Lenten Hymns

Morning Prayer
Praise To The Holiest In The Height
The Glory Of These Forty Days
With Hearts Renewed By Living Faith
Precemur Omnes Cernui
Iam, Christe, Sol Iustitiae

Daytime Prayer
Take Up Your Cross, the Savior Said

Evening Prayer
Lord Who Throughout These Forty Days
This Is Our Accepted Time
When I Survey The Wondrous Cross
Attende Domine
Audi, Benigne Conditor
Iesu, Quadragenariae

Office Of Readings
Now Let Us All With One Accord
Creator of the Earth and Skies


Morning Prayer


Praise To The Holiest In The Height
Tune

Praise to the Holiest in the height,
and in the depth be praise;
in all his words most wonderful,
most sure in all his ways!

O loving wisdom of our God!
When all was sin and shame,
a second Adam to the fight
and to the rescue came.

O wisest love! that flesh and blood,
which did in Adam fail,
should strive afresh against the foe,
should strive, and should prevail;

and that the highest gift of grace
should flesh and blood refine:
God's presence and his very self,
and essence all-divine.

O generous love! that he who smote
in man for man the foe,
the double agony in Man
for man should undergo.

And in the garden secretly,
and on the cross on high,
should teach his brethren, and inspire
to suffer and to die.

Praise to the Holiest in the height,
and in the depth be praise;
in all his words most wonderful,
most sure in all his ways!


Text: John Henry Newman
Tune: CM, Gerontius,John Bacchus Dykes, 1823-1876


The Glory Of These Forty Days
Tune

The glory of these forty days
We celebrate with songs of praise;
For Christ, by Whom all things were made,
Himself has fasted and has prayed.

Alone and fasting Moses saw
The loving God Who gave the law;
And to Elijah, fasting, came
The steeds and chariots of flame.

So Daniel trained his mystic sight,
Delivered from the lions’ might;
And John, the Bridegroom’s friend, became
The herald of Messiah’s Name.

Then grant us, Lord, like them to be
Full oft in fast and prayer with Thee;
Our spirits strengthen with Thy grace,
And give us joy to see Thy face.

O Father, Son, and Spirit blest,
To thee be every prayer addressed,
Who art in threefold Name adored,
From age to age, the only Lord.


Text: Latin, 6th Century; Translator, Maurice F. Bell, 1906
Tune: 8.8.8.8 Spires; Jo­seph Klug, 1543; har­mo­nized by J. S. Bach



With Hearts Renewed By Living Faith
Tune

With hearts renewed by living faith,
We lift our thoughts in grateful prayer
To God our gracious Father,
Whose plan it was to make us sons
Through his own Son's redemptive death,
That rescued us from darkness.  
Lord, God, Savior,
Give us strength to mold our hearts in your true likeness,
Sons and servants of our Father.

So rich God's grace in Jesus Christ,
That we are called as sons of light
To bear the pledge of glory.
Through him in whom all fullness dwells,
We offer God our gift of self
In union with the Spirit.
Lord, God, Savior,
Give us strength to mold our hearts in your true likeness,
Sons and servants of our Father.


Text: Jack May, S.J.
Tune: 887.887.48.48 Frankfort; Philip Nicolai, 1599, arr. by J.S. Bach

Precemur Omnes Cernui
Tune

Precemur omnes cernui,
clamemus atque singuli,
ploremus ante iudicem,
flectamus iram vindicem:

Nostris malis offendimus
tuam, Deus, clementiam;
effunde nobis desuper,
remissor, indulgentiam.

Memento quod sumus tui,
licet caduci, plasmatis;
ne des honorem nominis
tui, precamur, alteri.

Laxa malum quod fecimus,
auge bonum quod poscimus,
placere quo tandem tibi
possimus hic et perpetim.

Præsta, beata Trinitas,
concede, simplex Unitas,
ut fructuosa sint tuis
hæc parcitatis munera.

IN prayer together let us fall,
and cry for mercy, one and all,
and weep before the Judge's feet,
and His avenging wrath entreat.

Thy grace have we offended sore,
by sins, O God, which we deplore;
but pour upon us from on high,
O pardoning One, Thy clemency.

Remember Thou, though frail we be,
that yet Thine handiwork are we;
nor let the honor of Thy Name
be by another put to shame.

Forgive the sin that we have wrought;
increase the good that we have sought:
that we at length, our wanderings o'er,
may please Thee here and evermore.

Blest Three in One, and One in Three,
Almighty God, we pray to Thee,
that this our fast of forty days
may work our profit and Thy praise. Amen.

