Voices United ‎#163

163. Hail, Glad Festival Day

[Refrain:]
Hail, glad festival day!
Blest day to be hallowed for ever,
day wherein Christ arose,
breaking the kingdom of death.

[Easter:]
1 Lo, the fair beauty of earth,
from the death of the winter arising,
every good gift of the year
now with its Saviour returns. [Refrain]

2 He who was nailed to the cross
is God and the ruler of all things;
all things created on earth
worship the maker of all. [Refrain]

3 Mourning they laid you to rest,
the author of life and creation;
treading the pathway of death,
life now bestowing on all. [Refrain]

4 God of all pity and power,
let your word be assured to the doubting:
light on the third day returns;
rise, Son of God, from the tomb! [Refrain]

[Ascension:]
1 Christ in his triumph ascends,
who had vanquished the devil's dominion;
bright is the woodland with leaves,
brilliant the meadows with flowers. [Refrain]

2 Daily the loveliness grows,
adorned with glory of blossom;
heaven its gates now unbars,
flinging its increase of light. [Refrain]

3 Jesus, the health of the word,
enlighten our minds, great Redeemer,
Son of the Father supreme,
only-begotten of God! [Refrain]

4 Praise to the giver of good!
O Lover and Author of concord,
pour out your balm on our days;
order our days in your peace. [Refrain]

[Pentecost:]
1 Lo, in the likeness of fire,
on those who await his appearing,
he whom the Lord foretold
suddenly, swiftly descends: [Refrain]

2 Forth to the faithful he comes
with sevenfold mystical offering,
pouring on all human souls
infinite riches of God. [Refrain]

3 Hark! for in myriad tongues
Christ's own, his chosen apostles,
preach to the ends of the earth
Christ and his wonderful works. [Refrain]

4 Praise to the Spirit of life,
all praise to the fount of our being,
light that now lightens all,
life that in all now abides. [Refrain]

Text Information

• First Line: Lo, the fair beauty of earth
• Title: Hail, Glad Festival Day
• Author: Venantius Fortunatus (ca. 582)
• Translator: Maurice Frederick Bell (ca. 1906)
• Refrain First Line: Hail, glad festival day!
• Meter: Irregular
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1996
• Topic: The Christian Year: Easter; Assurance; Beauty; Christian Year: Easter; Christian Year: Pentecost; Doubt; God: Power/Might; Jesus Christ: Ascension and Reign; Jesus Christ: Cross; Jesus Christ: Resurrection; Life; Light; New Creation; Peace (World); Praise; Processionals (Opening of Worship); Redemption; Seasons: Changing; Sundays/Sabbath; Victory; Wholeness; Word of God; Worship; Ascension: Year A; Pentecost: Year A; Easter 1: Year B

Tune Information

• Name: SALVE, FESTA DIES
• Composer: Ralph Vaughan Williams (1906)
• Meter: Irregular
• Key: F Major
• Copyright: Music by permission of Oxford University Press.