They Come, God's Messengers of Love

They Come from Realms of Peace Above

They Come, God's Messengers of Love, by Scottish Barrister Robert Campbell (1814-1868) and was first published in the Episcopal Church of Scotland sanctioned St. Andrew's Hymnal of 1850. In 1852 he converted to the Roman Catholic Church. They Come, God's Messengers of Love is set to the traditional Irish tune, Daniel. An alternative tune that it can be sung to is St. Crispin, as shown in the following video. In the Liturgy of the Hours it is used on September 29th, the Feast of Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael; Archangels.

Tune: St. Crispin

THEY COME, GOD'S MESSENGERS OF LOVE by Robert Campbell, 1850 (Public Domain)

1. They come, God’s messengers of love,
They come from realms of peace above,
From homes of never fading light,
From blissful mansions ever bright.

2. They come to watch around us here,
To soothe our sorrow, calm our fear:
Ye heavenly guides, speed not away,
God willeth you with us to stay.

3. But chiefly at its journey’s end
’Tis yours the spirit to befriend,
And whisper to the faithful heart,
“O Christian soul, in peace depart.”

4. Blest Jesu, Thou Whose groans and tears
Have sanctified frail nature’s fears,
To earth in bitter sorrow weighed,
Thou didst not scorn Thine angel’s aid;

5. An angel guard to us supply,
When on the bed of death we lie;
And by Thine own Almighty power
O shield us in the last dread hour.

6. To us the zeal of angels give,
With love to serve thee while we live;
To us an angel-guard supply,
When on the bed of death we lie.

 7. To God the Father, God the Son,
And God the Spirit, Three in One,
From all above and all below,
Let joyful praise unceasing flow.