Hymnology: Rejoice!

 

Dance of Grace by Mark Keathley   (Image Source)

Hymn for the Fourteenth Sunday
of Ordinary Time

"O God, who in the abasement of your Son have raised up a fallen world, fill your faithful with holy joy, for on those you have rescued from slavery to sin you bestow eternal gladness" (Roman Missal, Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time).

"Thus says the Lord: Rejoice heartily, O daughter Zion, shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem!" (Zechariah 9:9; from the First Reading, 14th Sunday, Year A).

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor" (Cf. Luke 4:18; from the Alleluia Verse, 14th Sunday, Year B).

"Thus says the Lord: Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad because of her, all you who love her; exult, exult with her, all you who were mourning over her! ... When you see this, your heart shall rejoice and your bodies flourish like the grass; the Lord's power shall be known to his servants." (Isaiah 66:10,14; from the First Reading, 14th Sunday, Year C).

Rejoice!

Text: David D. Varella (2021)

Tune: “Puer Nobis”, adapt. by Michael Praetorius (1571-1621)

“Rejoice, rejoice!” the Scriptures say,

“Be joyful in the Lord always!”

Rejoice in God who is our King,

Rejoice even in suffering.

This joy springs from the Heart of Christ,

Who gave for us His very life,

And when He rose up from the grave,

His peace and joy to us He gave.

This joy is from the Holy Ghost,

Whose fruit we need in combat most,

As we confront the throngs of hell

His joy our ev’ry fear dispel.

So why art thou so sad, my soul?

Rejoice in God who is thy goal;

Thou art His son because of grace – 

Now run and win the glorious race!

Rise up from slumber and from pain,

For thou must fight to heaven gain;

So be not sad, nor sorrowful,

Have trust in God to make thee whole.

In this our dread and darkest hour

In open war is Satan’s power,

But we must trust in God at length,

The joy of God is our full strength.

O Lord, send forth Thy truth and light,

Show forth Thy power and Thy might:

Give youthful joy unto my soul

And grant to me a joyful hope.

All glory to the Father be,

All laud to Jesus, as is meet,

All praise be to the Holy Ghost,

And joy unto the heav’nly host. Amen.