And I saw a new heaven (Edgar Bainton)

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth:
for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away;
and there was no more sea.

And I John saw the holy city,
new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven,
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying,
Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men,
and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people,
and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes;
and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying,
neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Text: Revelation 21:1-4
Music: Edgar Bainton (1880-1956)

I am risen and behold (Michael Barger)

Antiphon:

I am risen and behold and am with you, Alleluia!
You have placed you hand on me, Alleluia!
O God, how wonderf'lly you know me, Alleluia!

1. O Lord, you search me and you know me.
You know when I sit down and rise up again, Alleluia! (Antiphon)

2. Behold, Lord, you know all things both ancient and new.
You have conceived me, and laid your hand upon me, Alleluia! (Antiphon)

3. Glory be to the Father of Love,
And to the Son, who is risen from the dead,
And to the Spirit giving us new life,
As it was in the beginning, is now, and every shall be, Alleluia! (Antiphon)

Composer: Michael Barger 

Michael Barger grew up in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. His work is highly influenced by Islamic and Byzantine Arabic chant and especially by the Lebanese Byzantine chanter, Sister Marie Keyrouz

Composer's Notes:

The text of I Am Risen is that of the Introit (Entrance chant) of the Roman rite celebration of the Eucharist on Easter day, Resurrexi et adhuc tecum sum, which serves as the antiphon for the chanting of Psalm 139. The composition was inspired by the recording of Resurrexi et adhuc tecum sum on Ensemble Organum's recording,  Chants of the Church of Roman - Byzantine Period. It is devoted to chants of the Church of Rome when most of the popes came from the churches of the Byzantine Empire ( 590-752), coinciding with the rise of the Prophet Muhammad (550-632) and the Umayyad Caliphate (660-750). Liturgies were celebrated with chants in both Greek and Latin. Musically the hymn is in the Mixolydian mode and marked by chords of the ninth.

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

Exsultet (Liam Lawton)

1. Now to the throne of God in exultation,
High heaven’s hosts, your proud hosannas sing!
Sound in the height the trumpet of salvation,
Waking the day to greet its Lord and King!

Refrain:

Rejoice, rejoice,
Gone forever is the night!
Rejoice, rejoice,
Risen is the Lord of light!

2. Now let the earth be filled with songs of gladness!
Christ is our Dawn, and banished is our night!
Now let all tongues acclaim the King of ages,
Rising as Lord of everlasting life!

3.Sing in your joy, O holy Church, our Mother:
Darkest of nights becomes your day of days!
Now, in the dawn of never ending glory,
Bring to your Lord the homage of your praise!

4. Bless with your love this feast of light, O Father!
Shine on the world, O world’s true Light, God’s Son!
Touch with your fire, O God the Holy Spirit,
Tongues to proclaim the triumph Christ has won!

Composer: Liam Lawton (2001)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

Pourquoi chercher parmi les morts (Taizé)

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

By Your Kingly Power

Refrain:

By your kingly power O risen Lord.
All that Adam lost is now restored:
In your resurrection be adored.

1. Sing the joyful Easter cry,
Sound it to the souls in prison,
Shout our triumph to the sky:
Sing Christ risen, sing Christ risen. 

2. Sing the joyful Easter cry,
Let all times and peoples listen:
Death has no more victory,
Sing Christ risen, sing Christ risen. 

3. Death has lost and life has won;
Ev’ry newborn soul we christen
Now becomes the Father’s son:
Sing Christ risen, sing Christ risen

Words: James McAuley (1917-1976)
Tune: RUGGIERO, by Richard Connolly (b. 1927) 

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series. 

Behold the Glory of God (Roc O'Connor)

Refrain

Behold the glory of God,
the Day-Star arising!
Christ Jesus shines on the earth
with mercy enduring!

1. Night of hope, night of glory divine–
Darkness conquered evermore.
Christ triumphant shines on the earth
With joy that endures.

2. Dance for joy all you angels of God,
Let the pow'rs of heav'n exult.
All creation, join now in song:
"Salvation is won!"

