January 5, 2013

Alleluia! Sing to Jesus

In the Eucharistic Feast

Alleluia! Sing to Jesus was written by British surgeon and author, William Chatterton Dix (1837-1898). It was first published in 1867 as part of his collection, Al­tar Songs, Vers­es on the Ho­ly Eu­cha­rist. It was intended as a communion hymn for Ascension Sunday and was originally titled: "Redemption by the Precious Blood". It is sung to the 1830 tune, Hyfrydol by the Welsh composer and choir director, Rowland Prichard (1811-1887). Prichard was not a professional musician, he worked as a loom-tenders' assistant at a flannel manufacturing mill in Wales. In the Liturgy of the Hours, Alleluia! Sing to Jesus is used during Easter and on the  the Feast of Corpus Christi.



ALLELUIA! SING TO JESUS! by William Chatterton Dix, 1867 (Public Domain)

1. Alleluia! sing to Jesus! His the scepter, His the throne.
Alleluia! His the triumph, His the victory alone.
Hark! the songs of peaceful Zion thunder like a mighty flood.
Jesus out of every nation has redeemed us by His blood.

2. Alleluia! not as orphans are we left in sorrow now;
Alleluia! He is near us, faith believes, nor questions how;
Though the cloud from sight received Him when the forty days were o’er
Shall our hearts forget His promise, “I am with you evermore”?

3. Alleluia! bread of angels, Thou on earth our food, our stay;
Alleluia! here the sinful flee to Thee from day to day:
Intercessor, Friend of sinners, Earth’s Redeemer, plead for me,
Where the songs of all the sinless sweep across the crystal sea.

4. Alleluia! King eternal, Thee the Lord of lords we own;
Alleluia! born of Mary, Earth Thy footstool, Heav’n Thy throne:
Thou within the veil hast entered, robed in flesh our great High Priest;
Thou on earth both priest and victim in the Eucharistic feast.

2 comments:

  1. one of my very favorite hymns! Thank you ... even just to read the words makes the heart of this ole shutin smile :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. It reminds me of my days as a seminarian.

    ReplyDelete

Your comments are welcome, but they won't be published immediately. I moderate them first, just to weed out spam etc.

- Thanks