Spouse of Christ, in arms contending

Representative Text

1. Spouse of Christ, in arms contending
O’er each clime beneath the sun,
Blend with prayers for help ascending
Notes of praise for triumphs won.

2. As the Church today rejoices
All her saints to join on high,
So from earth let all our voices
Rise in solemn harmony.

3. First amid the laurelled legions
Prays the mother to her Son,
Close to Christ in those fair regions
Where high praise to Him is done.

4. Angels next, in due gradation
Of the Spirit’s ministry,
Hymn the Father of creation,
Maker of the stars on high.

5. John, the herald voice sonorous,
Head of the prophetic throng,
Patriarchs, and seers in chorus,
Join to swell the angels’ song.

6. Near to Christ th’Apostles seated,
Trampling on the powers of hell,
By the promise now completed
Judge the tribes of Israel.

7. They who nobly died believing,
Martyrs purpled in their gore,
Crowns of life by death receiving,
Rest in joy forevermore.

8. Priests and Levites, Gospel preachers,
And confessors numberless,
Prelates meek and holy teachers,
Bear the palm of righteousness.

9. Virgin souls, by high profession
To the Lamb devoted here,
Strewing flowers in gay procession
At the marriage feast appear.

10. All are blest together, praising
God’s eternal majesty,
Thrice repeated anthems raising
To the all holy Trinity.

11. In your heav’nly habitations,
In your blessèd home on high,
Hear, ye saints, our aspirations,
As to God we lift our cry.

12. Ever praising, ever praying,
Help ye thus your brethren here,
That the will of God obeying
We in peace may persevere.

13. So may we, with hearts devoted,
Serve our God in holiness;
So may we, by God promoted,
Share that heaven which ye possess.

Source: The Cyber Hymnal #5939

Translator: William Palmer

Palmer, William, M.A., eldest s. of W. J. Palmer, Rector of Mixbury, Oxford, was born July 12, 1811, and matriculated at Magdalen College, Oxford, July 27, 1826, aged 15. He graduated B.A. 1831, and M.A. 1833. He subsequently was a Fellow, Bursar, Tutor, and Vice-President of his College; and also held other important appointments both at Oxford and at the University of Durham. He joined the Church of Rome in 1855, and died April 5, 1879. Mr. Palmer published some translations of Latin hymns as Short Poems and Hymns, the latter mostly Translations, Oxford. Printed by I. Shrimpton, mdcccxlv. A few of these have come into common use. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907) Go to person page >

Author: Jean B. Contes

Born: Cir­ca 1601. Died: Ju­ly 4, 1679, Par­is, France. De Contes be­came Dean of Par­is in 1647. --www.hymntime.com/tch/ Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Spouse of Christ, in arms contending
Author: Jean B. Contes
Translator: William Palmer
Language: English
Refrain First Line: Holy mother of the faithful
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

IN BABILONE

IN BABILONE is a traditional Dutch melody that appeared in Oude en Nieuwe Hollantse Boerenlities en Contradansen (Old and New Dutch Peasant Songs and Country Dances), c. 1710. Ralph Vaughan Williams (PHH 316) discovered this tune as arranged by Julius Rontgen (b. Leipzig, Germany, 1855; d. Utrecht,…

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GOTT WILL'S MACHEN


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The Cyber Hymnal #5939
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The Cyber Hymnal #5939

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