Hail! Festal Day, to Endless Ages Known

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Venantius Fortunatus, c. 530- 609, translated by Theodore A. Laced, 1884
Left: from the 1941 Lutheran Hymnal
Right: from the 1916 Episcopal Hymnal

Hail! festal day, to endless ages known,
When Christ, o'er death victorious, gained his throne.

2. Now with the Lord of new and heavenly birth,
His gifts return to grace the springing earth.

3. He reigns supreme, who died the death of shame
And all created things adore his Name.

4. Fulfill thy promise, King of love, we pray!
The third morn brightens; rise, and come away.

5. No mouldering tomb shall hold thee in repose;
No stone the ransom of the world enclose.

6. Who holdest all things in thy hollowed hand,
No rocky barrier can before thee stand.

7. Cast off thy grave-clothes; let them there remain:
Come forth to us, our All, our only gain.

8. Creator, Fount of Life, thou knowest the grave
And thence returning, thou art strong to save.

9. Light of the world, show us thy face once more,
The day that died with thee, to-day restore.

10. A countless people, from death's fetters free,
Own thee Redeemer, join and follow thee.

11. The shades of death are pierced, his lass
And trembling chaos flees the rising sun.

Hail! festal day! to endless ages known,
When God ascended to his starry throne.

2. Now with the Lord of new and heavenly
His gifts return to grace the springing

3. Now glows the earth with painted flowers' array,
And warmer light unbars the gates of day.

4. Now Christ, from gloomy hell, comes triumphing,
And field and grove with clover and leafage spring.

5. The reign of death o'erthrown, he mounts on high,
Sent forth with joyous praise from sea and sky.

6. Loose now the captives, loose the prison door,
The fallen, from the deep, to light restore.

7. A countless people, from death's fetters free,
Own thee Redeemer, join, and follow thee.

8. Creator and Redeemer, Christ our Light!
The One begotten of the Father's might;

9. Co-equal, Co-eternal, thou to whom
The kingdom of the world decreed shall come;

10. Thou, looking on our race in darkness laid,
To rescue man, true Man thyself wast made.

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