Hail Thee, Festival Day
=======================
w: Venantius Honorius Fortunatus
m: Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906
Trans. from "The English Hymnal", 1906
Tune: Salve Festa Dies
Meter: 7.9.7.9 with Refrain

[Refrain]
Hail thee, festival day!
blest day to be hallowed forever;
day when our Lord was raised,
breaking the kingdom of death.

[Verse 1]
All the fair beauty of earth,
from the death of the winter arising!
Every good gift of the year
now with its Master returns:

[Refrain]

[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:

[Refrain]

[Verse 3]
God the Almighty,the Lord,
the Ruler of earth and the heavens,
guard us from harm without;
cleanse us from evil within:

[Refrain]

[Verse 4]
Jesus the health of the world,
enlighten our minds, great Redeemer,
Son of the Father supreme,
only begotten of God:

[Refrain]

[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:

[Refrain]

[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:

[Refrain]


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Alternate seasonal verses:


Easter
======

[Refrain]
Hail thee, festival day!
blest day to be hallowed forever;
day when our Lord was raised,
breaking the kingdom of death.

1 All the fair beauty of earth,
from the death of the winter arising!
Every good gift of the year
now with its Master returns;

[Refrain]

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:

[Refrain]


-----


Ascension
=========

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

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:

[Refrain]

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

[Refrain]


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Pentecost:
==========

[Refrain]
Hail thee, festival day!
blest day to be hallowed forever;
day when the Holy Ghost shone
in the world of grace.

1 Bright and in likeness of fire,
on those who await your appearing,
you whom the Lord had foretold
suddenly, swiftly descend:

[Refrain]

2 Forth from the Father you come
with sevenfold mystical offering,
pouring on all human souls
infinite riches of God:

[Refrain]