Gregory the Great, 6th Century
Tune: LM, Ex more docti mystico; plainsong, Verona MS, 12th Century


Iam, Christe, Sol Iustitiae
Tune

IAM, Christe, sol iustitiae,
mentis dehiscant tenebrae,
virtutum ut lux redeat,
terris diem cum reparas.

Dans tempus acceptabile
et paenitens cor tribue,
convertat ut benignitas
quos longa suffert pietas.

Quiddamque paenitentiae
da ferre, quo fit demptio,
maiore tuo munere,
culparum quamvis grandium.

Dies venit, dies tua,
per quam reflorent omnia;
laetemur in hac ut tuae
per hanc reducti gratiae.

Te rerum universitas,
clemens, adoret, Trinitas,
et nos novi per veniam
novum canamus canticum. Amen.

NOW Christ, Thou Sun of righteousness,
let dawn our darkened spirits bless:
the light of grace to us restore
while day to earth returns once more.

Thou who dost give the accepted time,
give, too, a heart that mourns for crime,
let those by mercy now be cured
whom loving - kindness long endured.

Spare not, we pray, to send us here
some penance kindly but severe,
so let Thy gift of pardoning grace
our grievous sinfulness efface.

Soon will that day, Thy day, appear
and all things with its brightness cheer:
we will rejoice in it, as we
return thereby to grace, and Thee.

Let all the world from shore to shore
Thee, gracious Trinity, adore;
right soon Thy loving pardon grant,
that we our new-made song may chant. Amen.

Ambrosian, 6th Century



Take Up Your Cross
Tune

Take up your cross, the Savior said,
If you would my disciple be;
Deny yourself, the world forsake,
And humbly follow after me.

Take up your cross, let not its weight
Fill your weak spirit with alarm;
His strength shall bear your spirit up,
Shall brace your heart and nerve your arm.

Take up your cross then in his strength,
And every danger calmly brave,
To guide you to a better home,
And victory over death and grave.

Take up your cross and follow Christ,
Nor think till death to lay it down;
For only he who bears the cross
May hope to wear the glorious crown.

To you, great Lord, the One in three,
All praise for evermore ascend;
O grant us here below to see
The heavenly life that knows no end.



Text: Charles William Everest Tune: Bourbon



Lord Who Throughout These Forty Days
Tune

Lord, who throughout these forty days
for us did fast and pray,
Teach us with you to mourn our sins
and close by you to stay.

As you with Satan did contend,
and did the victory win,
O give us strength in you to fight,
in you to conquer sin.

As you did hunger and did thirst,
So teach us gracious Lord,
To die to self and so to live
By your most holy word.

Abide with us, that through this life
Of suff'ring and of pain,
An Easter of unending joy
We may at last attain.

Text: Claudia Hernaman, 1838-1898 Tune: St. Flavian
This Is Our Accepted Time
Tune

This is our accepted time,
This is our salvation;
Prayer and fasting are our hope,
Penance, our vocation.

God of pardon and of love,
Mercy past all measure,
You alone can grant us peace,
You, our holy treasure.

Lord, look down upon your sons,
Look upon their yearning;
Man is dust and unto dust
He shall be returning,

Lift him up, O Lord of life,
Flesh has gained him sadness,
Hear his plea, bestow on him
Everlasting gladness.


Text: Michael Gannon Tune: Weimar 76.76.D
When I Survey The Wondrous Cross
Tune

When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of Glory died;
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
save in the death of Christ, my God;
all the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.

See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were an offering far too small;
love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.

Text: Isaac Watts Tune: Rockingham


R. Attende Domine, et miserere, quia peccavimus tibi.
        
Ad te Rex summe, omnium redemptor, oculos nostros sublevamus flentes: exaudi, Christe, supplicantum preces. R.

Dextera Patris, lapis angularis, via salutis, ianua caelestis, ablue nostri maculas delicti. R.

Rogamus, Deus, tuam maiestatem: auribus sacris gemitus exaudi: crimina nostra placidus indulge. R.

Tibi fatemur crimina admissa: contrito corde pandimus occulta: tua Redemptor, pietas ignoscat. R.

Innocens captus, nec repugnans ductus, testibus falsis pro impiis damnatus: quos redemisti, tu conserva, Christe. R.

R. Hearken, O Lord, and have mercy, for we have sinned against Thee

Crying, we raise our eyes to Thee, Sovereign King, Redeemer of all. Listen, Christ, to the pleas of the supplicant sinners. R.

Thou art at the Right Hand of God the Father, the Keystone, the Way of salvation and Gate of Heaven, cleanse the stains of our sins. R.

O God, we beseech Thy majesty to hear our groans; to forgive our sins. R.