3. Let the earth in its beauty rejoice,
Radiant as the morning sky.
Chains of death lie shattered this night–
Christ's vict'ry complete!

4. Robed about in the light of the day,
Let the Church take up its praise.
Sacred walls resound with the voice
Of God's holy ones.

5. Blessed was the first fall from your grace,
Blessed was the fateful sin.
Blessed more the *blood of the Cross:
Our God set us free.

6. O how wondrous the gift of your love,
Tender gift on our behalf:
To redeem a slave lowly born
You gave us the Christ.

7. O my God, you are worthy indeed
To receive our grateful song.
We acclaim the deeds of your hand:
"Praise God evermore!"

8. God delivered our life from the snare
With a strong and mighty hand;
Set us free from all of our foes
To worship The Name.

9. Through the fire and the water you led
With the darkness round about.
Death was near; the snare was released;
Our God set us free!

10. Lift your hands, off'ring thanks unto God,
Raise a hymn of endless praise:
Blessed be the Lord of our lives,
Whose mercy endures.

11. With a shout, water fled from the sea,
Paths were opened by your Word.
Far beyond our thoughts or desires,
Your mercy is sure!

12. O remember your promise, O God;
Let your mercy still remain:
Save your people who cry out to you,
"O God, set us free!"

Composer: Roc O'Connor (1990)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series. 

Lumen Christi - Easter Vigil (Taizé)

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

In resurrectione tua (Taizé)

 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

Surrexit Dominus vere (Taizé)

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

This is a Day of New Beginnings

1) This is a day of new beginnings,
time to remember and move on,
Time to believe what love is bringing,
laying to rest the pain that's gone.

2) For by the life and death of Jesus,
God's mighty spirit, now as then,
Can make for us a world of difference,
as faith and hope are born again.

3) Then let us, with the spirit's daring,
step from the past and leave behind
Our disappointment, guilt, and grieving,
seeking new paths, and sure to find.

4) Christ is alive, and goes before us
to show and share what love can do.
This is a day of new beginnings,
our God is making all things new.

5) In faith we'll gather 'round the table
to taste and share what love can do.
This is a day of new beginnings,
our God is making all things new.


Text: Brian Wren, 1978, 1983 
Tune: BEGINNINGS, by Carlton R. Young, 1987

Thine Be The Glory

Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son;
endless is the victory, thou o'er death hast won;
angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,
kept the folded grave clothes where thy body lay.

Refrain:

Thine be the glory, risen conquering Son,
Endless is the vict'ry, thou o'er death hast won.

Lo! Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb;
Lovingly he greets us, scatters fear and gloom;
let the Church with gladness, hymns of triumph sing;
for her Lord now liveth, death hath lost its sting. (Refrain)

No more we doubt thee, glorious Prince of life;
life is naught without thee; aid us in our strife;
make us more than conquerors, through thy deathless love:
bring us safe through Jordan to thy home above. (Refrain)

Text: Edmond Budry (1884), trans. Richard Hoyle (1923)
Tune: MACCABEUS 10.11.11.11 + Refrain

Psalm 118: This is the Day (Marty Haugen)

Refrain:

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

OR

This is the day the Lord has made,
let us rejoice and be glad!
This is the day the Lord has made,
let us rejoice and be glad!

1. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his mercy endures for ever;
Let the house of Israel say: “His mercy endures for ever.” (Refrain)

2. The hand of the LORD has struck with power, his right hand is exalted,
I shall not die, but live anew, declaring the works of the LORD. (Refrain)

3. The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,
the LORD of love and mercy has brought wonder to our eyes. (Refrain)

Composer: Marty Haugen

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

Christians Praise the Paschal Victim (Victimae Paschali Laudes)

See also the original Latin plainchant: Victimae Paschali Laudes

Christians praise the Paschal Victim
Offer thankful sacrifice.
Christ the Lamb has saved the sheep;
Christ the Just One paid the price,
Reconciling sinners to the Father.

