"O Christ, Our True and Only Light"

                 By Johann Heermann, 1585-1647

                                  Text From:

                       THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL

        (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941)







        1. O Christ, our true and only Light,

        Enlighten those who sit in night;

        Let those afar now hear Thy voice

        And in Thy fold with us rejoice.



        2. Fill with the radiance of Thy grace

        The souls now lost in error's maze

        And all whom in their secret minds

        Some dark delusion haunts and blinds.



        3. Oh, gently call those gone astray

        That they may find the saving way!

        Let every conscience sore opprest

        In Thee find peace and heavenly rest.



        4. Oh, make the deaf to hear Thy Word

        And teach the dumb to speak, dear Lord,

        Who dare not yet the faith avow,

        Though secretly they hold it now.



        5. Shine on the darkened and the cold,

        Recall the wanderers to Thy fold,

        Unite all those who walk apart,

        Confirm the weak and doubting heart,



        6. So they with us may evermore

        Such grace with wondering thanks adore

        And endless praise to Thee be given

        By all Thy Church in earth and heaven.



        


        Notes:

        Hymn #512 from _The Lutheran Hymnal_

        Text: Luke 1:79

        Author: Johann Heermann, 1630

        Translated by: Catherine Winkworth, 1858, alt.

        Titled: "O Jesu Christe, wahres Licht"

        Tune: "O Jesu Christ, mein's"

        1st Published in: _Nuernbergisches Gesangbuch_, 1676