Above:  Icon of the Holy Trinity, by Andrei Rublev

Image in the Public Domain

Text by Robert Belgarnie Young (R. B. Y.) Scott (1899-1987)

Hymn Source = The Hymn Book of the Anglican Church of Canada and the United Church of Canada (1971)

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Sing ye praises to the Father,

sing ye praises to the Son,

sing ye praises to the Spirit,

living and eternal One.

God has made us, God has blessed us,

God has called us to be true;

he is Lord of all creation,

daily making all things new.

+++++

Join the praise of every creature,

sing with singing birds at dawn;

when the stars shine forth at nightfall,

hear their heavenly antiphon.

Praise him for the light of summer,

autumn glories, winter snows,

for the coming of the springtime

and the life of all that glows.

+++++

Praise God on our days of gladness

for his summons to rejoice,

praise him in our times of sadness

for the comfort of his voice.

God our Father, strong and loving,

Christ our Saviour, Leader, Lord,

living God, Creator Spirit–

by thy holy name adored!

Above:  The Church Triumphant and the Church Militant, by Andrea di Bonaiuto, at the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, Florence, Italy

Image in the Public Domain

Text by Reginald Heber (1783-1826)

Text Source = The English Hymnal (1906), The Church of England

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Holy, Holy, Holy!  Lord God Almighty!

Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee;

Holy, Holy Holy! Merciful and mighty!

God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

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Holy Holy, Holy!  all the Saints adore thee,

Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;

Cherubim and Seraphim falling down before thee,

Which, wert, and art, and evermore shall be.

+++++

Holy, Holy, Holy!  though the darkness hide thee,

Though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see,

Only thou art holy, there is none beside thee

Perfect in power, in love, and purity.

+++++

Holy, Holy, Holy!  Lord God Almighty!

All thy works shall praise thy name, in earth, and sky, and sea;

Holy, Holy, Holy!  Merciful and mighty!

God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

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SOME UNITARIAN VERSIONS OF THE HYMN

(FOR THE SAKE OF CURIOSITY, IF NOTHING ELSE)

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Hymn Sources = Hymns of the Spirit (1937), American Unitarian Association and Universalist Church of America; and Hymns for the Celebration of Life (1964), Unitarian Universalist Association

Holy, holy, holy!  Lord God Almighty!

Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee;

Holy, holy, holy!  Merciful and Mighty!

Who wert, and art, and evermore shall be.

+++++

Holy, holy, holy!  Though the darkness hide thee,

Though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see,

Only thou art holy, there is none beside thee

Perfect in power, in love and purity!

+++++

Holy, holy, holy!  Lord God Almighty!

All thy works shall praise thy name in earth, and sky, and sea;

Holy, holy, holy!  Merciful and Mighty!

Who wert, and art, and evermore shall be.

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Hymn Source = Singing the Living Tradition (1993), Unitarian Universalist Association

Holy, holy, holy!  author of creation!

Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee;

holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty;

who was, and is, and evermore shall be.

+++++

Holy, holy, holy, though the darkness hide thee,

hindered by our vanities we have not eyes to see.

Only thou art holy, there is none beside thee,

perfect in power, in love, and purity.

+++++

Holy, holy, holy!  author of creation!

All thy works shall praise thy name in earth and sky and sea;

holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty;

who was, and is, and evermore shall be.

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Might I state the obvious?  First, the irony of a staunchly Trinitarian hymn appearing in altered forms in Unitarian hymnals is rich.  Furthermore, “hindered by our vanities we have not eyes to see ” is substantially different from “though the sinful eye of man thy glory may not see.”

KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR

FEBRUARY 23, 2017 COMMON ERA

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Above:  Icon of the Holy Trinity, by Andrei Rublev

Image in the Public Domain

Swedish Text (1530) by Olavus Petri (1493-1552)

English Translation (Before 1925) by Augustus Nelson (1863-1949)

Hymn Source = The Hymnal and Order of Service (1925), The Evangelical Lutheran Augustana Synod

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Our Father, merciful and good,

Who dost to Thee invite us,

O cleanse us in our Saviour’s blood,

And to Thyself unite us!

Send unto us Thy holy Word,

And let it guide us ever;

Then in this world of darkness, Lord,

Shall naught from Thee us sever:

Grant us, O Lord, this favor!

+++++

We cry to Thee with one accord,

‘Tis all that can avail us;

We cannot hear nor keep Thy Word,

If grace divine doth fail us.

