Friday, December 23, 2011

From the Realm of Endless Day

Back next week. May God rest ye merry, gentlemen and gentlewomen!

Here's a gift for you. Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence is a very beautiful, very Catholic hymn. . I'm not the biggest John Michael Talbot fan, but I like his Chrismtas CD, and this version of the song, with its gorgeous orchestral setting, gets the power and the glory  just right. (although, unfortunately, the last verse is missing from this recording.)

As you listen to the song (lyrics below), just imagine that angel vanguard prostrate before an embryo in the Virgin's womb, or before a tiny white Host. The thought of the majestic humility of our God is just...heart shaking.







Let all mortal flesh keep silence, 
 and with fear and trembling stand;
 ponder nothing earthly-minded, 
 for with blessing in his hand, 
 Christ our God to earth descendeth, 
 our full homage to demand. 

 King of kings, yet born of Mary, 
 as of old on earth he stood, 
 Lord of lords, in human vesture, 
 in the body and the blood; 
 he will give to all the faithful 
 his own self for heavenly food. 

Rank on rank the host of heaven 
 spreads its vanguard on the way, 
 as the Light of light descendeth 
 from the realms of endless day, 
 that the powers of hell may vanish 
 as the darkness clears away. 

 At his feet the six-winged seraph, 
 cherubim, with sleepless eye, 
 veil their faces to the presence, 
 as with ceaseless voice they cry: 
 Alleluia, Alleluia, 
 Alleluia, Lord Most High!