Although I love old hymns, I hardly go about singing them all day, and it is quite unlikely that a scene or a picture will remind me of the words or tunes of times gone by, but during the week I took a picture on a run.
The more I thought about it, the more beautiful I found those words. Here's the first verse.
When morning gilds the skies my heart awaking cries:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Alike at work and prayer, to Jesus I repair:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
The poetry is courtesy of the translator, Edward Caswall (1814-1878). The hymn was translated from German (written in 1744) into English by a Roman Catholic priest from England. Caswell was the son of an Anglican clergyman, and was himself ordained as an Anglican. He converted to Catholicism in 1847, prior to translating this hymn in 1854. The original text in a German hymnary (author unknown) had “Beim frühen Morgenlicht” (With the early morning light) as the opening line. So glad the translator used some poetic ability there.
Apparently some versions have as many as 26 stanzas - which, would take a quarter of the average church service to sing!
Here are some of my favourite verses....narrowing it down to 9!
My tongue shall never tire of chanting with the choir, May Jesus Christ be praised!
This song of sacred joy, it never seems to cloy,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Does sadness fill my mind? A solace here I find,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Or fades my earthly bliss? My comfort still is this, May Jesus Christ be praised!
To God, the Word, on high, the host of angels cry, May Jesus Christ be praised!
Let mortals, too, upraise their voice in hymns of praise,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Does sadness fill my mind? A solace here I find,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Or fades my earthly bliss? My comfort still is this, May Jesus Christ be praised!
To God, the Word, on high, the host of angels cry, May Jesus Christ be praised!
Let mortals, too, upraise their voice in hymns of praise,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
When mirth for music longs, this is my song of songs: May Jesus Christ be praised!When evening shadows fall, this rings my curfew call, May Jesus Christ be praised!
When sleep her balm denies, my silent spirit sighs, May Jesus Christ be praised!
When evil thoughts molest, with this I shield my breast, May Jesus Christ be praised!
The night becomes as day when from the heart we say:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
The powers of darkness fear when this sweet chant they hear: May Jesus Christ be praised!
Sing, suns and stars of space, sing, ye that see His face,
Sing, Jesus Christ be praised!
God’s whole creation o’er, for aye and evermore
Shall Jesus Christ be praised!
In Heav’n’s eternal bliss the loveliest strain is this,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Let earth, and sea and sky from depth to height reply,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
And the music is also wonderful. I found this version - orchestral and choir, recorded earlier this year. Enjoy.
May Jesus Christ be praised!
The powers of darkness fear when this sweet chant they hear: May Jesus Christ be praised!
Sing, suns and stars of space, sing, ye that see His face,
Sing, Jesus Christ be praised!
God’s whole creation o’er, for aye and evermore
Shall Jesus Christ be praised!
In Heav’n’s eternal bliss the loveliest strain is this,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Let earth, and sea and sky from depth to height reply,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Be this, while life is mine, my canticle divine:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Sing this eternal song through all the ages long:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
And the music is also wonderful. I found this version - orchestral and choir, recorded earlier this year. Enjoy.
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