With Holy Gladness Full

For the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Feb. 2)

Words: Lætabundus, A Sequence from an 11^th Century Manuscript, with notes 
Erroneously attributed to S. Bernard of Clairvaux (died 1153)

Music: Laetabundus

Compare: Faithful People (Terry, A Medieval Carol Book)

Source: J. W. [John William] Hewett, Verses By A Country Curate (London: Joseph Masters, 1859), pp. 89-91.

Also by Rev. Hewett, Full of Joy, In Sweet Accord

1.
With holy gladness full,
Our faithful chorus sings
Its Alleluia-sweetest song,
To CHRIST, the King of kings.

2.
Him doth the Virgin bear,--
(Oh, wonder wrought to bless!)
The Angel of the Covenant,
The Sun of Righteousness.

3.
That Sun which shall not set,
Whose beam for ever shines;
He is the bright and Morning Star,
The Day Which ne’er declines.

4.
Like as a star its light,
The Virgin gives her Child:
Nor star, nor Virgin, by the birth
Of ray, or Babe defil’d.

5.
In this our vale of tears,
Now bends the cedar tall
Of Libanus, conforming to
The hyssop on the wall.

6.
The Word of God Most High
A human form doth take;
He bears the body of our flesh,
For our salvation’s sake.

7.
O race of Israel,
So ran Isaiah’s strain ;
Yet, though thou know’st the truthful words,
Still blind thou dost remain.

8.
More wise were Gentiles e’en,
Did not the Isles confess
They look’d for a Deliverer,
To ransom and to bless.

9.
Unhappy nation, haste !
Believe the witness high;
Ye chosen people of your GOD,
Oh, say, why will ye die ?

10.
Behold, and kiss the Son,
Of Whom your prophets sing ;
The Virgin doth conceive and bear,
E’en now adore your King. Amen.

Notes by Rev. Hewett:

Daniel, ii. 61 ; v. 47.

Mr. Neale remarks that this Hymn was clearly intended for the Feast of Christmas.

S. Bernard was born A.D. 1091, at Fontaines, near Dijon, in Burgundy. He became a monk of Citeaux, A.D. 1114, and, in the following year, founder of the Abbey of Clairval, of which he was made Abbat. He deceased A.D. 1153.

Editor's Note:

Subsequent research has determined that the author was not St. Bernard.

This version followed "Full of Joy, In Sweet Accord," and Rev. Hewett noted "Another Rendering of the Same."

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