When Morning Gilds The Skies
When Morning Gilds the Skies
When morning gilds the skies,
My heart awaking cries,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Alike at work and prayer,
To Jesus I repair;
May Jesus Christ be praised!
The night becomes as day,
When from the heart we say,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
The powers of darkness fear,
When this sweet chant they hear,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Ye nations of mankind,
In this your concord find,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Let all the earth around
Ring joyous with the sound,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Be this, while life is mine,
My canticle divine,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Be this th’ eternal song
Through all the ages long,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Stanzas 1, 2, 4 translated by Edward Caswall (1814–1878)
Stanza 3 translated by Robert Seymour Bridges (1844–1930)
AN ANONYMOUS German author wrote the fourteen stanzas of this hymn, which was first printed in Katholisches Gesangbuch of Würtzburg in 1828. Only six stanzas were originally translated into English. Three of the others begin like this:
“My tongue shall never tire of chanting with the choir, may Jesus Christ be praised!”
“Be this at meals your grace, in every time and place, may Jesus Christ be praised!”
“And at your work rejoice, to sing with heart and voice, may Jesus Christ be praised!”
The author was pointing out that our praise to God should not be limited to church services, but should overflow to our homes and places of work.
The hymn was probably written in the lovely Franconia section of Germany, the home of fairy-tale castles, deep green forests, and lovely mountain ranges.
So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Don’t give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God. I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved. And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.
1 Corinthians 10:31–11:1
From the book
