TSMSS - A Song of Praise!

This beautiful old hymn has been running through my mind the last day or two. Although there are generally only a few verses in our hymnal (as italicized below), the original song had anywhere from 14 to 28 stanzas, depending on the source you rely on. Not all have been translated to English, but the ones that have are beautiful. It's a shame more of them didn't make it into the hymnbook or our church repertoires.

I couldn't find a version on You Tube I liked, but here's a lovely piano version. Enjoy these simple lyrics as they declare that no matter where we are, our goal in life should be: May Jesus Christ Be Praised!

When Morning Gilds the Skies - Eric Wyse

WHEN MORNING GILDS THE SKIES

When morning gilds the skies,
My heart awaking cries,
May Jesus Christ be praised;
Alike at work and prayer
To Jesus I repair;
May Jesus Christ be praised.

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!

Whene'er the sweet church bell
Peals over hill and dell,
May Jesus Christ be praised;
O hark to what it sings,
As joyously it rings,
May Jesus Christ be praised.

My tongue shall never tire
Of chanting with the choir,
May Jesus Christ be praised;
This song of sacred joy,
It never seems to cloy,
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.

Does sadness fill my mind?
A solace here I find,
May Jesus Christ be praised;
Or fades my earthly bliss?
My comfort still is this,
May Jesus Christ be praised.

To God, the Word, on high,
The host of angels cry,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Let mortals, too,
Upraise their voice in hymns of praise,
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 mirth for music longs,
This is my song of songs:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
When evening shadows fall,
This rings my curfew call,
May Jesus Christ be praised!

Ye nations of mankind
In this your concord find,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Let all the earth around
Ring joyous with the sound,
May Jesus Christ be praised!

The night becomes as day,
When from the heart we say,
May Jesus Christ be praised;
The powers of darkness fear,
When this sweet song they hear,
May Jesus Christ be praised.

In heaven's eternal bliss
The loveliest strain is this,
May Jesus Christ be praised;
Let earth, and sea, and sky
From depth to height reply
May Jesus Christ be praised.

No lovelier antiphon
In all high heav’n is known
Than, Jesus Christ be praised!
There to the eternal Word
The eternal psalm is heard:
May Jesus Christ be praised!

Sing, suns and stars of space,
Sing, ye that see His face,
Sing, Jesus Christ be praised!
God’s whole creation o’er,
For aye and evermore
Shall Jesus Christ be praised!

Be this, while life is mine,
My canticle divine,
May Jesus Christ be praised;
Be this the eternal song
Through ages all along,
May Jesus Christ be praised.

WORDS: Anonymous; Printed in Ka­thol­isch­es Ge­sang­buch in 1828
Translated to English by Edward Caswell (1854) and Robert S. Bridges (1899)
MUSIC: Joseph Barnby, 1868

There are always more great songs for your weekend to be found at Amy's!

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