Death and Life fought bitterly
For this wondrous victory;
The Lord of life who died
Reigns glorified!

O Mary, come and say
What you saw at break of day.
"The empty tomb of my living Lord!
I saw Christ Jesus risen, and adored!"

Bright angels testified,
Shroud and grave-cloths side by side!
"Yes, Christ my hope rose gloriously.
He goes before you into Galilee."

Share the good news, sing joyfully:
His death is victory!
Lord Jesus, victor King, show us mercy.
Amen. Alleluia!

See also the original Latin plainchant: Victimae Paschali Laudes

Background Information (Wikipedia)

Words: Ascribed to Wipo of Burgundy (c. 995 - c. 1048)
Music: Plainchant, Mode I

See my other blog postings in the plainchant series.

Jerusalem, My Destiny

Refrain:

I have fixed my eyes on your hills,
Jerusalem, my Destiny!
Though I cannot see the end for me,
I cannot turn away.
We have set our hearts for the way;
this journey is our destiny.
Let no one walk alone.
The journey makes us one.

Other spirits, lesser gods,
have courted me with lies.
Here among you I have found
a truth that bids me rise. (Refrain)

See, I leave the past behind;
a new land calls to me.
Here among you now I find
a glimpse of what might be. (Refrain)

In my thirst, you let me drink
the waters of your life,
Here among you I have met,
the Savior, Jesus Christ. (Refrain)

All the worlds I have not seen
you open to my view.
Here among you I have found
a vision bright and new. (Refrain)

To the tombs I went to mourn
the hope I thought was gone,
Here among you I awoke
to unexpected dawn. (Refrain)

Composer: Rory Cooney (1990)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

Christ lag in Todesbanden (Germany)

Christ lag in Todesbanden,
Für unsre Sünd' gegeben,
Der ist wieder erstanden
Und hat uns bracht das Leben.
Des wir sollen fröhlich sein,
Gott loben und dankbar sein
Und singen: Halleluja!
Halleluja!

Den Tod Niemand zwingen konnt'
Bei allen Menschenkindern;
Das macht alles unser' Sünd',
Kein' Unschuld war zu sinden.
Davon kam der Tod so bald
Und nahm ueber uns Gewalt,
Hielt uns in sei'm Reich gefangen.
Halleluja!

Jesus Christus, Gottes Sohn,
An unser Statt ist kommen,
Und hat die Sünde abgethan,
Damit dem Tod genommen
All sein Recht und sein' Gewalt,
Da bleibt nichts denn Tod's Gestalt,
Den Stachel hat er verloren.
Halleluja!

Es war ein wunderlicher Krieg,
Da Tod und Leben rungen;
Das Leben, das behielt den Sieg,
Es hat den Tod verschlungen.
Die Schrift hat verkündet das,
Wie ein Tod den andern fraß,
Ein Spott der Tod ist worden.
Halleluja!

Hier ist das rechte Osterlamm,
Davon Gott hat geboten,
Das ist dort an des Kreuzes Stamm
In heißer Lieb' gebraten;
Des Blut zeichnet unsre Tür,
Das hält der Glaub' dem Tod für,
Der Würger kann nicht würgen.
Halleluja!

So feiern wir dies hohe Fest
Mit Herzens Freud' und Wonne,
Das uns der Herre scheinen läßt;
Er ist selber die Sonne,
Der durch seiner Gnaden Glanz
Erleucht't unsre Herzen ganz,
Der Sünd' Nacht ist vergangen.
Halleluja!

Wir essen nun und leben wohl
In rechten Osterfladen;
Der alte Sauerteig nicht soll
Sein bei dem Wort der Gnaden.
Christus will die Koste sein
Und speisen die Seel' allein;
Der Glaub' kein's andern lebet.
Halleluja!

Background Information (Wikipedia)

Paraphrase of Victimae Paschali Laudes (ascribed to Wipo of Burgundy) by Martin Luther (1524) English Bio / German Bio

Victimae Paschali Laudes

See also the English translation: Christians Praise the Paschal Victim

Victimae paschali laudes
immolent Christiani.

