Saturday, October 29, 2011

All Saints


Almighty and ever-living God:
we thank thee for the triumph of thy grace
in the holy men and women of every generation
who set their hearts upon thee
and now surround us as a great cloud of witnesses
- those who fell asleep in peace,
and those who won the martyrs' crown.
With so vast a multitude praying for us,
may we come to grasp the breadth and the length,
the height and the depth of the love of Christ,
who liveth and reigneth with thee
in the unity of the Holy Ghost,
one God, world without end. Amen.


For all the Saints who from their labours rest,
Who thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy name, O Jesu, be for ever blest.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress, and their Might,
Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well-fought fight;
Thou in the darkness drear their one true Light.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

For Ever-blessed Mary, - full of grace,
Mother of God, and Queen of all thy Saints, -
With her to thee "Magnificat" we raise.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

For the Apostles' glorious company,
- Who, bearing forth the Cross o'er land and sea,
Shook all the mighty world, - we sing to thee,
Alleluia! Alleluia!

For the Evangelists, - by whose pure word,
Like fourfold stream, the Garden of the Lord
Is fair and fruitful, - be thy Name adored.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

For Martyrs, - who with rapture-kindled eye
Saw the bright crown descending from the sky,
And dying, grasped it, - thee we glorify.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

O may thy soldiers, faithful, true, and bold,
Fight as the Saints who nobly fought of old,
And win, with them, the victor's crown of gold.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

O blest communion! fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
Yet all are one in thee, for all are thine.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,
Steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
And hearts are brave again, and arms are strong.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

The golden evening brightens in the west;
Soon, soon to faithful warriors cometh rest:
Sweet is the calm of Paradise the blest.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;
The Saints triumphant rise in bright array:
The King of glory passes on his way.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

From earth's wide bounds, from ocean's farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
Singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Alleluia! Alleluia!


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