Today we ask the intercession of Sts. Melania the Younger, Sabinian, and Pope Sylvester I.
For the Holy Father, and for his personal intentions...
For exiles and refugees...
For personal intentions...
For the intentions posted on Happy Catholic and Catholic Fire...
For all intentions previously posted on this site...
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Hymn for the Feast of the Holy Family
In Stature Grows the Heavenly Child
In stature grows the heavenly Child,
With death before His eyes;
A Lamb unblemished, meek and mild,
Prepared for sacrifice.
The Son of God His glory hides
With parents mean and poor;
And He Who made the heaven abides
In dwelling place obscure.
Those mighty hands that stay the sky
No earthly toil refuse;
And He Who set the stars on high
An humble trade pursues.
He before Whom the angels stand,
At Whose behest they fly,
Now yields himself to man’s command,
And lay His glory by.
Jesu, the virgin’s holy Son,
We praise Thee and adore,
Who art with God the Father One,
And Spirit evermore.
In stature grows the heavenly Child,
With death before His eyes;
A Lamb unblemished, meek and mild,
Prepared for sacrifice.
The Son of God His glory hides
With parents mean and poor;
And He Who made the heaven abides
In dwelling place obscure.
Those mighty hands that stay the sky
No earthly toil refuse;
And He Who set the stars on high
An humble trade pursues.
He before Whom the angels stand,
At Whose behest they fly,
Now yields himself to man’s command,
And lay His glory by.
Jesu, the virgin’s holy Son,
We praise Thee and adore,
Who art with God the Father One,
And Spirit evermore.
Friday, December 29, 2006
Prayers for 12/30
Today we ask the intercession of Sts. John Alcober and Ruggero of Canne; and Bls. Eugenia Ravasco, Margaret Colonna, and Matthia dei Nazzarei.
For the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary...
For peace in the world, especially in the Middle East...
For personal intentions...
For the intentions posted on Happy Catholic and Catholic Fire...
For all intentions previously posted on this site...
For the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary...
For peace in the world, especially in the Middle East...
For personal intentions...
For the intentions posted on Happy Catholic and Catholic Fire...
For all intentions previously posted on this site...
Hymn for 12/30
O Zion, Open Wide Thy Gates
O Zion, open wide thy gates,
Let figures disappear;
A Priest and Victim, both in One,
The Truth Himself, is here.
No more the simple flock shall bleed;
Behold, the Father’s Son
Himself to His own altar comes
For sinners to atone.
Conscious of hidden deity,
The lowly virgin brings
Her newborn Babe, with two young doves,
Her humble offerings.
The agèd Simeon sees at last
His Lord, so long desired,
And Anna welcomes Israel’s hope,
With holy rapture fired.
But silent knelt the mother blest
Of the yet silent Word,
And pondering all things in her heart,
With speechless praise adored.
All glory to the Father be,
All glory to the Son,
All glory, Holy Ghost, to Thee,
While endless ages run.
O Zion, open wide thy gates,
Let figures disappear;
A Priest and Victim, both in One,
The Truth Himself, is here.
No more the simple flock shall bleed;
Behold, the Father’s Son
Himself to His own altar comes
For sinners to atone.
Conscious of hidden deity,
The lowly virgin brings
Her newborn Babe, with two young doves,
Her humble offerings.
The agèd Simeon sees at last
His Lord, so long desired,
And Anna welcomes Israel’s hope,
With holy rapture fired.
But silent knelt the mother blest
Of the yet silent Word,
And pondering all things in her heart,
With speechless praise adored.
All glory to the Father be,
All glory to the Son,
All glory, Holy Ghost, to Thee,
While endless ages run.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Prayers for 12/29
Today we ask the intercession of King David; Sts. Thomas a Becket, Trophimus, and Trophimus of Arles; and Bl. William Howard.
For diocesan priests...
For areas suffering from drought...
For personal intentions...
For the intentions posted on Happy Catholic and Catholic Fire...
For all intentions previously posted on this site...
For diocesan priests...
For areas suffering from drought...
For personal intentions...
For the intentions posted on Happy Catholic and Catholic Fire...
For all intentions previously posted on this site...
Hymn for 12/29
Hail to the Lord, Who Comes
Hail to the Lord Who comes,
Comes to His temple gate;
Not with His angel host,
Not in His kingly state;
No shouts proclaim Him nigh,
No crowds His coming wait.
