When Time Began, God Walked With Man

Facade of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, Rome - Courtesy of Wikipedia

When Time Began, God Walked With Man is written by the Benedictine Nuns of Stanbrook Abbey. In the Divine Office (1974) it is sung at Morning Prayer in the Common of the Dedication of a Church. For it's musical setting, the Office recommends the 1861 hymn tune: Melita by the Anglican clergyman and hymnist, John Bacchus Dykes (1823-1876).


Tune: Melita

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.

Lead, Kindly Light

The Night is Dark and I Am Far From Home

Lead, Kindly Light was written by John Henry Newman (1801-1890) in 1833. Throughout the first half of that year, Newman accompanied fellow Anglican Priest and early member of the Oxford Movement, Hurrell Froude on a tour of the Mediterranean. While visiting Sicily, Newman became seriously ill and was bedridden for a number of weeks. After recovering he was overcome with a great desire to return to England and continue his work for the Church. On route to Marseille, his sailing ship was delayed by a week of calm weather in the Strait of Bonifacio. It was there, at sea that Newman composed the words to Lead, Kindly Light. The poem was subsequently published in a number of different collections. In 1868 it was included in the popular Church of England hymnal: Hymns Ancient and Modern, and has since become best known as a hymn. When later asked about his hymn's popularity, Newman attributed it to the tune of Lux Benigna, written in 1865 by John B. Dykes (1823-1876) that his verses had been set to. Over the years, it's words of consolation have inspired many musical settings and pairings, both for congregational and choral use. One of the best known is the 1860 tune, Sandon (see 2nd video) by Charles H. Purday (1799-1885). One particular story that relates the deep affection that people have for this hymn involves the Stanley Pit Mine Disaster of 1909. Escaping from poisonous and combustible gas, 34 miners sought refuge in a seam where there was a pocket of air. Huddled in the darkness and fearing the worst, the miners began to sing Lead, Kindly Light. Some of the men later died from the effects of the gas, but most of the them were rescued. In 2010, Lead, Kindly Light was sung at Benedict XVI's Hyde Park Vigil during the Pontiff's tour of the UK in which he celebrated the Beatification of Cardinal Newman. In the Liturgy of the Hours, it is sung or recited at Night Prayer (Compline).


Tune: Lux Benigna

LEAD, KINDLY LIGHT by John Henry Newman, 1833 (Public Domain)

Lead, Kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom
Lead Thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home—
Lead Thou me on!
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene—one step enough for me.

I was not ever thus, nor pray'd that Thou
Shouldst lead me on.
I loved to choose and see my path, but now
Lead Thou me on!
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will: remember not past years.

So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still
Will lead me on,
O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till
The night is gone;
And with the morn those angel faces smile
Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile.


Tune: Sandon


Contemporary version by Audrey Assad

Holy, Holy, Holy

Our Song Shall Rise to Thee

Holy, Holy, Holy was written by Reginald Heber (1783-1826). He composed this Trinity Sunday hymn in Hodnet, in the west of England, where he served as Vicar from 1807 to 1823. He left there when he was appointed the Bishop of Calcutta, India. He died 3 years later while in service to that Diocese. The photo to the left is of St. Paul's Cathedral in Calcutta (Kolkata). Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty! is sung to the 1861 tune, Nicaea by Anglican Clergyman, John B. Dykes (1823-1876). The tune was written specifically for Heber's text, and purposely named after the Council of Nicaea where the Church defended and affirmed the Apostles' teaching of the Trinity. In the Liturgy of the Hours, Holy Holy, Holy is used on Trinity Sunday.



HOLY, HOLY, HOLY by Reginald Heber, 1826 (Public Domain)

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessèd Trinity!

Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
Who was, and is, and evermore shall be.

Holy, holy, holy! though the darkness hide Thee,
Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;
Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in power, in love, and purity.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy Name, in earth, and sky, and sea;
Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessèd Trinity!

O Father, Whose Creating Hand

Harvest from the Fruitful Land.

O Father, Whose Creating Hand was written by Donald Hughes (1911-1967). It is set to the tune Melita by John B. Dykes (1823-1876), best known as the melody used for Eternal Father, Strong to Save (For Those in Peril on the Sea). In the Liturgy of the Hours,  O Father, Whose Creating Hand is used during Ordinary Time for Evening Prayer.