O LORD MOST HOLY

On By francesrogersIn GOD'S GLORY, GOD'S GRACE, GOD'S WORD, MUSIC, PRAYER

O Lord most holy, O Lord most mighty,
O loving Father, Thee would we be praising alway.
Help us to know Thee,
Know Thee and love Thee;
Father, Father, grant us Thy truth and grace;

Father, Father, guide and defend us.
Rule Thou our wilful hearts,
Keep Thine our wand’ring thoughts;
In all our sorrows, let us find our rest in Thee;

And in temptation’s hour,
Save through Thy mighty power,
Thine aid, O send us;
Hear us in mercy.
Show us Thy favour,
So Shall we live and sing praise to Thee.

Music by Cesar Franck
Lyrics: unknown

Jerome Hines: O Lord Most Holy

Free Sheet Music and Midi ~ same music as Panis Angelicus

11 thoughts on “O LORD MOST HOLY”

  2. Frances, the lyrics you quoted are not the English translation of Aquinas’ Panis Angelicus. The latter is part of the Roman Catholic feast of the Mass “Corpus Christi.” What is the source of the beautiful lyrics you posted?

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    1. This is the only translation I have seen or heard. The sheet music that I have is published by Brookfield Press, exclusively distributed by Hal Leonard Corporation, 1999, arranged by Hal.H. Hopson.

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      1. Frances, many modem Non-Catholics are unaware that their version of “Panis Anglicus” consists of only the music – composed by Cesar Franck. Someone took the lovely tune and set his own lyrics to it. When you see the original words, you will understand that it is inspired by the Roman Catholic doctrine of “transubstantiation” where the substance of bread and wine literally change into the physical body and blood of Christ. Yet it still tastes, looks, feels, smells (its “accidents”) like wafers (“bread”) and wine.

        Here is wikipedia
        Panis angelicus (Latin for “Bread of Angels” or “Angelic Bread”) is the penultimate strophe of the hymn “Sacris solemniis” written by Saint Thomas Aquinas for the Feast of Corpus Christi as part of a complete liturgy of the feast, including prayers for the Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours.

        The strophe of “Sacris solemniis” that begins with the words “Panis angelicus” (bread of angels) has often been set to music separately from the rest of the hymn. Most famously, in 1872 César Franck set this strophe for tenor voice, harp, cello, and organ, and incorporated it into his Messe à trois voix, Op. 12.

        Other hymns for Corpus Christi by Saint Thomas where sections have been separately set to music are “Verbum supernum prodiens” (the last two strophes begin with “O salutaris Hostia”) and “Pange lingua gloriosi” (the last two strophes begin with “Tantum ergo”).

        http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panis_Angelicus

        Here is the original Latin of Aquinas:

        Original Latin Text (sung by Andre Bocelli and all Roman Catholics):

        Panis angelicus
        fit panis hominum;
        Dat panis caelicus
        figuris terminum:
        O res mirabilis!
        manducat Dominum
        Pauper, servus, et humilis.

        Te trina Deitas
        unaque poscimus:
        Sic nos tu visita,
        sicut te colimus;
        Per tuas semitas
        duc nos quo tendimus,
        Ad lucem quam inhabitas.
        Amen.

        Literal English translation:

        Bread of Angels,
        made the bread of men;
        The Bread of heaven
        puts an end to all symbols:
        A thing wonderful!
        The poor, servant, and humble person eats (gnaws, chews) the Lord.

        We beseech Thee,
        Godhead One in Three
        That Thou wilt visit us,
        as we worship Thee,
        lead us through Thy ways,
        We who wish to reach the light
        in which Thou dwellest.
        Amen.

        Most “evangelicals” would eschew (tee hee) the first verse. The second verse is accepted by all Trinitarians.

        Contrast the lyrics you quoted, which is a radically different cup of tea.

        O Lord most holy, O Lord most mighty,
        O loving Father, Thee would we be praising alway.
        Help us to know Thee,
        Know Thee and love Thee;
        Father, Father, grant us Thy truth and grace;

        Father, Father, guide and defend us.
        Rule Thou our wilful hearts,
        Keep Thine our wand’ring thoughts;
        In all our sorrows, let us find our rest in Thee;

        And in temptation’s hour,
        Save through Thy mighty power,
        Thine aid, O send us;
        Hear us in mercy.
        Show us Thy favour,
        So Shall we live and sing praise to Thee.

        I think I’ll post this “dissertation” on my blog.

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      2. Bography, thank you for during the research.
        We sing and quote much of handed-down religion without knowing the original source and intent.
        Such is the case with so much of what God’s people accept from the secular; Halloween, for example.

        Liked by 1 person

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