But, borne upon the throne
Of Mary’s gentle breast,
Watched by her duteous love,
In her fond arms at rest,
Thus to His Father’s house
He comes, the heav’nly Guest.
There Joseph at her side
In reverent wonder stands,
And, filled with holy joy,
Old Simeon in his hands
Takes up the promised Child,
The Glory of all lands.
Hail to the great First-born
Whose ransom price they pay!
The Son before all worlds,
The Child of man today,
That He might ransom us
Who still in bondage lay.
O Light of all the earth,
Thy children wait for Thee!
Come to Thy temples here,
That we, from sin set free,
Before Thy Father’s face
May all presented be!
Hail to the Lord Who comes,
Comes to His temple gate;
Not with His angel host,
Not in His kingly state;
No shouts proclaim Him nigh,
No crowds His coming wait.
But, borne upon the throne
Of Mary’s gentle breast,
Watched by her duteous love,
In her fond arms at rest,
Thus to His Father’s house
He comes, the heav’nly Guest.
There Joseph at her side
In reverent wonder stands,
And, filled with holy joy,
Old Simeon in his hands
Takes up the promised Child,
The Glory of all lands.
Hail to the great First-born
Whose ransom price they pay!
The Son before all worlds,
The Child of man today,
That He might ransom us
Who still in bondage lay.
O Light of all the earth,
Thy children wait for Thee!
Come to Thy temples here,
That we, from sin set free,
Before Thy Father’s face
May all presented be!
Prayers for 12/27 & 12/28
Yesterday we asked the intercession of Sts. Fabiola of Rome, John the Apostle, John Stone, Theodore, and Theophanes; and Bl. Sára Schalkház.
Today we ask the intercession of the Holy Innocents and St. Maughold.
For the peoples of the Isle of Man and Turkey...
For little children...
For art dealers...
For writers...
For all who work in the publishing trade...
For artists and engravers...
For theologians...
For victims of poisoning...
For those in difficult marriages...
For the people of Colorado, and all those affected by severe winter weather...
For personal intentions...
Today we ask the intercession of the Holy Innocents and St. Maughold.
For the peoples of the Isle of Man and Turkey...
For little children...
For art dealers...
For writers...
For all who work in the publishing trade...
For artists and engravers...
For theologians...
For victims of poisoning...
For those in difficult marriages...
For the people of Colorado, and all those affected by severe winter weather...
For personal intentions...
For the intentions posted on Happy Catholic and Catholic Fire...
For all intentions previously posted on this site...
Hymn for the Feast of the Holy Innocents
All Hail, Ye Little Martyr Flowers
All hail, ye little martyr flowers,
Sweet rosebuds cut in dawning hours!
When Herod sought the Christ to find
Ye fell as bloom before the wind.
First victims of the martyr bands,
With crowns and palms in tender hands,
Around the very altar, gay
And innocent, ye seem to play.
What profited this great offense?
What use was Herod’s violence?
A Babe survives that dreadful day,
And Christ is safely borne away.
All honor, laud, and glory be,
O Jesus, virgin born, to Thee;
All glory, as is ever meet
To Father and to Paraclete.
All hail, ye little martyr flowers,
Sweet rosebuds cut in dawning hours!
When Herod sought the Christ to find
Ye fell as bloom before the wind.
First victims of the martyr bands,
With crowns and palms in tender hands,
Around the very altar, gay
And innocent, ye seem to play.
What profited this great offense?
What use was Herod’s violence?
A Babe survives that dreadful day,
And Christ is safely borne away.
All honor, laud, and glory be,
O Jesus, virgin born, to Thee;
All glory, as is ever meet
To Father and to Paraclete.
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Prayers for 12/26
Today we ask the intercession of Sts. Pope Dionysius, Noel Chabanel, Stephen the Martyr, Vincentia Lopez y Vicuña, and Pope Zosimus.
For the Holy Father, and for his personal intentions...
For deacons...
For those working in funeral homes and related trades...
For stonemasons and quarry workers...
For personal intentions...
For the intentions posted on Happy Catholic and Catholic Fire...
For all intentions previously posted on this site...
For the Holy Father, and for his personal intentions...
For deacons...
For those working in funeral homes and related trades...
For stonemasons and quarry workers...
For personal intentions...
For the intentions posted on Happy Catholic and Catholic Fire...
For all intentions previously posted on this site...
Hymn for the Feast of St. Stephen
Saint of God, Elect and Precious
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.
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.
