Scripture Verse

May the name of the Lord be praised. Job 1:21

Introduction

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Robert S. Bridges (1844–1930)

Words: From the Ka­thol­isch­es Ge­sang­buch (Würz­burg, Ger­ma­ny: cir­ca 1744) (Beim früh­en Mor­gen­licht). Trans­lat­ed from Ger­man to Eng­lish by Ed­ward Cas­wall in Form­by’s Ca­tho­lic Hymns (Lon­don: 1854), & Ro­bert S. Bridg­es in the Yat­ten­don Hym­nal (Ox­ford, Eng­land: 1899).

Music: Laud­es Do­mi­ni Jo­seph Barn­by, in Hymns An­cient and Mo­dern (Lon­don: 1868) (🔊 pdf nwc). Barn­by wrote the tune spe­ci­fi­cal­ly for this hymn.

Alternate Tune:

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Joseph Barnby (1838–1896)

Lyrics

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!

When you begin the day,
O ne­ver fail to say,
May Je­sus Christ be praised!
And at your work rejoice,
To sing with heart and voice,
May Je­sus Christ be praised!

Whene’er the sweet church bell
Peals over hill and dell,
May Je­sus Christ be praised!
O hark to what it sings,
As joyously it rings,
May Je­sus Christ be praised!

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!

Be this at meals your grace,
In every time and place;
May Je­sus Christ be praised!
Be this, when day is past,
Of all your thoughts the last
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!

No lovelier antiphon
In all high Heav’n is known
Than, Je­sus Christ be praised!
There to th’eter­nal Word
The eter­nal psalm is heard:
May Je­sus Christ be praised!

Let all the earth around
Ring joyous with the sound:
May Je­sus Christ be praised!
In Hea­ven’s eter­nal bliss
The loveliest strain is this:
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!