Alleluia! Sing to Jesus

In the Eucharistic Feast

Alleluia! Sing to Jesus was written by British surgeon and author, William Chatterton Dix (1837-1898). It was first published in 1867 as part of his collection, Al­tar Songs, Vers­es on the Ho­ly Eu­cha­rist. It was intended as a communion hymn for Ascension Sunday and was originally titled: "Redemption by the Precious Blood". It is sung to the 1830 tune, Hyfrydol by the Welsh composer and choir director, Rowland Prichard (1811-1887). Prichard was not a professional musician, he worked as a loom-tenders' assistant at a flannel manufacturing mill in Wales. In the Liturgy of the Hours, Alleluia! Sing to Jesus is used during Easter and on the  the Feast of Corpus Christi.



ALLELUIA! SING TO JESUS! by William Chatterton Dix, 1867 (Public Domain)

1. Alleluia! sing to Jesus! His the scepter, His the throne.
Alleluia! His the triumph, His the victory alone.
Hark! the songs of peaceful Zion thunder like a mighty flood.
Jesus out of every nation has redeemed us by His blood.

2. Alleluia! not as orphans are we left in sorrow now;
Alleluia! He is near us, faith believes, nor questions how;
Though the cloud from sight received Him when the forty days were o’er
Shall our hearts forget His promise, “I am with you evermore”?

3. Alleluia! bread of angels, Thou on earth our food, our stay;
Alleluia! here the sinful flee to Thee from day to day:
Intercessor, Friend of sinners, Earth’s Redeemer, plead for me,
Where the songs of all the sinless sweep across the crystal sea.

4. Alleluia! King eternal, Thee the Lord of lords we own;
Alleluia! born of Mary, Earth Thy footstool, Heav’n Thy throne:
Thou within the veil hast entered, robed in flesh our great High Priest;
Thou on earth both priest and victim in the Eucharistic feast.

Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

Joy of Heaven, to Earth Come Down.

Love Divine, All Loves Excelling, first published in 1747 was written by Methodist, Charles Wesley (1707-1788). Of the some 6500 hymns he wrote, this remains one of the most popular and is generally considered one of his finest works. While often sung to the tune, Beecher, the version found in the Breviary is set to Hyfrodol, written in 1830 by the Welsh musician, Rowland H. Prichard (1811-1887). Another popular setting is to the tune, Blaenwern (as shown in the 2nd video). In the Liturgy of the Hours Love Divine, All Loves Excelling is used during Ordinary Time for Evening Prayer and also on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart.


Tune: Hyfrodol

LOVE DIVINE, ALL LOVES EXCELLING by Charles Wesley, 1747 (Public Domain)

Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven to earth come down;
Fix in us thy humble dwelling;
All thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
Pure unbounded love Thou art;
Visit us with Thy salvation;
Enter every trembling heart.

Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit,
Into every troubled breast!
Let us all in Thee inherit;
Let us find that second rest.
Take away our bent to sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
End of faith, as its Beginning,
Set our hearts at liberty.

Come, Almighty to deliver,
Let us all Thy life receive;
Suddenly return and never,
Never more Thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve Thee as Thy hosts above,
Pray and praise Thee without ceasing,
Glory in Thy perfect love.

Finish, then, Thy new creation;
Pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see Thy great salvation
Perfectly restored in Thee;
Changed from glory into glory,
Till in heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before Thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise.

Tune: Blaenwern