Sunday, October 08, 2023

Joy dawned again on Easter Day

157 Splendour (Puer nobis nascitur). L. M.

1 That Easter day with joy was bright:
   The sun shone out with fairer light
   When, to their longing eyes restored,
   The apostles saw their risen Lord!

2 His risen flesh with radiance glowed;
   His wounded hands and feet He showed;
   Those scars their solemn witness gave
   That Christ was risen from the grave.

3 O Jesus, King of gentleness,
   With constant love our hearts possess
   That we may give You all our days
   The tribute of our grateful praise.

4 All praise to you, O risen Lord,
   Now both by heav’n and earth adored;
   To God the Father equal praise,
   And God the Spirit, now we raise!
                         Authorship uncertain
                         Tr. by John M. Neale
                         The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition

<idle musing>
Once again, I don't recall ever singing this hymn growing up. It seems that on Easter we would sing two hymns year after year—great hymns, mind you! But, perhaps we missed something by not including others. You can probably guess the two: Christ the Lord has risen today, and Up from the grave he arose.

hymnary.org inserts a verse after verse 3:

4 O Lord of all, with us abide
   In this our joyful Eastertide;
   From ev’ry weapon death can wield
   Your own redeemed forever shield.

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