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Prayers for Christmas Day
Today we ask the intercession of Sts. Anastasia of Sirmium; and Bls. Jacopone da Todi and Michael Nakashima.
For persecuted Christians...
For all travellers during the holidays...
For those spending the holidays alone...
For the sick and dying, and for their families and friends...
For those who have endured tragedy and hard times on this day...
For personal intentions...
For the intentions posted on Happy Catholic and Catholic Fire...
For all intentions previously posted on this site...
For persecuted Christians...
For all travellers during the holidays...
For those spending the holidays alone...
For the sick and dying, and for their families and friends...
For those who have endured tragedy and hard times on this day...
For personal intentions...
For the intentions posted on Happy Catholic and Catholic Fire...
For all intentions previously posted on this site...
Hymn for Christmas (Day)
Of the Father's Love Begotten
Of the Father’s love begotten, ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega, He the source, the ending He,
Of the things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see, evermore and evermore!
At His Word the worlds were framèd; He commanded; it was done:
Heaven and earth and depths of ocean in their threefold order one;
All that grows beneath the shining
Of the moon and burning sun, evermore and evermore!
He is found in human fashion, death and sorrow here to know,
That the race of Adam’s children doomed by law to endless woe,
May not henceforth die and perish
In the dreadful gulf below, evermore and evermore!
O that birth forever blessèd, when the virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving, bare the Savior of our race;
And the Babe, the world’s Redeemer,
First revealed His sacred face, evermore and evermore!
This is He Whom seers in old time chanted of with one accord;
Whom the voices of the prophets promised in their faithful word;
Now He shines, the long expected,
Let creation praise its Lord, evermore and evermore!
O ye heights of heaven adore Him; angel hosts, His praises sing;
Powers, dominions, bow before Him, and extol our God and King!
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Every voice in concert sing, evermore and evermore!
Righteous judge of souls departed, righteous King of them that live,
On the Father’s throne exalted none in might with Thee may strive;
Who at last in vengeance coming
Sinners from Thy face shalt drive, evermore and evermore!
Thee let old men, thee let young men, thee let boys in chorus sing;
Matrons, virgins, little maidens, with glad voices answering:
Let their guileless songs re-echo,
And the heart its music bring, evermore and evermore!
Christ, to Thee with God the Father, and, O Holy Ghost, to Thee,
Hymn and chant with high thanksgiving, and unwearied praises be:
Honor, glory, and dominion,
And eternal victory, evermore and evermore!
Of the Father’s love begotten, ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega, He the source, the ending He,
Of the things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see, evermore and evermore!
At His Word the worlds were framèd; He commanded; it was done:
Heaven and earth and depths of ocean in their threefold order one;
All that grows beneath the shining
Of the moon and burning sun, evermore and evermore!
He is found in human fashion, death and sorrow here to know,
That the race of Adam’s children doomed by law to endless woe,
May not henceforth die and perish
In the dreadful gulf below, evermore and evermore!
O that birth forever blessèd, when the virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving, bare the Savior of our race;
And the Babe, the world’s Redeemer,
First revealed His sacred face, evermore and evermore!
This is He Whom seers in old time chanted of with one accord;
Whom the voices of the prophets promised in their faithful word;
Now He shines, the long expected,
Let creation praise its Lord, evermore and evermore!
O ye heights of heaven adore Him; angel hosts, His praises sing;
Powers, dominions, bow before Him, and extol our God and King!
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Every voice in concert sing, evermore and evermore!
Righteous judge of souls departed, righteous King of them that live,
On the Father’s throne exalted none in might with Thee may strive;
Who at last in vengeance coming
Sinners from Thy face shalt drive, evermore and evermore!
Thee let old men, thee let young men, thee let boys in chorus sing;
Matrons, virgins, little maidens, with glad voices answering:
Let their guileless songs re-echo,
And the heart its music bring, evermore and evermore!
Christ, to Thee with God the Father, and, O Holy Ghost, to Thee,
Hymn and chant with high thanksgiving, and unwearied praises be:
Honor, glory, and dominion,
And eternal victory, evermore and evermore!
Hymn for Christmas (Dawn)
Adeste Fideles/O Come, All Ye Faithful
Adeste, fideles, laeti triumphantes;
Venite, venite in Bethlehem.
Natum videte Regem angelorum.
Refrain
Venite adoremus, venite adoremus,
Venite adoremus, Dominum.
