Alone With None But Thee, O God (King of Kings)

Inside the Cloister of Iona Abbey

Alone with None but Thee, My God is an anonymous translation from the The Hymnbook (1971) of St. Columba's Affirmation, attributed to St. Columba (521-597). The Irish born Columba, (also known as Columcille, Colum, Columbus, Combs, and Columkill) founded no less than 27 monasteries in Ireland by the time he was 25 years of age. In 563, he along with 12 companions crossed the Irish Sea to establish the Iona Abbey. Columba would eventually venture further into Scotland and even the Outer Hebrides in his efforts to spread the Gospel. Sung at Morning Prayer in the Divine Office, Alone with None but Thee, My God is set to the tune: Auch Jetzt Macht, first published in the Choralbuch of 1816. The following video features a popular version (set to a different tune), re-titled: "King of Kings", as performed by The Priests.

Christ is the World’s Redeemer / Christ­us Re­demp­tor Om­ni­um

Iona Abbey

Christ is the World's Redeemer is a translation of the 6th century Latin hymn, Christ­us Re­demp­tor Om­ni­um (see below) by St. Columba (521-597). Born in Ireland, as a young man he entered Clonard Abbey under St. Finnian (470–549) where he took Holy Orders. In 563, he along with twelve companions crossed over to the island of Iona, off the coast of Scotland. There he converted the northern Picts to Christianity and established the Iona Abbey, a monastery that became a focal point of spirituality and learning. Christ­us Re­demp­tor Om­ni­um is one of several hymns that he wrote. The English translation is by the Reverend, Duncan MacGregor (1854-1923) and is set to the traditional Irish folk tune: Moville.


Tune: Moville

CHRIST IS THE WORLD’S REDEEMER by Dun­can Mac­Greg­or (Public Domain)

1. Christ is the world’s Redeemer,
The lover of the pure,
The Fount of heavenly wisdom,
Our trust and hope secure;
The Armor of His soldiers,
The Lord of earth and sky;
Our Health while we are living,
Our Life when we shall die.

2. Christ hath our host surrounded
With clouds of martyrs bright,
Who wave their palms in triumph,
And fire us for the fight.
Christ the red cross ascended,
To save a world undone,
And, suffering for the sinful,
Our full redemption won.

3. All glory to the Father,
The unbegotten One;
All honor be to Jesus,
His sole begotten Son;
And to the Holy Spirit -
The perfect Trinity.
Let all the worlds give answer,
“Amen—so let it be.”


CHRISTUS REDEMPTOR OMNIUM by St. Columba

Refrain: Christus lorica militum.
              Christus creator omnium.

1. Christus, redemptor gentium,
Christus, amator virginum,
Christus, fons sapientium,
Christus, fides credentium;

2. Christus, salus viventium
Et vita morientium,
Coronavit exercitum
Nostrum cum turba martyrum. 

3. Christus crucem ascenderat,
Christus mundum salvaverat,
Christus et nos redemerat,
Christus pro nobis passus est;

4. Christus infernum penetrat,
Christus caelum ascenderat,
Christus cum Deo sederat,
Ubi nunquam defuerat.

5. Gloria haec altissimo
Deo Patri ingenito,
Honor ac summo Filio,
Unico, unigenito,

6. Spirituique optimo,
Sancto, perfecto, sedujo;
Amen, fiat perpetua
In sempiterna saecula.

Refrain: In te, Christe, credentium
              Miserearis omnium;
              Tu es Deus in saecula
              Saeculorum in gloria. 

Latin text is from the collection: Latin Hymns (p.26) by Matthew Germing S.J., Loyola University Press, 1920

The King of Love My Shepherd Is

Your  Cross Will Ever Guide Me

The King Of Love My Shepherd Is, is an Anthony G. Petti (1932-1985) adaption of the 1868 Sir Henry W. Baker (1821-1877) paraphrase of Psalm 23. Baker took Holy Orders in the Church of England in 1844. He was closely associated with hymnody in the Church. Besides writing, translating, and composing a number of hymns, his most notable role was as Ed­it­or-in-Chief of the first edition of Hymns An­cient and Mo­dern (1861) which sold over 60 million copies. The King of Love My Shepherd Is has proven to be his most enduring work. It is said that as he lay dying his final words were those of the 3rd stanza: "Perverse and foolish, oft I strayed, but yet in love he sought me; and on his shoulder gently laid, and home, rejoicing, brought me." It is sung to the tune: St. Columba, a traditional Irish melody. In the Liturgy of the Hours it is used in the Common of Pastors and with the Office for the Dead.



THE KING OF LOVE MY SHEPHERD IS by Henry Baker, 1868 (Public Domain)

1. The King of love my Shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never,
I nothing lack if I am His
And He is mine forever.

2. Where streams of living water flow
My ransomed soul He leadeth,
And where the verdant pastures grow,
With food celestial feedeth.

3. Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
But yet in love He sought me,
And on His shoulder gently laid,
And home, rejoicing, brought me.

4. In death’s dark vale I fear no ill
With Thee, dear Lord, beside me;
Thy rod and staff my comfort still,
Thy cross before to guide me.

5. Thou spread’st a table in my sight;
Thy unction grace bestoweth;
And O what transport of delight
From Thy pure chalice floweth!

6. And so through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing
Thy praise Within Thy house forever.