Most Ancient of All Mysteries

Have Mercy Now, Most Merciful

Most Ancient of All Mysteries was written by Father Frederick W. Faber (1814-1863). An Ordained Priest in the Church of England, in 1846 (following the example of Cardinal John Henry Newman) he left to join the Catholic Church. All his hymn writing took place after his conversion. Most Ancient of All Mysteries is set to the tune Saint Flavian from John Days's Psalter (1562). In the Liturgy of the Hours Most Ancient of All Mysteries is used during Ordinary Time for Daytime Mid-Afternoon Prayer.


Tune: St. Flavian

MOST ANCIENT OF ALL MYSTERIES by Frederick Faber, Public Domain

1. Most ancient of all mysteries!
Before Thy throne we lie;
Have mercy now, most merciful,
Most Holy Trinity!

2. When heaven and earth were yet unmade,
When time was yet unknown,
Thou in Thy bliss and majesty
Didst live and love alone.

3. Thou wert not born, there was no fount
From which Thy being flowed;
There is no end which Thou canst reach,
But Thou art simply God.

4. How wonderful creation is,
The work that Thou didst bless!
And oh, what then must Thou be like,
Eternal loveliness?

5. Most ancient of all mysteries,
Still at Thy throne we lie;
Have mercy now, most merciful,
Most Holy Trinity!