Behold our lot, we humbly pray,

For our dear Saviour’s merit,

How Satan soweth tares alway,

And send, O Lord, Thy Spirit,

That we may life inherit.

+++++

O God and man, Christ Jesus blest!

Our sorrows Thou didst carry,

Our wants and cares Thou knowest best,

For Thou with us didst tarry.

O Jesus Christ, our Brother dear,

To us and every nation

Thy Spirit send, let Him draw near

With truth and consolation,

That we may see salvation.

+++++

Come, Holy Ghost, Thy grace impart,

Tear Satan’s snares asunder.

The Word of God keep in our heart,

That we its truth may ponder.

Then, sanctified, for evermore

In Christ alone confiding,

We’ll sing His praise and Him adore,

His precious Word us guiding

To heavenly joys abiding!

Above:  Icon of the Holy Trinity, by Andrei Rublev

Image in the Public Domain

Hymn Source = American Lutheran Hymnal (1930), The American Lutheran Church (1930-1960) and its immediate predecessor bodies

Original German Text by Johann Konrad Wilhelm Loehe (1808-1872)

English Translation (1894) by Harriet Reynolds Krauth Spaeth (1845-1925)

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O Son of God, in co-eternal might,

O Son of Man, clothed in the living light

Of Godhead manifest, in pow’r and glory;

Lord Jesus Christ, Thou sole Desire

That doth Thy longing worshippers inspire,

For Thee alone my spirit yearns in me;

No, bliss I find until I am with Thee.

+++

The field is golden, flow’rs the meadow strew,

The mountains rise sublime, the skies are blue;

In these the child of earth may well find pleasure;

I too, rejoice in all of them,

But, not content, I want Jerusalem.

Where Thou art throned, thither sets my sail;

Home is not home, except within the veil.

+++

Angelic legions, in Thy brightness bright,

Gaze on Thy face; my fathers share the sight;

The God-man’s matchless glory is unshrouded,

And from that vision, to the soul

Unmeasured waves of joy supernal roll,

That rise in full and ever fuller tone,

Like ocean surges, to the Lamb’s white throne.

+++

Then let me go–what further hinders me?–

To mine own folk, the Son of Man to see.

No glance will I; of that majestic beauty

My eager soul would take her fill.

Joy even now, and trembling, thro’ me thrill.

I must away! Thou hast prepared my place;

My spirit panteth, Lord, to see Thy face.

Above:  Icon of the Holy Trinity, by Andrei Rublev

Image in the Public Domain

Hymnal Source = The Lutheran Hymnal (1941), Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America

Anonymous German Text (1543); attributed to Martin Luther (1483-1546)

English Translation (1940) by William Gustave Polack (1890-1950)

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1.  All glory be to God alone,

Forevermore the Highest One,

Who doth our sinful race befriend

And grace and peace to us extend.

Among mankind may His good will

All hearts with deep thanksgiving fill.

2.  We praise Thee, God, and Thee we bless;

We worship Thee in humbleness;

From day by day we glorify Thee,

Everlasting  God on high.

Of Thy great glory do we sing,

And e’er to Thee our thanks we bring.

3.  Lord God, our King on heaven’s throne,

Our Father, the Almighty One.

O Lord, the Sole begotten One,

Lord Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son,

True God from all eternity,

O Lamb of God, to Thee we flee.

4.  Thou dost the world’s sin take away;

Have mercy on us, Lord, we pray.

Thou dost the world’s sin take away;

Give ear unto the prayer we say.

Thou sitt’st at God’s right hand for aye;

Have mercy on us, Lord, we pray.

5.  Thou only art the Holy One;

Thou art o’er all things Lord alone.

O Jesus Christ, we glorify

Thee only as the Lord Most High;

Thou art, the Holy Ghost with Thee,

One in the Father’s majesty.

6.  Amen, this ever true shall be,

As angels sing adoringly.

By all creation, far and wide,

Thou, Lord, art ever glorified;

And Thee all Christendom doth praise

Now and through everlasting days.

Above:  Icon of the Holy Trinity, by Andrei Rublev

Image in the Public Domain

Hymn Source = The Lutheran Hymnal (1941), Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America

Original German Words (1668) by Tobias Clausnitzer (1619-1684)

English Translation (1863) by Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878)

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1.  We all believe in one true God,

Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,

Ever-present Help in need,

Praised by all the heav’nly host,

By whose mighty pow’r alone

All is made and wrought and done.

2.  We all believe in Jesus Christ,

Son of God and Mary’s Son,

Who descended from His throne

And for us salvation won;

By whose cross and death are we

Rescued from all misery.

