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!

Virgin-Born, We Bow Before You

Blest Was She in Her Child

Virgin-Born, We Bow Before You was written by clergyman, Reginald Heber (1783-1826). It was published posthumously after his sudden death from a stroke while serving as the Anglican Bishop of Calcutta. The suggested tune in the Divine Office is Psalm 86 by Claude Goudimel (1514-1572). A popular alternative is the tune: Mon Dieu, Prete Moi L'Oreille, as featured in the following video. In the Liturgy of the Hours, Virgin-Born, We Bow Before You is sung during Christmas, on the Feast of the Holy Family, and in the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary.


Tune: Mon Dieu, Prete Moi L'Oreille

VIRGIN-BORN, WE BOW BEFORE THEE by Reginald Heber, 1827 (Public Domain)

Virgin-born, we bow before thee:
blessed was the womb that bore thee;
Mary, Mother meek and mild,
blessed was she in her Child.
Blessed was the breast that fed thee;
blessed was the hand that led thee;
blessed was the parent's eye
that watched thy slumbering infancy.

Blessed she by all creation,
who brought forth the world's salvation,
and blessed they, for ever blest,
who love thee most and serve thee best.
Virgin-born, we bow before thee;
blessed was the womb that bore thee;
Mary, Mother meek and mild,
blessed was she in her Child.