Weekly poem #3 is “Of the Father’s Love Begotten,” by none other than Marcus Aurelius! Okay, Marcus Aurelius Clemens Prudentius, commonly called Prudentius (348-413). Translated by Rev. J. M. Neale and Rev. Sir H. W. Baker. Copied and pasted from the Oremus Hymnal and then modified to match the Book of Common Praise. Latinists and wankers amongst you can find the Latin version here at the Cyberhymnal.
So far, Sophie has commented on Jabberwocky and I have responded. Feel free to leave comments on all and sundry!
Of the Father’s love begotten,
ere the worlds began to be,
he is Alpha and Omega,
he the Source, the Ending he,
of the things that are, that have been,
and that future years shall see,
evermore and evermore!
At his word the worlds were framèd;
he commanded; it was done:
heaven and earth and depths of ocean
in their threefold order one;
all that grows beneath the shining
of the moon and burning sun,
evermore and evermore!
O that birth for ever blessèd,
when the Virgin, full of grace,
by the Holy Ghost conceiving,
bare the Savior of our race;
and the Babe, the world’s Redeemer,
first revealed his sacred face,
evermore and evermore!
This is he whom seers in old time
chanted of with one accord;
whom the voices of the prophets
promised in their faithful word;
now he shines, the long-expected,
let creation praise its Lord,
evermore and evermore!
O ye heights of heaven, adore him;
angel-hosts, his praises sing;
All dominions, bow before him,
and extol our God and King;
let no tongue on earth be silent,
every voice in concert ring,
evermore and evermore!
Thee let old men, thee let young men,
thee let boys in chorus sing;
matrons, virgins, little maidens,
with glad voices answering;
let their guileless songs re-echo,
and the heart its praises bring,
evermore and evermore!
Christ, to thee, with God the Father,
and, O Holy Ghost, to thee,
hymn and chant and high thanksgiving,
and unwearied praises be;
honor, glory and dominion,
and eternal victory,
evermore and evermore!
[...] This is who Jesus is: the Creator of the Stars of Night; the Creator of nebulae and galaxies and comets and solar systems and suns and planets and asteroids and all stellar phenomena; the Creator of ants and whales and bacteria and diatoms and hair and mountains and goats and birch trees and mighty oaks and Niagara Falls and you and me. As Creator of humanity, He gave unto us a certain creative faculty. Therefore, all the works of beauty created by humans are traceable back to the Creator God: the architecture of this Church, beautiful poetry, paintings, stained-glass windows, fabulous novels, true philosophy—all because of Jesus. He is the Creator of the Universe. He made stuff by talking. His Word went forth and made all that was, all that is, and all that ever shall be. As we sing in the fourth-century hymn of Prudentius: [...]
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