Because I have already covered a ludicrous number of hymns sung in Catholic churches from other collections, my survey of this behemoth, the Guitar Accompaniment Book from OCP, skips the familiar songs. I am picking up the deep tracks that didn’t make it to these shores and I am still finding old texts and old hymns tunes that not even CWB II resurrected.
This one is an oddly stirring hymn that has gone through umpteen permutations since the 1700s. The text has the same source as Ricky Manalo’s song (GAB 374). By truncating the lyrics, OCP has delivered a 3 verse Trinitarian hymn for morning prayer set to LUBECK (aka GOTT SEI DANK).
1 On this day, the first of days,
God the Father’s name we praise;
Who, creation’s Lord and Spring,
Did the world from darkness bring.
2 On this day th’eternal Son
Over death his triumph won;
On this day the Spirit came
With the gifts of living flame.3 Father, who did fashion me
Image of thyself to be,
Fill us with that love divine,
And conform our wills to thine.
Words of this vintage have been tweaked and translated variously over the centuries, so there are always choices to be made. This is another form of the text, which calls into question some of the decisions shown above – “font” is so much better, keep the last verse, why “thyself”, why prefer “confirming wills” to “grace”, etc:
1 On this day, the first of days,
God the Father’s name we praise;
Who, creation’s Font and Spring,
Did the world from darkness bring.
2 On this day th’eternal Son
Over death his triumph won;
On this day the Spirit came
With the gifts of living flame.
3 O that fervent love today
May in ev’ry heart have sway,
Teaching us to praise aright
God the source of life and light.
4 Father, who created me
Image of yourself to be,
May your grace be ever mine,
Fill me with your love divine.
5 Holy Word, all praises be!
You, from sin have set me free;
And, upon love’s flame, arise
Unto you a sacrifice.
6 Holy Spirit, you impart
Gifts to shine in ev’ry heart;
Best of gifts, yourself bestow;
Dwell in me your love to know.
7 God, the blessed Three in One,
Father, Spirit with the Son;
One in you with all above,
We send forth our hearts of love.