Scripture Verse

There was a marriage in Cana of Galilee. John 2:1

Introduction

portrait
Gottfried W. Fink (1783–1846)

Words: Ade­laide Thrupp (stan­zas 1 & 3), Psalms and Hymns 1853; God­frey Thring (stan­za 2), 1882.

Music: Beth­le­hem (Fink) Gott­fried W. Fink, 1842 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of Thrupp or Thring (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

illustration
Marriage at Cana
Gerard David (1460–1523)

Lyrics

Lord, who at Ca­na’s wed­ding feast
Didst as a guest ap­pear,
Thou dear­er far than earth­ly guest,
Vouchsafe Thy pre­sence here.
For holy Thou in­deed dost prove
The mar­ri­age vow to be,
Proclaiming it a type of love
Between the Church and Thee.

This ho­ly vow that man can make,
The gold­en thread in life,
The bond that none may dare to break,
That bind­eth man and wife,
Which, blest by Thee, what­e’er be­tide,
No evil shall de­stroy,
Through care­worn days each care di­vides
And dou­bles every joy.

On those who now be­fore Thee kneel,
O Lord, Thy bless­ing pour,
That each may wake the oth­er’s zeal
To love Thee more and more.
Oh, grant them here in peace to live,
In pu­ri­ty and love,
And, this world leav­ing, to re­ceive
A crown of life above.