This is an old song that was added to Breaking Bread in 2018. The text is a translation of Praecursor altus luminus by St Bede the Venerable from the sixth century translated by John M Neale c19. It is a song for Advent or to celebrate John the Baptist.
It is set to WINCHESTER NEW.
OCP sell their arrangement here.
1 The great forerunner of the morn,
The herald of the Word, is born;
And faithful hearts shall never fail
With thanks and praise his light to hail.2 With heav’nly message Gabriel came,
That John should be that herald’s name,
And with prophetic utt’rance told
His actions great and manifold.3 His mighty deeds exalt his fame
To greater than a prophet’s name;
Of woman born shall never be
A greater prophet than was he.