Agnus redemit oves:
Christus innocens Patri
reconciliavit peccatores.

Mors et vita duello
conflixere mirando:
dux vitae mortuus,
regnat vivus.

Dic nobis Maria,
quid vidisti in via?

Sepulcrum Christi viventis,
et gloriam vidi resurgentis:

Angelicos testes,
sudarium, et vestes.

Surrexit Christus spes mea:
praecedet suos in Galilaeam.

Scimus Christum surrexisse
a mortuis vere:
tu nobis, victor Rex, miserere.
Amen.

See also the English translation: Christians Praise the Paschal Victim

Background Information (Wikipedia)

Words: Ascribed to Wipo of Burgundy (c. 995 - c. 1048)
Music: Plainchant, Mode I

See my other blog postings in the plainchant series.

Exsultet / Easter Proclamation (English)

See also: Latin version

Rejoice, heavenly powers! Sing, choirs of angels!
Exult, all creation around God's throne!
Jesus Christ, our King, is risen!
Sound the trumpet of salvation!

Rejoice, O earth, in shining splendor,
radiant in the brightness of your King!
Christ has conquered! Glory fills you!
Darkness vanishes for ever!

Rejoice, O Mother Church! Exult in glory!
The risen Savior shines upon you!
Let this place resound with joy,
echoing the mighty song of all God's people!

My dearest friends,
standing with me in this holy light,
join me in asking God for mercy,

that he may give his unworthy minister
grace to sing his Easter praises.

V: The Lord be with you.
R: And also with you.

V: Lift up your hearts.
R: We lift them up to the Lord.

V: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
R: It is right to give him thanks and praise.

It is truly right
that with full hearts and minds and voices
we should praise the unseen God, the all-powerful Father,
and his only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

For Christ has ransomed us with his blood,
and paid for us the price of Adam's sin to our eternal Father!

This is our passover feast,
when Christ, the true Lamb, is slain,
whose blood consecrates the homes of all believers.

This is the night
when first you saved our fathers:
you freed the people of Israel from their slavery
and led them dry-shod through the sea.

This is the night
when the pillar of fire destroyed the darkness of sin!

This is the night
when Christians everywhere,
washed clean of sin and freed from all defilement,
are restored to grace and grow together in holiness.

This is the night
when Jesus Christ broke the chains of death
and rose triumphant from the grave.

What good would life have been to us,
had Christ not come as our Redeemer?
Father, how wonderful your care for us!
How boundless your merciful love!
To ransom a slave you gave away your Son.

O happy fault,
O necessary sin of Adam,
which gained for us so great a Redeemer!

Most blessed of all nights,
chosen by God to see Christ rising from the dead!

Of this night scripture says:
"The night will be as clear as day:
it will become my light, my joy."

The power of this holy night dispels all evil,
washes guilt away, restores lost innocence,
brings mourners joy;
it casts out hatred, brings us peace,
and humbles earthly pride.

Night truly blessed when heaven is wedded to earth
and man is reconciled with God!

Therefore, heavenly Father,
in the joy of this night,
receive our evening sacrifice of praise,
your Church's solemn offering.

Accept this Easter candle,
a flame divided but undimmed,
a pillar of fire that glows to the honor of God.

(For it is fed by the melting wax,
which the mother bee brought forth
to make this precious candle.)

Let it mingle with the lights of heaven
and continue bravely burning
to dispel the darkness of this night!

May the Morning Star which never sets
find this flame still burning:
Christ, that Morning Star,
who came back from the dead,
and shed his peaceful light on all mankind,
your Son, who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Amen.

Background Information (Wikipedia)

English translation of the Exsultet (Easter Proclamation)

See my other blog postings in the plainchant series.

Exsultet / Praeconium Paschale (Latin)

See also: English version

Exsúltet iam angélica turba cælórum:
exsúltent divína mystéria:
et pro tanti Regis victória tuba ínsonet salutáris.

