Sunday, June 11, 2006

"Holy, Holy, Holy"


TRINITY SUNDAY

This was my very first "favorite hymn" as a child. I must have been about eight years old, and I greatly admired people who knew hymns well enough to look up from the hymnal while singing. I loved "Holy, Holy, Holy," because, I too, could look up from the hymnal for a few words! I now love it for other reasons, but it's still one of my favorites.

My favorite sources for hymn accompaniment have one note in the alto part that is different from what I've ever sung, and it sounds quite jarring to me. Try this site instead. Although it's too slow for my taste, I'll sacrifice tempo for the correct harmony.

(The above photo comes from the website for Food for the Poor. We had a guest priest from this ministry at church today preaching about our Christian duty to minister to the poorest of the poor.)

"Holy, Holy, Holy"

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessèd Trinity!

Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
Who was, and is, and evermore shall be.

Holy, holy, holy! though the darkness hide Thee,
Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;
Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in power, in love, and purity.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy Name, in earth, and sky, and sea;
Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessèd Trinity!

2 comments:

JFC said...

My eight-year-old son loves this one, too. Although, I think it is his third favorite. First would be I Bind Unto Myself This Day (St. Patrick's Breastplate / The Lorica). And second would be Before Thee Let My Cry Come Near (Psalm 119:169-176). But Holy, Holy, Holy might be third.

:)

Deb said...

JFC,
Hooray for another "Holy, Holy, Holy" lover! I love "I Bind Unto Myself," too. I've looked in all my hymnals here at home, but can't find "Before Thee Let My Cry Come Near."
Thanks for stopping by and saying hello. I'll check out your blog. I see by your picture that you play the piano, and you obviously love hymns...
Blessings to you and your family,
Deb