Processional Hymns: Ascensiontide

Ascensiontide

153

Hail thee Festival Day (Ascension) - Salve, Festa Dies  - V Fortunatus

Refrain:
Hail thee, festival day!
blest day to be hallowed forever;
day when our risen Lord
rose in the heavens to reign.

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: [Refrain]

Daily the loveliness grows,
adorned with glory of blossom;
heaven her gates unbars,
flinging her increase of light: [Refrain]

God the Almighty,the Lord,
the Ruler of earth and the heavens,
guard us from harm without;
cleanse us from evil within: [Refrain]

Jesus the health of the world,
enlighten our minds, great Redeemer,
Son of the Father supreme,
only begotten of God: [Refrain]

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: [Refrain]

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: [Refrain]

154

See the Conqueror mounts in triumph – C Wordsworth

See, the Lord ascends in triumph,
Conqu'ring King in royal state
Riding on the clouds, His chariot
To His heav'nly palace gate;
Hark! The choirs of angel voices
Joyful alleluias sing,
And the portals high are lifted
To receive their heav'nly King.

Who is this that comes in glory
With the trump of jubilee?
Lord of battles, God of armies,
He has gained the victory.
He who on the cross did suffer,
He who from the grave arose,
He has vanquished sin and Satan;
He by death has spoiled His foes.

While He lifts His hands in blessing
He is parted from His friends;
While their eager eyes behold Him,
He upon the clouds ascends.
He who walked with God and pleased Him,
Preaching truth and doom to come,
He, our Enoch, is translated
To His everlasting home.

Now our heav'nly Aaron enters
With His blood within the veil;
Joshua now is come to Canaan,
And the kings before Him quail.
Now He plants the tribes of Israel
In their promised resting place,
Now our great Elijah offers
Double portion of His grace.

He has raised our human nature
On the clouds to God's right hand;
There we sit in heav'nly places,
There with Him in glory stand.
Jesus reigns, adored by angels;
Man with God is on the throne;
By our mighty Lord's ascension
We by faith behold our own.