I have been known to throw a snit if this hymn is not sung today at Mass. One day out of the year, just this one day, that's all I ask. Fortunately, the celebrant for the All Saints Day Mass this evening is Fr. Michael St. Paul (isn't that a great name?) who, being of my age group, appreciates such music for the liturgy.
Sing it if you know it . . .
For all the saints, who from their labors rest, who thee by faith before the world confessed, thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest. Alleluia, Alleluia!
Thou wast their rock, their fortress, and their might; thou Lord, their captain in the well-fought fight; thou in the darkness drear, their one true light. Alleluia, Alleluia!
O may thy soldiers, faithful, true, and bold, fight as the saints who nobly fought of old, and win with them the victor's crown of gold. Alleluia, Alleluia!
O blest communion, fellowship divine! We feebly struggle, they in glory shine; yet all are one in thee, for all are thine. Alleluia, Alleluia!
And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long, steals on the ear the distant triumph song, and hearts are brave again, and arms are strong. Alleluia, Alleluia!
From earth's wide bounds, from ocean's farthest coast, through gates of pearl streams in the countless host, singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost: Alleluia, Alleluia!
5 comments:
very nice!
:-D I know how that is when you NEED a certain song to be sung on a certain day. Once I was at an Easter Mass where they did NOT sing "Jesus Christ is Risen Today" and I wanted to KILL the powers that were.
And if an Advent goes by where they do not sing Es ist eine Rosensprungen I also think things are going to hell in a handbasket. And "they" better sing Angels We have Heard on High at Christmas. I mean BUSINESS. And I'm only half joking.
Gem o' da Ocean:
Exactly! During Advent I had better hear a little oratorio from Handel's Messiah. And if on Good Friday I don't hear the spritual "Were You There?", I cry all the harder.
How in blazes can you have Easter without "Jesus Christ is Risen Today"?!?! That's like having the Christmas Midnight Mass without "Silent Night!" It cannot be done!
Any Mass done for patriotic purposes - Memorial Day, 4th of July - must ALWAYS end with "America the Beautiful".
True story - the Sunday after 9/11, we had as our recessional hymn, "Be Not Afraid." There was not a dry eye in the congregation.
I may have the worst offence of all... an Easter Vigil Mass where the Gospel Alleluia ISN't the 3-fold Alleluia which is properly only sung at that Mass AND should be intoned by the best baritone deacon assisting...
For me, the Easter season isn't complete without singing Ye Sons and Daughters (O filii et filiae) at least a couple of times. Our choir director prefers "We have been told, we've seen his face..." Alas.
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