O Strength and Stay / Rerum, Deus, Tenax Vigor

Grant to Life's Day a Calm Unclouded Ending

O Strength and Stay, Upholding All Creation is a translation of the 4th century Latin hymn: Rerum Deus Tenax Vigour, composed in the Ambrosian tradition, but not likely by St. Ambrose (c.340-397) himself. In the Breviarium Romanum it is used throughout the year as the hymn for None (Mid-Afternoon). In 1871, the ancient text was translated into English by John Ellerton (1826-1893) and Fenton J. A. Hort (1828-1892). In 1875, John Bacchus Dykes (1823-1876) composed the tune: Strength and Stay specifically for their words. In the Divine Office, O Strength and Stay is sung during Evening Prayer. For an alternative translation, see: O God, Creation's Secret Force.


Tune: Strength and Stay

O STRENGTH AND STAY by Ellerton/Hort, 1871 (Public Domain)

1. O Strength and Stay upholding all creation,
who ever dost thyself unmoved abide;
yet day by day the light in due gradation
from hour to hour through all its changes guide.

2. Grant to life's day a calm unclouded ending,
An eve untouched by shadows of decay,
the brightness of a holy deathbed blending
With dawning glories of the eternal day.

3. Hear us, O Father, gracious and forgiving,
through Jesus Christ thy co-eternal Word,
who, with the Holy Ghost, by all things living
Now and to endless ages art adored.


Ambrosian Chant

RERUM, DEUS, TENAX VIGOR

1. Rerum, Deus, tenax vigor,
immotus in te permanens,
lucis diurnae tempora
successibus determinans,

2. Largire clarum vespere,
quo vita numquam decida,
sed praemium mortis sacrae
perennis instet gloria.

3. Praesta, Pater piissime,
Patrique compar Unice,
cum Spiritu Paraclito
regnans per omne saeculum. Amen.

The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, is Ended

The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, is Ended is by the Anglican clergyman and hymn-writer, John Ellerton (1826-1893). It was first published in 1870 as part of the collection, A Liturgy for Missionary Meetings. In 1897 the hymn was chosen by Queen Victoria (1819-1901) to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee. It is set to the tune, St. Clement by the Anglican clergyman and musician, Clement C. Scholefield (1839-1904). First published in 1874 as part of the Arthur Sullivan edited hymnal, Church Hymns with Tunes; it was composed specifically for Ellerton's text. It has been suggested by some music historians, that Sullivan (of Gilbert and Sullivan fame) may have collaborated with Scholefield on the tune. In the Divine Office, The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, is Ended is used with Evening Prayer.


Tune: St. Clement

THE DAY THOU GAVEST, LORD, IS ENDED by John Ellerton, 1870 (Public Domain)

1. The day thou gavest, Lord, is ended,
The darkness falls at Thy behest;
To Thee our morning hymns ascended,
Thy praise shall hallow now our rest.

2. We thank Thee that Thy Church unsleeping,
While earth rolls onward into light,
Through all the world her watch is keeping,
And rests not now by day or night.

3. As o'er each continent and island
The dawn leads on another day,
The voice of prayer is never silent,
Nor dies the strain of praise away.

4. The sun, that bids us rest, is waking
Our brethren 'neath the western sky,
And hour by hour fresh lips are making
Thy wondrous doings heard on high.

5. So be it, Lord; Thy throne shall never,
Like earth's proud empires, pass away:
But stand, and rule, and grow for ever,
Till all Thy creatures own Thy sway.

Hail to the Lord Who Comes

In Her Fond Arms At Rest

Hail to the Lord Who Comes was written in 1880 by Anglican Priest and composer or translator of over 80 hymns, John Ellerton (1826-1893). It was published the following year in Mrs. Brock's Children's Hymn Book. It is set to the tune for Psalm 32 composed in 1648 by Henry Lawes (1595-1662). The son of a Vicar Choral of Salisbury Cathedral, he along with his brother and fellow composer, William Lawes (b.1602), were important composers of 17th century England. During the English Civil War period and subsequent Commonwealth of Oliver Cromwell, they found themselves on the losing side. William was killed at the Siege of Chester in 1645, and Henry lost his position in the Chapel Royal; although he would be later be reinstated in 1660 with the restoration of the monarchy. In the Liturgy of the Hours, Hail to the Lord Who Comes is used on February 2, the  Feast of the Presentation. The version published in the Liturgy of the Hours is an adaption of Ellerton's original. His original 6-line stanzas (6.6.6.6.6.6) have been reduced to 4-line stanzas (6.6.6.6). An alternative tune that can be used with the 4-line version is St. Cecilia, as featured in the 1st video. For the 6-line version, a well known setting is the tune: 120th, as featured in the following 2nd video.

Tune: St. Cecilia (Meter: 6.6.6.6)

HAIL TO THE LORD WHO COMES by John Ellerton, 1880 (Public Domain)

1. Hail to the Lord who comes,
comes to his temple gate!
Not with his angel host,
not in his kingly state;
no shouts proclaim him nigh,
no crowds his coming wait;

2. But, borne upon the throne
of Mary's gentle breast,
watched by her duteous love,
in her fond arms at rest;
thus to his Father's house
he comes, the heav'nly Guest.

3. There Joseph at her side
in reverent wonder stands,
and, filled with holy joy,
old Simeon in his hands
takes up the promised Child,
the glory of all lands.

4. Hail to the great First-born
whose ransom-price they pay!
The Son before all worlds,
the Child of man today,
that he might ransom us
who still in bondage lay.

5. O Light of all the earth,
thy children wait for thee!
come to thy temples here,
that we, from sin set free,
before thy Father's face
may all presented be!
 

Tune: 120th (Meter: 6.6.6.6.6.6)