Monday, June 9, 2008

When Morning Gilds the Skies

"From the rising of the sun to its setting the LORD's name is to be praised." (Ps. 113:3)  The anonymous Catholic hymn, "Beim fruehen Morgenlicht," which first appeared in the Katholisches Gesangbuch of 1744, was translated into English by Edward Caswall, a Roman Catholic priest.  In translating "When Morning Gilds the Skies," he freely rendered the verses and added some of his own.  The original English had twenty-eight (fourteen double) stanzas.  Here are a few new ones for you to sing:

When you begin the day, 
O never fail to say,  
     May Jesus Christ be praised!
And at your work rejoice, 
to sing with heart and voice,  
     May Jesus Christ be praised!

Be this at meals your grace, 
in every time and place;  
     May Jesus Christ be praised!
Be this, when day is past, 
of all your thoughts the last   
     May Jesus Christ be praised!

When sleep her balm denies, 
my silent spirit sighs,  
     May Jesus Christ be praised!
When evil thoughts molest, 
with this I shield my breast,  
     May Jesus Christ be praised!

The night becomes as day, 
when from the heart we say,  
     May Jesus Christ be praised!
The pow'rs of darkness fear 
when this sweet chant they hear;  
     May Jesus Christ be praised!

Be this, while life is mine, 
my canticle divine;  
     May Jesus Christ be praised!
Be this th'eternal song 
thro' all the ages long;  
     May Jesus Christ be praised!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Here's the link to L.S.B. Hymn 807 "When Morning Gilds the Skies" at Cyber Hymnal http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/w/h/e/whenmgts.htm
As I read the lyrics, I thought it is such a wonderful Hymn of praise and adoration for New Years Eve, The Naming of Our Lord Jesus Christ ( Luke 2:22-38 ). How wonderful it was to be there that wondeful day looking into the face of God.

I was just telling my Pastors the other day that I was feeling like I'm in a " pigeonhold " at church. Some Lutherans have compared pastors as doctors , the church as a hospital and those of us in the congregation as sick people. I'm tired of that kind of thinking, it isn't correct, it temts me to stop coming to church. The Bible tells me that by His striped we are healed and in His Baptism He has made us well.

It crossed my mind that Joseph and Mary offered a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. " to be sacrificed. When my mother died she requested that doves be set free at her grave side service, we couldn't honor her request but it might have been impressive to think about our spirit leaving earth to be free of all sin and sickness, to be free to fly away
" When Morning Gilds the Skies ".

My husband has been reading the Book of Job this week trying to find out when and at what point in Job's life the devil stopped tormenting him. Now that my husband is in a wheel chair and suffering daily,I'm suffering right along with him. He believes that he has a lot in common with Job so he is trying to learn more about him. It isn't helping him, he's just getting more depressed.

I suggested that he start praising God more. I suggested that instead of just always begging for God for a miracle he should praise God for for the miracle he hopes God will bless him with soon. As it is written in 1 Peter 5:10
"And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you."

In truth ... I think this is the first time I've ever seen or heard this hymn. Thank you for drawing my attention to it, I will pass this on to my husband Don this morning. The words are surely up lifting and cause us to look again at Jesus Christ and praise Him for His Mercy. I would like to attend the next Mercy Conference, being planned for 2009. Chttp://www.lcms.org/pages/default.asp?NavID=10554

I find it interesting that the people at Cyber Hymnal remind us to remember Job 1:21 - And he said, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Matthew 9:9 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.10 And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

amelithpastor said...

I was pleasantly surprised to come across some of the additional stanzas for this text. It certainly is a joyful hymn of praise.