Gáudeat et tellus, tantis irradiáta fulgóribus:
et ætérni Regis splendóre illustráta,
tótius orbis se séntiat amisísse calíginem.

Lætétur et mater Ecclésia,
tanti lúminis adornáta fulgóribus:
et magnis populórum vócibus hæc aula resúltet.

Quaprópter astántes vos, fratres caríssimi,
ad tam miram huius sancti lúminis claritátem,
una mecum, quæso,
Dei omnipoténtis misericórdiam invocáte.
Ut, qui me non meis méritis
intra Levitárum númerum dignátus est aggregáre,
lúminis sui claritátem infúndens,
cérei huius laudem implére perfíciat.

V: Dóminus vobíscum.
R: Et cum spíritu tuo.

V: Sursum corda.
R: Habémus ad Dóminum.

V: Grátias agámus Dómino Deo nostro.
R: Dignum et iustum est.

Vere dignum et iustum est,
invisíbilem Deum Patrem omnipoténtem
Filiúmque eius unigénitum,
Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum,
toto cordis ac mentis afféctu et vocis ministério personáre.

Qui pro nobis ætérno Patri Adæ débitum solvit,
et véteris piáculi cautiónem pio cruóre detérsit.

Hæc sunt enim festa paschália,
in quibus verus ille Agnus occíditur,
cuius sánguine postes fidélium consecrántur.

Hæc nox est,
in qua primum patres nostros, fílios Israel
edúctos de Ægypto,
Mare Rubrum sicco vestígio transíre fecísti.

Hæc ígitur nox est,
quæ peccatórum ténebras colúmnæ illuminatióne purgávit.

Hæc nox est,
quæ hódie per univérsum mundum in Christo credéntes,
a vítiis sæculi et calígine peccatórum segregátos,
reddit grátiæ, sóciat sanctitáti.

Hæc nox est,
in qua, destrúctis vínculis mortis,
Christus ab ínferis victor ascéndit.

Nihil enim nobis nasci prófuit,
nisi rédimi profuísset.
O mira circa nos tuæ pietátis dignátio!
O inæstimábilis diléctio caritátis:
ut servum redímeres, Fílium tradidísti!

O certe necessárium Adæ peccátum,
quod Christi morte delétum est!
O felix culpa,
quæ talem ac tantum méruit habére Redemptórem!

O vere beáta nox,
quæ sola méruit scire tempus et horam,
in qua Christus ab ínferis resurréxit!

Hæc nox est, de qua scriptum est:
Et nox sicut dies illuminábitur:
et nox illuminátio mea in delíciis meis.

Huius ígitur sanctificátio noctis fugat scélera, culpas lavat:
et reddit innocéntiam lapsis
et mæstis lætítiam.
Fugat ódia, concórdiam parat
et curvat impéria.

O vere beáta nox,
in qua terrénis cæléstia, humánis divína iungúntur!¹

In huius ígitur noctis grátia, súscipe, sancte Pater,
laudis huius sacrifícium vespertínum,
quod tibi in hac cérei oblatióne solémni,
per ministrórum manus
de opéribus apum, sacrosáncta reddit Ecclésia.

Sed iam colúmnæ huius præcónia nóvimus,
quam in honórem Dei rútilans ignis accéndit.
Qui, lícet sit divísus in partes,
mutuáti tamen lúminis detrimenta non novit.

Alitur enim liquántibus ceris,
quas in substántiam pretiósæ huius lámpadis
apis mater edúxit.²

Orámus ergo te, Dómine,
ut céreus iste in honórem tui nóminis consecrátus,
ad noctis huius calíginem destruéndam,
indefíciens persevéret.
Et in odórem suavitátis accéptus,
supérnis lumináribus misceátur.

Flammas eius lúcifer matutínus invéniat:
ille, inquam, Lúcifer, qui nescit occásum.
Christus Fílius tuus,
qui, regréssus ab ínferis, humáno géneri serénus illúxit,
et vivit et regnat in sæcula sæculórum. Amen.

Background Information (Wikipedia)

See my other blog postings in the plainchant series.