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Hail Thee, Festival Day
EASTER Refrain: Hail thee, festival day! blest day to be hallowed forever; day when our Lord was raised, breaking the kingdom of death. 1 All the fair beauty of earth, from the death of the winter arising! Every good gift of the year now with its Master returns: [Refrain] 2 Rise from the grave now, O Lord, the author of life and creation. Treading the pathway of death, new life you give to us all: [Refrain] ASCENSION Refrain: Hail thee, festival day! blest day to be hallowed forever; day when our risen Lord rose in the heavens to reign. 1 He who was nailed to the cross is Ruler and Lord of all people. All things created on earth sing to the glory of God: [Refrain] 2 Daily the loveliness grows, adorned with the glory of blossom; heaven her gates unbars, flinging her increase of light: [Refrain] PENTECOST Refrain: Hail thee, festival day! blest day to be hallowed forever; day when the Holy Ghost shone in the world full of grace. 1 Bright and in likeness of fire, on those who await your appearing, you whom the Lord had foretold suddenly, swiftly descend: [Refrain] 2 Forth from the Father you come with sevenfold mystical offering, pouring on all human souls infinite riches of God: [Refrain] ALL SEASONS: 3 God the Almighty, the Lord, the Ruler of earth and the heavens, guard us from harm without; cleanse us from evil within: [Refrain] 4 Jesus, the health of the world, enlighten our minds, great Redeemer, Son of the Father supreme, only begotten of God: [Refrain] 5 Spirit of life and of power, now flow in us, fount of our being, light that enlightens us all, life that in all may abide: [Refrain] 6 Praise to the giver of good! O lover and author of concord, pour out your balm on our days; order our ways in your peace: [Refrain]
WORDS: Venantius Honorius Fortunatus
MUSIC: Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906
Theme: Christ's Gracious Life: Resurrection and Exaltation; Christian Year: Ascension; Christian Year: Easter; Christian Year: Pentecost; Jesus Christ; Processionals; The Nature of the Church: Born of the Spirit; The Nature of the Church: Born of the Spirit