3.  We all confess the Holy Ghost,

Who from both fore’er proceeds;

Who upholds and comforts us

In all trials, fears, and needs.

Blest and Holy Trinity,

Praise forever be to Thee!

Above:  Part of the Text, from the Service Book and Hymnal (1958)

Original Latin Words from Circa the 900s C.E.

English Translation (1906) by Percy Dearmer (1867-1936)

Hymn Source = Lutheran Service Book and Hymnal (1958)

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1.  Father most holy, merciful, and tender;

Jesus our Saviour, with the Father reigning;

Spirit all kindly, Advocate, Defender,

Light never waning;

2.  Trinity sacred, Unity unshaken;

Deity perfect, giving and forgiving,

Light of the angels, Life of the forsaken,

Hope of all living.

3.  Maker of all things, all thy creatures praise thee;

Lo, all things serve thee through thy whole creation:

Hear us, Almighty, hear us, as we raise thee

Heart’s adoration.

4.  To the all-ruling triune God be glory:

Highest and greatest, help thou our endeavor,

We too would praise thee, giving honor worthy,

Now and for ever.  Amen.

Above:  St. Nicholas Episcopal Church, Hamilton, Georgia, Trinity Sunday, June 19, 2011

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

(https://plus.google.com/photos/114749828757741527421/albums/5619993286139279201/5620026101507470674?banner=pwa)

Hymn Source = Lutheran Service Book and Hymnal (1958)

Original words by St. Ambrose of Milan (340-397); English translation by John Mason Neale (1818-1866)

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1.  O Trinity of blessed light,

O Unity of princely might,

The fiery sun now goes his way;

Shed thou within our hearts thy ray.

2.  To thee our morning song of praise,

To thee our evening prayer we raise;

Thy glory suppliant we adore

For ever and for evermore.

3.  All laud to God the Father be,

All praise, eternal Son, to thee,

All glory, as it is ever meet,

To God the holy Paraclete.

Above:  Holy Eucharist at The Episcopal Church’s 2012 General Convention, Indianapolis, Indiana

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

(https://picasaweb.google.com/114749828757741527421/DioceseOfAtlantaGeneralConvention2012#5763884185994389554)

Hymn Source = The Hymnal 1982, of The Episcopal Church

Words by William Harry Turton (1856-1938)

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1.  Thou, who at thy first Eucharist didst pray

that all thy Church might be forever one,

grant us at every Eucharist, to say

with longing heart and soul, “Thy will be done.”

O may we all one bread, one body be,

through this blest sacrament of unity.

2.  For all thy Church, O Lord, we intercede,

make thou our sad divisions cease;

draw us the nearer to each, we plead,

by drawing all to thee, O Prince of Peace;

thus may we all one bread, one body be,

through this blest sacrament of unity.

3.  So, Lord, at length when sacraments shall cease,

may we be one with all thy Church above,

one with thy saints in one unbroken peace,

one with thy saints in one unbounded love;

more blessed still, in peace and love to be

one with the Trinity in Unity.

Above:  St. Nicholas Episcopal Church, Hamilton, Georgia, June 19, 2011 (Trinity Sunday)

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

(https://picasaweb.google.com/114749828757741527421/StNicholasHamilton#5620043994398741090)

Hymn Source = The New Psalms and Hymns (1901), of the Presbyterian Church in the United States

Words (circa 1813) by John Marriott (1780-1825), a priest of The Church of England

Marriott was a good friend of the novelist Sir Walter Scott.  Unfortunately for Marriott,

In 1824, he was attacked by ossification of the brain.

–page 422, Handbook to The Church Hymnary, edited by James Moffatt  (London:  Oxford University Press, 1927)

Publication of all Marriott’s hymns occurred after he died.

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1.  Thou, whose almighty word

Chaos and darkness heard,

And took their flight;

Hear us, we humbly pray,

And where the Gospel’s ray

Sheds not its glorious ray,

Let there be light!

2.  Thou, who didst come to bring

On Thy redeeming wing

Healing and sight,

Health to the sick in mind,

Sight to the inly blind,

O now, to all mankind,

Let there be light!

3.  Spirit of truth and love,

Life-giving, holy Dove,

Speed forth Thy flight,

Move o’er the waters’ face,

Bearing the lamp of grace,

And in earth’s darkest place,

Let there be light!

4.  Holy and blessed Three,

Glorious Trinity,

Wisdom, Love, Might;

Boundless as ocean’s tide

Rolling in fullest pride,

Through the world, far and wide,

Let there be light!