Scripture Verse

They were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:4

Introduction

Words: At­trib­ut­ed to Hi­la­ry of Poi­ti­ers, 4th Cen­tu­ry, and oth­ers (Be­a­ta no­bis gau­dia An­ni re­dux­it or­bi­ta). Trans­lat­ed from La­tin to Eng­lish by Ri­chard E. Ro­berts in The Eng­lish Hym­nal (Lon­don: Ox­ford Uni­ver­si­ty Press, 1906), num­ber 151.

Music: Ae­ter­na Chris­ti Mu­ne­ra, me­lo­dy from Gio­van­ni Gui­det­ti’s Di­rec­to­ri­um Cho­ri, 1582. Har­mo­nized in The Eng­lish Hym­nal (Lon­don: Ox­ford Uni­ver­si­ty Press, 1906) (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

  • Beata No­bis Gau­dia me­lo­dy from the Psal­ter­i­um Cho­rale (Cons­tance: 1510) (🔊 pdf nwc)

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Ro­berts (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Rejoice! the year upon its way
Has brought again that blessèd day,
When on the chosen of the Lord
The Ho­ly Spi­rit was outpoured.

On each the fire, descending, stood
In quivering tongues’ similitude—
Tongues, that their words might rea­dy prove,
And fire, to make them flame with love.

To all in every tongue they spoke;
Amazement in the crowd awoke,
Who mocked, as overcome with wine,
Those who were filled with power divine.

These things were done in type that day,
When Eastertide had passed away,
The number told which once set free
The captive at the jubilee.

And now, O holy God, this day
Regard us as we humbly pray,
And send us, from Thy heavenly seat,
The blessings of the Paraclete.

To God the Fa­ther, God, the Son,
And God the Spi­rit, praise be done;
May Christ the Lord upon us pour
The Spi­rit’s gift for­ev­er­more.