We confess to Thee our consented sins; we declare our hidden sins with contrite heart; in Thy mercy, O Redeemer, forgive them. R.

Thou wert captured, being innocent; brought about without resistance, condemned by impious men with false witnesses. O Christ keep safe those whom Thou hast redeemed. R.


AUDI, benigne Conditor,
nostras preces cum fletibus,
sacrata in abstinentia
fusas quadragenaria.
O MERCIFUL Creator, hear!
To us in pity bow Thine ear:
accept the tearful prayer we raise
in this our fast of forty days.
Scrutator alme cordium,
infirma tu scis virium;
ad te reversis exhibe
remissionis gratiam.
Our hearts are open, Lord, to Thee:
Thou knowest our infirmity;
pour out on all who seek Thy face
abundance of Thy pardoning grace.
Multum quidem peccavimus,
sed parce confitentibus,
tuique laude nominis
confer medelam languidis.
Our sins are many, this we know;
spare us, good Lord, Thy mercy show;
and for the honor of Thy name
our fainting souls to life reclaim.
Sic corpus extra conteri
dona per abstinentiam,
ieiunet ut mens sobria
a labe prorsus criminum.
Give us self-control that springs
from discipline of outward things,
that fasting inward secretly
the soul may purely dwell with Thee.
Praesta, beata Trinitas,
concede, simplex Unitas,
ut fructuosa sint tuis
haec parcitatis munera. Amen.
We pray Thee, Holy Trinity,
one God, unchanging Unity,
that we from this our abstinence
may reap the fruits of penitence. Amen.

Iesu quadragenariae
Tune

Iesu quadragenariae.
dicatur abstinentiae.
qui ob salutem mentium.
hoc sanxeras ieiunium.

Adesto nunc ecclesiae.
adesto poenitentiae.
qua pro suis excessibus.
orat profusis fletibus.

Tu retroacta crimina.
tua remitte gratia.
et a futuris adhibe.
custodiam mitissime.

Ut expiati annuis.
ieiuniorum victimis.
tendamus ad paschalia.
digne colenda gaudia.

Te rerum universitas,
Clemens, adoret, Trinitas,
Et nos novi per veniam
Novum canamus canticum.




Now Let Us All With One Accord
Tune

Now let us all with one accord
In fellowship with ages past,
Keep vigil with our heav'nly Lord
In His temptation and His fast.

The covenant, so long revealed
To faithful men in former time,
Christ by His own example sealed
The Lord of love, in love sublime.

This love, O Lord, we sinful men
Have not returned, but falsified;
Author of mercy, turn again
And see our sorrow for our pride.

Remember, Lord, though frail we be
By Your own kind hand were we made;
And help us, lest our frailty
Cause Your great name to be betrayed.

Therefore we pray You, Lord, forgive
So when our wanderings here shall cease,
We may with You for ever live
In love and unity and peace.

Hear us, O Trinity sublime
And undivided unity;
So let this consecrated time
Bring forth its fruit abundantly.


Text: St. Gregory the Great

Creator of the earth and skies,
To whom all truth and power belong,
Grant us your truth to make us wise;
Grant us your power to make us strong.

We have not known you: to the skies
Our monuments of folly soar,
And all our self-wrought miseries
Have made us trust ourselves the more.

We have not loved you: far and wide
The wreckage of our hatred spreads,
And evils wrought by human pride
Recoil on unrepentant heads.

We long to end this worldwide strife:
How shall we follow in your way?
Speak to mankind your words of life,
Until our darkness turns to day.

Creasti terram et polos;
est tua vis et veritas:
prudentes veritate nos
et vi valentes facias.

Nesciris; heu! dementiae
tolluntur sursum culmina,
nostroque ipsorum vulnere
est aucta pertinacia.

Te non amavimus; loca
fragmentis odium replet;
nec, nostra quos superbia
punivit, illius pudet.

Sit pax per orbem quaesumus,
euntem ut sequamur te;
salutem dic hominibus
cedantque luci tenebrae.




The English translation of Psalm Responses, Alleluia Verses, Gospel Verses from Lectionary for Mass © 1969, 1981, 1997, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation (ICEL); the English translation of Antiphons, Invitatories, Responsories, Intercessions, Psalm 95, the Canticle of the Lamb, Psalm Prayers, Non-Biblical Readings from The Liturgy of the Hours © 1973, 1974, 1975, ICEL; excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 2010, ICEL. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

 
Home

Liturgy Archive

Liturgical Year

Daily Devotionals

Prayers

Bibles & Reference

The
Saints

Other Reading

Links





 

shopify site analytics