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The United Methodist Hymnal · No. 324 · Words: Venantius Fortunatus; tr. Percy Dearmer · Tune: SALVE FESTA DIES
Hail Thee, Festival Day
Create PowerPoint slides from this hymn →An English rendering of the ancient Latin processional 'Salve festa dies' by the 6th-century poet Venantius Fortunatus, translated by Percy Dearmer for the 1906 English Hymnal. It celebrates Christ's resurrection alongside the renewal of spring creation.
Easter Refrain
Hail thee, festival day!
blest day to be
hallowed forever;
day when our
Lord was raised,
breaking the
kingdom of death.
Easter Verse 1
All the fair
beauty of earth,
from the death
of winter arising!
Every good
gift of the year
now with its
Master returns:
Easter Refrain
Hail thee, festival day!
blest day to be
hallowed forever;
day when our
Lord was raised,
breaking the
kingdom of death.
Easter Verse 2
Rise from the
grave now, O Lord,
the author of
life and creation.
Treading the pathway
of death,
new life you give
to us all:
Easter Refrain
Hail thee, festival day!
blest day to be
hallowed forever;
day when our
Lord was raised,
breaking the
kingdom of death.
Ascension Refrain
Hail thee, festival day!
blest day to be
hallowed forever;
day when our
risen Lord
rose in the
heavens to reign.
Ascension Verse 1
He who was
nailed to the cross
is Ruler and Lord
of all people.
All things created
on earth
sing to the
glory of God:
Ascension Refrain
Hail thee, festival day!
blest day to be
hallowed forever;
day when our
risen Lord
rose in the
heavens to reign.
Ascension Verse 2
Daily the
loveliness grows,
adorned with the
glory of blossom;
heaven her
gates unbars,
flinging her
increase of light:
Ascension Refrain
Hail thee, festival day!
blest day to be
hallowed forever;
day when our
risen Lord
rose in the
heavens to reign.
Pentecost Refrain
Hail thee, festival day!
blest day to be
hallowed forever;
day when the
Holy Ghost
shone in the world
full of grace.
Pentecost Verse 1
Bright and in
likeness of fire,
on those who
await your appearing,
you whom the
Lord had foretold
suddenly,
swiftly descended:
Pentecost Refrain
Hail thee, festival day!
blest day to be
hallowed forever;
day when the
Holy Ghost
shone in the world
full of grace.
Pentecost Verse 2
Forth from the
Father you come
with sevenfold
mystical offering,
pouring on
all human souls
infinite riches
of God:
Pentecost Refrain
Hail thee, festival day!
blest day to be
hallowed forever;
day when the
Holy Ghost
shone in the world
full of grace.
All Seasons Verse 3
God the Almighty, the Lord,
the Ruler of earth and the heavens,
guard us from harm without;
cleanse us from evil within:
All Seasons Refrain
Hail thee, festival day!
blest day to be hallowed forever;
All Seasons Verse 4
Jesus, the health of the world,
enlighten our minds, great Redeemer,
Son of the Father supreme,
only begotten of God:
All Seasons Refrain
Hail thee, festival day!
blest day to be hallowed forever;
All Seasons Verse 5
Spirit of life and of power,
now flow in us, fount of our being,
light that enlightens us all,
life that in all may abide:
All Seasons Refrain
Hail thee, festival day!
blest day to be hallowed forever;
All Seasons Verse 6
Praise to the giver of good!
O lover and author of concord,
pour out your balm on our days;
order our ways in your peace:
All Seasons Refrain
Hail thee, festival day!
blest day to be hallowed forever;
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