Deum de Deo, lumen de lumine,
Parturit virgo mater,
Deum verum, genitum, non factum.
Refrain
En grege relicto, humiles ad cunas
Vocati pastores approperant:
Et nos ovanti gradu festinemus.
Refrain
Stella duce, Magi Christum adorantes,
Aurum, thus, et myrrham dant munera.
Jesu infanti corda praebeamus.
Refrain
Aeterni Parrentis splendorem aeternum
Velatum sub carne videbimus,
Deum infantem, pannis involutem.
Refrain
Pro nobis egenum et foeno cubantem
Piis foveamus amplexibus;
Sic nos amantem quis non redamaret?
Refrain
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him, born the King of angels;
Refrain
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.
True God of true God, Light from Light Eternal,
Lo, He shuns not the Virgin’s womb;
Son of the Father, begotten, not created;
Refrain
Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation;
O sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest;
Refrain
See how the shepherds, summoned to His cradle,
Leaving their flocks, draw nigh to gaze;
We too will thither bend our joyful footsteps;
Refrain
Lo! star led chieftains, Magi, Christ adoring,
Offer Him incense, gold, and myrrh;
We to the Christ Child bring our hearts’ oblations.
Refrain
Child, for us sinners poor and in the manger,
We would embrace Thee, with love and awe;
Who would not love Thee, loving us so dearly?
Refrain
Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to Thee be glory given;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing.
Refrain
Adeste, fideles, laeti triumphantes;
Venite, venite in Bethlehem.
Natum videte Regem angelorum.
Refrain
Venite adoremus, venite adoremus,
Venite adoremus, Dominum.
Deum de Deo, lumen de lumine,
Parturit virgo mater,
Deum verum, genitum, non factum.
Refrain
En grege relicto, humiles ad cunas
Vocati pastores approperant:
Et nos ovanti gradu festinemus.
Refrain
Stella duce, Magi Christum adorantes,
Aurum, thus, et myrrham dant munera.
Jesu infanti corda praebeamus.
Refrain
Aeterni Parrentis splendorem aeternum
Velatum sub carne videbimus,
Deum infantem, pannis involutem.
Refrain
Pro nobis egenum et foeno cubantem
Piis foveamus amplexibus;
Sic nos amantem quis non redamaret?
Refrain
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him, born the King of angels;
Refrain
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.
True God of true God, Light from Light Eternal,
Lo, He shuns not the Virgin’s womb;
Son of the Father, begotten, not created;
Refrain
Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation;
O sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest;
Refrain
See how the shepherds, summoned to His cradle,
Leaving their flocks, draw nigh to gaze;
We too will thither bend our joyful footsteps;
Refrain
Lo! star led chieftains, Magi, Christ adoring,
Offer Him incense, gold, and myrrh;
We to the Christ Child bring our hearts’ oblations.
Refrain
Child, for us sinners poor and in the manger,
We would embrace Thee, with love and awe;
Who would not love Thee, loving us so dearly?
Refrain
Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to Thee be glory given;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing.
Refrain
Hymn for Christmas (Midnight)
Angels We Have Heard on High
Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains.
Refrain
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?
Refrain
Come to Bethlehem and see
Christ Whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.
Refrain
See Him in a manger laid,
Whom the choirs of angels praise;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
While our hearts in love we raise.
Refrain
Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains.
Refrain
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?
Refrain
Come to Bethlehem and see
Christ Whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.
Refrain
See Him in a manger laid,
Whom the choirs of angels praise;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
While our hearts in love we raise.
Refrain
Prayers for 12/24
Today we ask the intercession of our Parents Adam and Eve; the Martyred Maidens of Antioch; Saints Charbel Makhlouf, Emiliana of Rome, and Trasilla.
For travellers during this holiday time...
For gardeners and landscapers...
For single women...
For those affected by winter weather, and those stranded due to severe storms...
For peace throughout the world...
For personal intentions...
For the intentions posted on Happy Catholic and Catholic Fire...
For all intentions previously posted on this site...
For travellers during this holiday time...
For gardeners and landscapers...
For single women...
For those affected by winter weather, and those stranded due to severe storms...
For peace throughout the world...
For personal intentions...
For the intentions posted on Happy Catholic and Catholic Fire...
For all intentions previously posted on this site...
Hymn for Christmas Eve
Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming
Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming from tender stem hath sprung!
Of Jesse’s lineage coming, as men of old have sung.
It came, a floweret bright, amid the cold of winter,
When half spent was the night.
