Hymns and Devotions for Daily Worship ‎#254

254. When Morning Gilds the Skies

1. When morning gilds the skies,
My heart awakening cries,
May Jesus Christ be praised.
Alike at work and prayer
To Jesus I repair;
May Jesus Christ be praised.

2. My tongue shall never tire
Of chanting with the choir
May Jesus Christ be praised.
This song of sacred joy,
It never seems to cloy;
May Jesus Christ be praised.

3. Does sadness fill my mind?
A solace here I find.
May Jesus Christ be praised.
Or fades my earthly bliss?
My comfort still is this.
May Jesus Christ be praised.

4. The night becomes as day,
When from the heart we say
May Jesus Christ be praised.
The pow’rs of darkness fear
When this sweet chant they hear,
May Jesus Christ be praised.

5. In Heaven’s eternal bliss
The loveliest strain is this:
May Jesus Christ be praised.
Let earth, and sea, and sky
From depth to height reply,
May Jesus Christ be praised.

6. Be this, while life is mine,
My canticle divine,
May Jesus Christ be praised.
Be this th’ eternal song,
Through all the ages on:
May Jesus Christ be praised.

Text Information

• First Line: When morning gilds the skies
• Title: When Morning Gilds the Skies
• German Title: Beim frühen Morgenlicht
• Translator: Edward Caswall (1853)
• Refrain First Line: May Jesus Christ be praised
• Meter: 6.6.6.6.6.6
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 2024
• Scripture:
  Psalm 34:1-2
  ;
  Exodus 15:2
  ;
  Psalm 40:3
• Topic: Ordinary Time: Week 14
• Notes: German text, “Beim frühen Morgenlicht,” from the Würzburg Katholisches Gesangbuch (1828), tr. by Catholic priest Edward Caswall, st. 1 from Henry Formby’s Cathlolic Hymns (1853); sts. 2–6 from Masque of Mary (1858).

Tune Information

• Name: LAUDES DOMINI
• Composer: Joseph Barnby
• Meter: 6.6.6.6.6.6
• Incipit: 34561 76
• Key: C Major
• Notes: Tune LAUDES DOMINI by English organist Joseph Barnby, from Hymns Ancient & Modern (1868).