break oppression,
to set the captive free,
to take away transgression,
and rule in equity.

He comes, with succour speedy,
to those who suffer wrong;
to help the poor and needy,
and bid the weak be strong;
to give them songs for sighing,
their darkness turn to light,
whose souls, condemned and dying,
were precious in his sight.

He shall come down like showers
upon the fruitful earth;
love, joy, and hope, like flowers,
spring in his path to birth;
before him, on the mountains,
shall peace the herald go;
and righteousness, in fountains,
from hill to valley flow.

Kings shall fall down before him,
and gold and incense bring;
all nations shall adore him,
his praise all people sing;
to him shall prayer unceasing
and daily vows ascend,
his kingdom still increasing,
a kingdom without end.

O'er every foe victorious,
he on his throne shall rest;
from age to age more glorious,
all-blessing and all-blest.
the tide of time shall never
his covenant remove;
his name shall stand for ever,
his changeless Name of love.

Paraphrase of Psalm 72

Text: James Montgomery (1821)
Tune: ES FLOG EIN KLEINS WALDVÖGLEIN 76 76 D

This is my song, O God of all the nations (Tune: FINLANDIA)

In celebration of Independence Day, 4th July 2013

1. This is my song, O God of all the nations,
A song of peace for lands afar and mine.
This is my home, the country where my heart is;
Here are my hopes, my dreams, my sacred shrine.
But other hearts in other lands are beating,
With hopes and dreams as true and high as mine.

2. My country’s skies are bluer than the ocean,
And sunlight beams on cloverleaf and pine.
But other lands have sunlight too and clover,
And skies are everywhere as blue as mine.
O hear my song, O God of all the nations,
A song of peace for their land and for mine.

3. This is my prayer, O Lord of all earth's kingdoms:
Thy kingdom come; on earth thy will be done.
Let Christ be lifted up till all shall serve him,
And hearts united learn to live as one.
O hear my prayer, thou God of all the nations;
Myself I give thee, let thy will be done.

Text: vv. 1-2 Lloyd Stone (1912-1993), v.3 Georgia Harkness (1939)
Tune: FINLANDIA 11 10. 11 10. 11 10, by Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)

God of Our Fathers

In celebration of Independence Day, 4th July 2013

God of our fathers, whose almighty hand
leads forth in beauty all the starry band
of shining worlds in splendor through the skies,
our grateful songs before thy throne arise.

Thy love divine hath led us in the past,
in this free land by thee our lot is cast;
be thou our ruler, guardian, guide, and stay,
thy word our law, thy paths our chosen way.

From war's alarms, from deadly pestilence,
be thy strong arm our ever sure defense;
thy true religion in our hearts increase,
thy bounteous goodness nourish us in peace.

Refresh thy people on their toilsome way,
lead us from night to never-ending day;
fill all our lives with love and grace divine,
and glory, laud, and praise be ever thine.

Words: Daniel Crane Roberts (1876)
Tune: NATIONAL HYMN 10.10.10.10

Come to me (Gregory Norbet)

Refrain

Come to me all who labour and are heavy burdened,
And I shall give you rest.
Take up my yoke and learn from me,
For I am meek and humble of heart.
And you’ll find rest for your souls,
Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

1. The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall never be in need,
Fresh and green are the meadows where he gives me rest.

2. Beside peaceful waters you restore my true self;
There you lead me to walk in the path of new life.

3. Should I be surrounded by the shadows of death,
I will not fear, for you are steadfast in your love.

4. Before my deep hunger you spread out your feast.
My skin you anoint with the richest oil.

5. Pursue me, O God, with your fathomless love,
In your tent let me dwell all the days of my life.

Text: Paraphrase of Psalm 23
Composer: Gregory Norbet (1971, revised text 1994)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.