Christ The Lord Most Glorious
Alternate Title:
Christ the Lord, The Lord Most Glorious
For Christmas
Words and Music: John Antes (1740-1811)
Moravian Community, 18th century
Source: A Collection of Hymns for the Use of the Protestant Church of the United Brethren. New and Revised Edition. (Manchester: R & W. Dean, 1809), #47, p. 16. Tune: #16.
1. Christ the Lord, the Lord
most glorious,
Now is born; O shout aloud!
Man by Him is made victorious;
Praise your Savior, hail your God.
2. Praise the Lord, for on us
shineth
Christ the Sun of righteousness;
He to us in love inclineth,
Cheers our souls with pard'ning grace.
3. Praise the lord, whose
saving splendour
Shines into the darkest night;
O what praises shall we render
For this never-ceasing light!
4. Praise the Lord, God our
salvation,
Praise Him who retriev'd our loss;
Sing with awe and love's sensation;
Hallelujah, God with us!
Sheet Music from The Liturgy and Offices of Worship and Hymns of the American Province of the Unitas Fratrum, or The Moravian Church (Winston Salem, Southern Province, 1908), #276, Tune 16, p. 59.
Tune 16,M, p. 60
Sheet Music to "O Sanctissima" from O. Hardwig, ed., The Wartburg Hymnal (Chicago: Wartburg Publishing House, 1918), #91, p. 126.
Editor's Note:
The "Sicilian Mariner's Hymn" — which likely has no relationship to Sicily — occurs in print from the mid 1790s and later, including Tattersall's Psalmody in 1794 with the name "Sicilian Hymn." It has often been paired with the Latin poem "O Sanctissima," but has also been paired with numerous translations and other lyrics over the years. It's exact origin and date of composition is unknown.
We recently received a kind note from Mary, which helped us to clarify the lyrics to this hymn, and also letting us know that there were some recent changes to this old hymn, including the following:
1. Christ the Lord, the Lord most glorious,
Now is born; O shout aloud!
We by him are made victorious;
Praise the Savior, hail our God!
2. Praise the Lord! On us is shining
Christ the Sun of righteousness;
He, to us in love inclining,
Cheers our souls with pard'ning grace.
Mary noted, however, that "Most Moravians still use the older version at their Christmas Eve services because we're quite stuck on tradition. Many know it by heart so changing it would cause quite a stir."
We are always grateful to get notes from our visitors with these kinds of updates. Thanks, Mary!
If you would like to help support Hymns and Carols of Christmas, please click on the button below and make a donation.
Related Hymns and Carols