168. Hail! festal day, to endless ages known
10.10
Salve! Festa Dies (Easter):
J. Baden-Powell, 1878
Ramaulx:
B. Luard Selby, 1904
Refrain
Latin; Venantius Fortunatus (c. 530-609);
Tr. Theodore A. Lacey, 1884
Hail! festal day, to endless ages known, When Christ, o'er death victorious, gained his throne. | Now with the Lord of new and heavenly birth, His gifts return to grace the springing earth. | He reigns supreme, who died the death of shame; And all created things adore his Name. | Fulfill thy promise, King of love, we pray! The third morn brightens; rise, and come away. | No mouldering tomb shall hold thee in repose; No stone the ransom of the world enclose. | Who holdest all things in thy hollowed hand, No rocky barrier can before thee stand. | Cast off thy grave-clothes; let them there remain: Come forth to us, our All, our only gain. | 155 Creator, Fount of Life, thou knowest the grave; And thence returning, thou art strong to save. | Light of the world, show us thy face once more, The day that died with thee, today restore. | A countless people, from death's fetters free, Own thee Redeemer, join and follow thee. | The shades of death are pierced, his laws undone, And trembling chaos flees the rising sun. | Hail! festal day, to endless ages known, When Christ, o'er death victorious, gained his throne. | |