Isaiah ’twas foretold it, the Rose I have in mind;
With Mary we behold it, the virgin mother kind.
To show God’s love aright, she bore to men a Savior,
When half spent was the night.
The shepherds heard the story proclaimed by angels bright,
How Christ, the Lord of glory was born on earth this night.
To Bethlehem they sped and in the manger found Him,
As angel heralds said.
This Flower, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air,
Dispels with glorious splendor the darkness everywhere;
True Man, yet very God, from sin and death He saves us,
And lightens every load.
O Savior, Child of Mary, Who felt our human woe,
O Savior, King of glory, Who dost our weakness know;
Bring us at length we pray, to the bright courts of Heaven,
And to the endless day!
Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming from tender stem hath sprung!
Of Jesse’s lineage coming, as men of old have sung.
It came, a floweret bright, amid the cold of winter,
When half spent was the night.
Isaiah ’twas foretold it, the Rose I have in mind;
With Mary we behold it, the virgin mother kind.
To show God’s love aright, she bore to men a Savior,
When half spent was the night.
The shepherds heard the story proclaimed by angels bright,
How Christ, the Lord of glory was born on earth this night.
To Bethlehem they sped and in the manger found Him,
As angel heralds said.
This Flower, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air,
Dispels with glorious splendor the darkness everywhere;
True Man, yet very God, from sin and death He saves us,
And lightens every load.
O Savior, Child of Mary, Who felt our human woe,
O Savior, King of glory, Who dost our weakness know;
Bring us at length we pray, to the bright courts of Heaven,
And to the endless day!
Hymn for the Fourth Sunday of Advent
Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.
Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.
Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.
Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.
Friday, December 22, 2006
Prayers for 12/23
Today we ask the intercession of the Martyrs of Crete; Sts. Antonio of Saint Anne, Dagobert II of Austrasia, Nicholas Factor, Servulus, and Thorlac Thorhallsson; and Bls. Hartmann of Brixen and Helen Guerra.
For the peoples of Poland, Lithuania, and Iceland...
For the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius...
For the Handmaids of the Holy Spirit...
For our leaders...
For the disabled...
For personal intentions...
For the intentions posted on Happy Catholic and Catholic Fire...
For all intentions previously posted on this site...
For the peoples of Poland, Lithuania, and Iceland...
For the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius...
For the Handmaids of the Holy Spirit...
For our leaders...
For the disabled...
For personal intentions...
For the intentions posted on Happy Catholic and Catholic Fire...
For all intentions previously posted on this site...
Hymn for 12/23
The Great Forerunner of the Morn
The great forerunner of the morn,
The herald of the Word, is born:
And faithful hearts shall never fail
With thanks and praise his light to hail.
With heavenly message Gabriel came,
That John should be that herald’s name,
And with prophetic utterance told
His actions great and manifold.
John, still unborn, yet gave aright
His witness to the coming Light;
And Christ, the Sun of all the earth,
Fulfilled that witness at His birth.
Of woman born shall never be
A greater prophet than was he,
Whose mighty deeds exalt his fame
To greater than a prophet’s name.
But why should mortal accents raise
The hymn of John the Baptist’s praise?
Of whom, or e’er his course was run,
Thus spake the Father to the Son?
“Behold, My herald, who shall go
Before Thy face Thy way to show,
And shine, as with the day-star’s gleam,
Before Thine own eternal beam.”
All praise to God the Father be,
All praise, eternal Son, to Thee,
Whom with the Spirit we adore
Forever and forevermore.
The great forerunner of the morn,
The herald of the Word, is born:
And faithful hearts shall never fail
With thanks and praise his light to hail.
With heavenly message Gabriel came,
That John should be that herald’s name,
And with prophetic utterance told
His actions great and manifold.
John, still unborn, yet gave aright
His witness to the coming Light;
And Christ, the Sun of all the earth,
Fulfilled that witness at His birth.
Of woman born shall never be
A greater prophet than was he,
Whose mighty deeds exalt his fame
To greater than a prophet’s name.
But why should mortal accents raise
The hymn of John the Baptist’s praise?
Of whom, or e’er his course was run,
Thus spake the Father to the Son?
“Behold, My herald, who shall go
Before Thy face Thy way to show,
And shine, as with the day-star’s gleam,
Before Thine own eternal beam.”
All praise to God the Father be,
All praise, eternal Son, to Thee,
Whom with the Spirit we adore
Forever and forevermore.
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