More Easter joy

As happens every year, it takes some time after the Oratorio to get caught up on things. So, though some friends sent me a beautiful e-card for Easter, I didn’t actually see it until almost a week later.

That ended up being kind of a blessing, because now that I wasn’t in the midst of so much busyness, I was able to really take in the inspiration. Also, the music used in the e-card is a hymn that I grew up with, which was used in such a sensitive and uplifted manner that it deeply touched me and opened up my heart.

I wanted to embed the e-card in order to share with you as a video, but it wasn’t possible on my blog platform. However, you can click here to view the card instead.

As it was an instrumental version of the hymn, I wanted to be reminded of how the lyrics went, so I did a quick Google search.

Well, I was delighted to discover that the hymn “All creatures of our God and King”, is an adaption of St. Francis of Assisi’s poem “Canticle of the Sun” — also known as “Canticle of the Creatures”. The words of the poem were translated to English by William Draper, who then paraphrased the poem and set it to music in the early 1900’s.

No wonder I’ve always loved it so much!

Here’s a beautiful choir rendition of the hymn, although they sing only four of the seven verses. Check out the lyrics below to see the verses about flowing water, mother earth, and gentle death. So powerful.

LYRICS:

1. All creatures of our God and king
   Lift up your voice and with us sing,
   Alleluia! Alleluia!
   Thou burning sun with golden beam,
   Thou silver moon with softer gleam!

Refrain
O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

2. Thou rushing wind that art so strong
   Ye clouds that sail in Heaven along,
   O praise Him! Alleluia!
   Thou rising morn, in praise rejoice,
   Ye lights of evening, find a voice! [Refrain]
   
3. Thou flowing water, pure and clear,
   Make music for thy Lord to hear,
   O praise Him! Alleluia!
   Thou fire so masterful and bright,
   That givest man both warmth and light. [Refrain]
   
4. Dear mother earth, who day by day
   Unfoldest blessings on our way,
   O praise Him! Alleluia!
   The flowers and fruits that in thee grow,
   Let them His glory also show. [Refrain]
   
5. And all ye men of tender heart,
   Forgiving others, take your part,
   O sing ye! Alleluia!
   Ye who long pain and sorrow bear,
   Praise God and on Him cast your care! [Refrain]
   
6. And thou most kind and gentle death,
   Waiting to hush our latest breath,
   O praise Him! Alleluia!
   Thou leadest home the child of God,
   And Christ our Lord the way hath trod. [Refrain]
   
7. Let all things their creator bless,
   And worship Him in humbleness,
   O praise Him! Alleluia!
   Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,
   And praise the Spirit, Three in One! [Refrain]

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