Father, Most Holy, Merciful and Tender

Representative Text

1 Father, most holy, merciful, and tender;
Jesus our Savior, with the Father reigning;
Spirit of mercy, Advocate, Defender,
Light never waning;

2 Trinity blessed, Unity unshaken;
Deity perfect, giving and forgiving,
Light of the angels, Life of the forsaken,
Hope of all living;

3 Maker of all things, all Thy creatures praise Thee;
lo, all things serve Thee through Thy whole creation:
hear us, Almighty, hear us as we raise Thee,
heart's adoration.

4 To the almighty triune God be glory:
highest and greatest, help Thou our endeavor;
we, too, would praise Thee, giving honor worthy,
now and forever.

Source: Psalms and Hymns to the Living God #170

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Translator: Percy Dearmer

Dearmer, Percy, M.A., son of Thomas Dearmer, was born in London, Feb. 27, 1867, and educated at Westminster School and at Christ Church, Oxford (B.A. 1890, M.A. 1896). He was ordained D. 1891, P. 1892, and has been since 1901 Vicar of S. Mary the Virgin, Primrose Hill, London. He has been Secretary of the London Branch of the Christian Social Union since 1891, and is the author of The Parson's Handbook, 1st edition, 1899, and other works. He was one of the compilers of the English Hymnal, 1906, acting as Secretary and Editor, and contributed to it ten translations (38, 95, 150, 160, 165, 180, 215, 237, 352, 628) and portions of two others (242, 329), with the following originals:— 1. A brighter dawn is breaking. Easter. Suggested by… Go to person page >

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First Line:	Father most holy, merciful, and tender
Title:	Father, Most Holy, Merciful and Tender
Latin Title:	O Pater sancte
Translator:	Percy Dearmer (1867)
Meter:	11.11.11.5
Source:	Latin, c. 900
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain

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Notes

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Tune

CHRISTE SANCTORUM (53432)

O PATER SANCTE

HERZLIEBSTER JESU

Partially based on earlier melodies (including the Genevan tune for Psalm 23), HERZ LIEBSTER JESU was composed by Johann Crüger (PHH 42) and published in his Neues vollkömliches Gesangbuch (1640). Johann S. Bach (PHH 7) used the tune in both his St. Matthew Passion and St. John Passion, and variou…

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