The Glory of These Forty Days

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 lion’s might;
And John, the Bridegroom’s friend, became
The herald of Messiah’s name.

Then grant us, Lord, like them to do
Such things as bring great praise to you;
Our spirits strengthen with your grace
And give us joy to see your face.

O Father, Son and Spirit blest,
To you be every prayer addressed
And by all mankind be adored,
From age to age, the only Lord.

Latin, 6th century
Translator: Maurice F. Bell

Praise To The Holiest

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 a higher gift than 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.

 J. H. Newman